CARING FOR YOUR NEW LEATHER BAG

                                                             s m o k e + a r r o w  Leather

 

 

POLISHING AND SCRATCHES

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Scratches cannot be prevented, so if you don’t like the effect that scratches will give to your bag then it’s advised that you keep it away from sharp or metallic objects and generally give it careful consideration when handling and placing it down on the ground, etc.

 

If you choose to put a protective finish on your leather bag Please note that applying ANY from of finish or polish, even a clear or natural color, will almost always change the color of your leather. Test a small area of leather first and then check to see if you're happy with the final color before applying to the remainder of the bag.

 

DIRT AND DUST

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If there’s small dirt marks on the finished side of the leather then usually a little warm water and a little elbow grease will do the trick of getting rid of them.

The key to removing dirt and other such marks is not to use too much pressure, it’s much better to lightly rub a mark 100 times with low pressure than 10 times with a lot of pressure. The high pressure maybe likely to remove the top tanning finish and damage the leather.

 

RAIN AND WATER SPLASHES

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Leather should not be allowed to get wet but if does, they should be wiped with a  clean dry cloth and allowed to dry naturally.

If your bag gets wet then never force-dry the leather by using heat. Do not place on radiators or use hair dryers, simply leave it in a place that is normal room temperature until it dries naturally. If you are going to continuously experience bad weather then we would suggest that you obtain some leather water-proofing products to help keep your bag dry, however remember these products will change the color of your leather.

 

 

STORAGE

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Keep your leather bags stored in places that are dry and clean when your not using them, ideally in the specially designed dust bag that came with your bag to help protect it.

EXTREME TEMPERATURES

Keep it out of hot temperatures, especially extreme heat. Heat exposure can cause fading. Freezing temperatures can really damage your bag and the natural structure of it’s fibers that give it strength, and make them brittle. 

 

 

APPLYING CARE PRODUCTS

 

Always test a small, unseen part of the satchel before applying the product to the whole of the bag. This is to check that the product doesn’t react or even change the color significantly to a color that you dislike. Leave it for a day or so to verify there’s no unwanted reaction.

If after a period of 24-hours, the small area appears good then you can safely apply the product to the whole of the bag.

 

If you’re applying a care product that contains a moisturizer or oil then pay particular attention to the reverse sides of the leather and the edges where the pigmented finish isn’t applied as the leather will be more absorbent there and the leather will get lots of nourishment and protection from treatment in those areas and remain more supple.

 

If your applying a water proofing product then it’s strongly recommended that you first apply a care product to help lock in moisture and to keep the fiber of the skin supple before making it waterproof. Only apply the waterproof to areas that will be exposed to moisture. This will result in you still being able to treat the inner of the bag with care products so it can remain supple and wont crease, crack or peel, due to drying out.

 

 

NATURAL LEATHER MARKINGS

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All the leather that was selected for your bag came as tanned hides from a tanning hide house. Some are farm hides such as cows and goats but sometimes larger buffalo and elk and other hides may be used. You will be informed of what hides went into making your product. Typically all wild and free range animals will gather natural marks on their skin .

 

Typical marks on our hide could include:-

 

* Stretch Marks; Especially on the hind of the cow as it grows larger.

* Tick Holes; These are small holes where an insect has pierced the skin to draw blood.

* Scarring; If the animals has been cut or had an operation then it may have scars and stitch marks.

* Veining; Larger animals will show veins close to the surface of the skin.

* Flay Marks; These are where the fatty tissue is removed from the underside of the leather with a flaying knife and the flaying knife has left a small scar.

 

When leather is prepared it either has the very top layer of the skin sanded (like in premium leathers), or ‘split off’ to remove almost all signs of these natural marks.

 

Once tanned most of the remaining marks become almost unnoticeable but some may never completely disappear. They generally do not affect whether a hide is suitable or not. In fact scarring can actually make a hide even stronger.

 

We check all our leather for natural marks and scarring and bullet holes and aim to cut our pattern pieces from areas of the hide that are not marked, but sometimes we may deem a natural mark to be acceptable especially if it’s on the underside of the hide or we may hide it behind a pocket or decor element.

 

 We have found that most people find these natural markings unique and reflect the true nature of the hide.

 

Bullet holes are always covered with a decorative patch to enforce a potentially weak area of the hide.

 

Bags or garments with fringe are best left hanging out of the sun and heat. 

 

 

I hope these instructions assist you in the care and maintenance of your new leather bag.

 

Thank You again for your support!  With proper care of  your leather you will enjoy it for many years.

 

Katrina Raven