"How to care for a vintage leather bag"

Whether you have gone for a vintage leather bag or a new bag with a vintage design, caring for your leather should be your top priority. After all, vintage leather backpacks, satchels and bags can all last a very, very long time (we’re talking centuries) if it is cared for properly and treated with love. By caring for your vintage leather now, you can enjoy it for many years to come. Check out our dos and don'ts so that your bag remains supple, stylish and beautiful.

The three most important ‘Don’ts’

If you want your vintage leather bag to last as long as possible, you need to prevent three main things from happening. These are:

• Don’t let it get soaked with water – We all get stuck in the rain some times, and a spray of water won’t ruin your bag. However, if it gets soaked or dunked? You’ve shortened its lifespan.
• Don’t let it dry out – While dry conditions can be great for some materials, leather is not one of them. Just as with fur and suede, natural leather needs to maintain the right amount of moisture to prevent it from drying out and cracking.
• Don’t let it get soiled – Again, accidents happen to all of us, but if you can prevent your vintage leather bag from getting overly dirty it is going to look nicer in the long run, and won’t require potentially expensive cleaning.

The three most important ‘Dos’

Now that you know what not to do, you need to learn what it is that you need to do! Keeping your vintage leather bags looking chic and clean does not have to be difficult.

• Do store your leather in the right conditions – We mentioned above that your leather shouldn’t be stored in dry conditions, but it also shouldn’t be anywhere too humid, either. Keep it safely stored in linen or acid free paper in a sturdy wooden or cardboard box. Avoid plastic, as moisture can build up inside.
• Do keep it clean and protected – A leather protectant is always a good idea for your bags and shoes, as it will keep them protected from rain and the occasional puddle. A layer of protectant can also help to repel stains. However, if your bag does get soiled, you can always attempt to tackle the spot with a bit of mild soap and water. A larger stain? It’s time to take your bag to a professional leather cleaner.
• Condition your vintage leather bag – Think of your leather like an extra layer of skin. You moisturize your skin, right? Then you need to moisturize your leather. Before treating the entire bag, make sure you do a spot test on a hidden spot on the inside of the bag, and wait a few days to see if any discoloration occurs.

The vintage Buff Calf leather produced exclusively for Assots is typically tanned with vegetable natural bark tannin materials. This leather is breathable and eco- friendly. Our designer team was thrilled to play with this vintage leather, and we know you will love the long lasting, vintage quality.