Leather guide
Caring for a Leather Bag: The Gestures That Count
Published on 2 min read
A full-grain leather bag asks for almost nothing — but that almost nothing, it truly asks for.
A full-grain leather bag is made to last for decades. It asks for almost nothing — but that almost nothing, it truly asks for: a little protection, a little nourishment, and storage that respects its shape.
Day to day
A soft, dry cloth after every wet outing. Rain is not a catastrophe: blot without rubbing, and let it dry far from any radiator — heat cooks leather; water only wets it.
Clean hands are the first care: sunscreens, hand sanitisers and citrus juice mark the grain permanently.
Twice a year
A colourless leather balm, applied in a thin layer with a cloth, in circular motions, then buffed after an hour. Always test under the base of the bag first. On a grained leather like that of the Héritage bag, the balm restores the grain's depth.
Never shoe polish, never wipes, never solvents: they clog the pores or strip the finish.
Storage
A bag is stored upright, padded with tissue paper, in its cotton dust bag — never in a plastic cover, which traps humidity. Chains and straps are tucked inside so they do not mark the leather: the curb chain of the Écrin first of all. The same principle applies to small leather goods, stored flat and away from the light.
Let it breathe and use it: a leather that is carried lives better than a leather locked away. The patina is a form of care in itself. And if the handle worries you — it is the part that wears first — a silk square wound in a spiral protects it for years.