Leather & Leather Care

The leather I use has been vegetable tanned, meaning it was tanned using the tannins of both bark and vegetables. This process has been used for generations. Each tannery does it slightly differently achieving the specific look and feel of leather they are known for.

To properly tan a hide in this manner is a craft in itself! I intentionally source hides from tanneries who are serious about sustainability, taking ownership over their waste as well as where they purchase hides. Most of the leather I use is from Tuscany, Italy from tanneries who are a part of a consortium who stand by and even elevate standards in the leather industry. Learn more about them here

What does this mean for you? It means you can feel confident your leather is a byproduct of the food industry, has been vegetable tanned in a vetted tannery and is of high quality.

Here are some tips on how to care for your leather and have it looking even better in the years to come!

Aging:

Embrace the aging beauty of leather! Use it, wear it, take it everywhere. Love and use will enhance its life, simultaneously developing the coveted 'patina'. If your leather ever looks dry or matted, condition it. (see below)

 

Scratches:

Say goodbye to scratches! Give them a gentle thumb buff and watch the magic happen. It's often like having your own personal eraser.

If you need a little more moisture, rub your finger over your nose and then back over the scratch to help make it disapear.

 

Patina:

You've probably heard this term, but what the heck is it? One way you can identify a great leather is how it develops a patina over time. Vegetable tanned leathers (a natural process using tannins), what Akasha Leather uses, will do this, chrome tanned leathers (using chromium salts, metals etc) will not.

A patina is the shiny appearance of leather when the oils from your hands, life and or leather conditioner has been added. You'll notice the leather begins soften, become shiny, and naturally darken in areas with a lot of contact.

People cherish their patina for it conveys the quality, love and life their leather has been through. So when you see your bag, wallet or journal develop this, take it as a badge of honor, not only for purchasing quality leather but also for the places and experiences your handmade item has been with you!

Remember, a great vegetable tanned leather product will only get better with age and use! So don't be afraid to use your Akasha Leather goods on the daily.

 

Conditioning:

When your leather looks dry or matte (vs. shiny) then it is dry and needs to be conditioned. You can use any natural conditioner to add moisture back into the leather to rejuvenate it.

**Note some conditioners will darken the leather. Make sure to test your conditioner on a small hidden section first.

For thicker, firmer vegetable tanned leathers Smith's Leather Balm is fantastic. And it's a family owned business out of Maine. **Note this will darken a leather as it conditions, but I love this balm!

For more supple leathers, such as the ones I use on totes, purses and wallets I love Blackrock Leather 'N' Rich. Another family business, this one passed down for generations, based in Nashville, TN. **Note this usually conditions without darkening the leather, but it is always good to do a test patch to make sure

Fun fact I carry Blackrock Leather 'N' Rich! Buy it here