Care

Leather Care

Are Studio offers two types of leather: a vegetable tanned semi-aniline leather for soft form bags and an oil finish semi-vegetable leather in matte for structured bags. Each of the hides has unique characteristics and can include variations in color, texture and markings. These sometimes remain visible due to our minimal intervention approach to treating leather in an effort to avoid using harsh chemicals on our products and in doing so preserve the natural look and feel of high quality leather. 

We embrace leather imperfections, whether inherent or created by daily wear. Each bag we produce includes a hangtag with care instructions recommended prior to use, found below. 

1

Vegetable tanned semi-aniline leather

This cowhide has a smooth finish while retaining the natural grain.  It is soft to the touch with a matte finish and is used for our soft form bags.  The leather will evolve over time with daily use, depending on how the user wears the bag.

First, we recommend using a commercial grade protective spray treatment to avoid general staining of the leather prior to use, such as Kiwi’s Protect All spray / Tarrago Nano Protector spray / Dr. Jackson’s Rain & Stain Repellant.  Once the bag has been treated, it is easier to maintain long term care. 

2

Oil finish semi-vegetable tanned leather

This cowhide is partially vegetable tanned. It has a smooth grain with an oil finish matte appearance and is used for our structured bags.  Over time, the natural leather will wear in and evolve, developing a patina.

First, we recommend using a commercial grade protective spray treatment to avoid general staining of the leather prior to use, such as Kiwi’s Protect All spray / Tarrago Nano Protector spray / Dr. Jackson’s Rain & Stain Repellant.  Once the bag has been treated, it is easier to maintain long term care.

3

Additional care

Magic sponge erasers work wonders on cleaning up a leather bag.  Lightly use the sponge to wipe away dirt and grime.  Be aware not to apply too much pressure while using this method.

Believe it or not, spit cleaning is an additional measure to help spruce up scuffs and light scratches.  Slightly dampen a clean fingertip and gently apply to the marking on the leather, working in a circular motion.  

Alternatively, gently wipe the leather with a smooth dry cloth to remove dirt and light stains.  

When not in use, store your bag in one of our provided dust bags away from sunlight.

For long term care and maintenance, please consult a leather care professional.