KHAITE
Wilson Caban
$8,600
The 24S Guide on How to Care for Your Leather Items
A leather bag, a leather jacket, a well-chosen pair of boots: these are often the pieces you hold onto the longest. At 24S, we love the idea of a wardrobe curated with patience and designed to be mixed and matched, combining beautifully crafted essentials, strong lines, and materials that live and breathe.
Leather care starts with a simple habit: understanding the material before attempting to “correct” it. Leather is natural. It shows marks. It develops a rich patina. It becomes more supple.
Caring for a leather bag or jacket comes down to just five steps, from purchase to storage.
1.
When Buying: Know Your Leather
Lambskin is an exceptionally supple and smooth material that gives The Row bags their impeccable shape. However, it is also more susceptible to marking from friction and rain. Grained calfskin, with its textured finish, better withstands the pace of city life. Coach’s Glovetanned Leather, for instance, grows more supple with wear. Pony-effect leather, with its short, fine pile, shifts in hue with the light, much like velvet. A signature material at Liffner, suede is crafted by sanding the underside of the hide to create a velvety-soft feel and an elegant matte finish.
At LEMAIRE, vegetable tanning introduces another variable: with exposure to light, the leather transforms from beige to cognac, developing a unique patina right before your eyes.
Variations in grain, hue or texture are by no means imperfections. They are the defining hallmarks of full-grain leather, prized for its beautifully unaltered surface.
2.
The First Few Days: Protect Without Overdoing It
Keep your piece away from direct heat and sunlight. For example, do not expose it to a radiator, windowsill or car parked in the sun as these can cause drying and fading. Be particularly mindful of oils: perfume on your hands can easily leave a mark on light-colored handles. For a frequently worn leather jacket, like one by ARMA, the greatest concern is a narrow hanger, which can distort the shoulders.
3.
Clean, Then Condition: The Right Care at the Right Time
Caring for leather requires consistency rather than an array of products. “Cleaning” does not mean stripping the finish. Gently wiping the contact points (handles, flaps, cuffs and collar) with a dry microfiber cloth after each wear is usually all it takes. For minor marks, use a slightly damp cloth, testing it first on an inconspicuous area. After exposure to rain, gently blot the leather without rubbing and allow it to dry away from direct heat. Suede requires a dry approach: a crepe brush restores the nap, while water will leave a stain.
4.
Storage: The Dust Bag and Beyond
A dust bag isn’t packaging, it’s storage. Store your bag away from direct light, filling it with tissue paper to preserve its silhouette. Avoid plastic, which prevents the leather from breathing, and refrain from hanging the piece by its handles. Structured bags like those by Savette or Demellier retain their shape when properly filled, while softer styles should be stored flat. A leather jacket should be hung on a wide hanger inside a breathable garment bag.
5.
La patine, signature d’une pièce vécue
A beautiful natural leather will deepen in tone, developing a soft sheen at contact points and taking on subtle marks. CELINE leather, heir to the shoemaking atelier opened in Paris in 1945, or Loewe leather, crafted in Madrid since 1846, is not meant to remain like new forever. It gains character with wear. For a stubborn stain, a scuffed suede bag, or a mixed-media piece, it’s best to follow the House’s care guidelines or consult a professional.
Explore the Leather Selection on 24S
Our edit includes pieces that are made to last and easy to mix and match, from bags by Loewe and The Row to a leather jacket by ARMA and a pair of boots that will age beautifully. Know the material, protect it, clean it, condition it, store it: five essential steps, and time does the rest.