Leather Goods Are Not Only Durable and Stylish, They Are Also Practical and Low-Maintenance
Leather goods are not only durable and stylish, they are also practical and low-maintenance. This makes them a great choice for busy people who want to look their best.
Unlike synthetic fabrics, leather improves with age and is resistant to dust mites, moths, and other contaminants. These characteristics make it an ideal material for items such as wallets for men and leather shoes.
Versatile
From covetable leather handbags to rugged travel gear, the best of these pieces elevate every outfit from casual to elegant. Unlike other man-made materials, leather has a timeless beauty that never goes out of style and can even become more beautiful with age.
The modern leather industry uses more than 270 million hides each year. The transformation of these skins into leather makes it an environmentally friendly product that provides a natural and long-lasting material. This helps to save over 7 million tons of meat that would otherwise be thrown away each year.
Properly made leather lasts a long time and is relatively easy to maintain. Frequent conditioning and cleaning keep it looking good and smelling fresh. In addition, quality leather goods will typically have well-done stitching and high-quality thread. However, poor stitching and thread will show through quickly. It’s best to buy only quality leather items for the long term.
Durable
Leather is one of the most durable materials on the market, able to withstand years of wear and tear while still looking beautiful. It also doesn’t require any special care to keep it looking great, and is an eco-friendly material.
The top-rated leather goods are made from full grain leather, which hasn’t been sanded or buffed down to remove imperfections. Full-grain leather has densely packed fibers and is very strong, so it’s ideal for a range of applications, from clothing to furniture.
The best leather goods are crafted with high-quality stitching. Stitching is a very important aspect of any leather good, and it’s crucial to ensure that the stitches are straight and consistent. If the stitches are sloppy or if they’re made with cheap thread, the product may not last as long or will look less attractive. Using a quality thread that locks around each other and is double-stitched provides the strongest and most durable stitching.
Low-maintenance
As a versatile and beautiful material, leather is durable, comfortable to wear, and easy to maintain. It can also be shaped and manipulated in many ways to make it unique and personal. Leather is also recyclable, decreasing the environmental impact of the tanning process.
To keep leather products looking their best, wipe them down on a daily basis to avoid a buildup of dirt and grime. You can use a soft, dry cloth or suede brush. You can also apply a waterproofing conditioner on a regular basis to protect your leather from moisture and dust. Be sure to do a spot test on any cleaning product, as some chemicals may darken light-colored leather.
For bags and accessories made from smooth calfskin, avoid long exposure to sunlight as this will speed up the darkening of the skin. It is also advisable to store your bag in the original dustbag or use silica packets to reduce humidity.
Eco-friendly
While many leather bags are made from traditional leather, eco-friendly leather is becoming increasingly popular. This leather is produced using fewer chemicals and is more environmentally conscious, making it healthier for the environment and its wearers. It also takes less time to break down and does not contaminate water like conventional leathers do.
Look for brands that use vegetable-tanned leather or deadstock/offcuts, which prevents this material from ending up in landfills. HYER goods, for example, uses leathers sourced from LWG gold-certified tanneries in India and Italy. Their tanneries are REACH compliant, have their own primary effluent treatment plants, and pay fair trade wages.
Nisolo uses sustainable practices to create leather accessories that last a lifetime, including sourcing their leather from byproducts of the meat industry. They also work with tanneries that are committed to sustainability, and provide them with the resources they need to improve their production processes. They’re also a B Corp, so you can be sure they’re paying their workers a living wage.