You’ve got to love leather. It’s beautiful, durable, sustainable, and natural. It can be dyed, stained, or tinted virtually any color, and it smells fabulous, even after years of use. Leather is forever. It’s no wonder that leather is such a popular material for handbag construction.

Different Types Of Leather

There are four basic grades of leather: bonded, split grain, top grain, and full grain. Leather handbags may be made of any one of the four grades.

Bonded leather is made from small scraps of leather that have been joined together to look like a single piece of leather. Split grain leather is made of the innermost portion of a split hide. Because it is a single piece of leather, it has more strength and durability than bonded leather. Bonded leather bags and split grain leather bags are typically labeled “Genuine leather.”

Top grain leather is made from the outermost portion of a split hide. These leathers are typically processed to camouflage flaws in the hide or to form patterns that mimic exotic leathers like ostrich, alligator, or snake.

Full grain leather is the unprocessed outer layer of the hide. Full grain leathers are considered the most desirable and most durable leather for handbags.

Caring For Your Leather Handbags

Cared for properly, quality leather handbags have a long, useful life. Generally speaking, a leather handbag made from full grain or top grain leather will last longer and maintain its beauty longer than a handbag made from a cheaper grade of leather.

The first thing a new leather handbag needs is a water repellent and conditioning treatment to safeguard the handbag against water spots, stains, soiling, and cracking. When you purchase your leather handbag, ask the sales clerk if the store will provide this treatment for you. Leather goods dealers often contract with specialists who provide this service, and it is well worth protecting your investment by having the treatment professionally applied.

Blot any spills as soon as possible with a clean, absorbent cloth or paper towel. Wipe winter salt stains with a clean damp cloth and let the leather air dry. When your leather handbag needs an overall cleaning, take it to a leather cleaning specialist. Dry cleaning techniques can split the leather, but a professional leather cleaner will use methods especially designed for your handbag.

Your leather handbags will last longer if you alternate them in and out of service. Stuff empty handbags with white tissue and place the leather handbag in a larger dust bag. If you take good care of your leather handbags, they may last your entire lifetime.

Filed under: Designer Handbags

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