Leather Care

Conditioning

Leather loses moisture with time, sun, and use. Conditioning replaces it. Once or twice a year — more often in dry climates — apply a small amount of high-quality neutral leather conditioner or balm with a soft cloth, working it in with light circular motions. Let it absorb fully, ideally overnight, then buff with a clean dry cloth. Hydrated leather stays supple, resists cracking, and deepens in color evenly.

• —Use a neutral (uncolored) conditioner — pigmented products can alter the tone unpredictably.
• —Less is more. A thin layer absorbed fully beats a heavy coat sitting on the surface.
• —Test on a hidden spot first. Conditioner will darken vegetable-tanned leather slightly — this is normal and part of the patina.

Cleaning

For everyday dirt or stains, wipe gently with a damp — not wet — cloth and a small amount of mild soap or a dedicated leather cleaner. Work in light strokes, never scrub. Avoid harsh chemicals, alcohol, solvents, and abrasive cleaners: they strip the natural finish and dry the hide. After cleaning, let the piece air dry at room temperature, away from radiators, hair dryers, or direct sun — forced heat dries leather out and can cause it to stiffen or crack. Once dry, follow with a light conditioning.

Water & Sun

Vegetable-tanned leather and water are not enemies, but they're not friends either. If your piece gets wet, blot it with a dry cloth and let it dry slowly and naturally — never against a heat source. Water spots usually even out as the patina develops. Keep prolonged direct sunlight to a minimum. Light will darken full grain leather over time (that's the patina working), but extended exposure dries it and fades it unevenly.

Patina & Age

Embrace the aging. Full grain leather develops a unique patina with use — it darkens, softens, takes on the marks of your hands and your days. Honey becomes amber, ocher becomes bronze, charcoal becomes obsidian. Don't try to remove it. The patina is not damage; it is the design completing itself. Minor scratches and scuffs usually buff out with a fingertip or a soft cloth — the natural oils in the leather do the rest. Two pieces from the same batch will look different after a year of different lives. That is the point.

Storage

When not in use, store your piece in a cool, dry, ventilated place — the cotton dust bag it came in is ideal. Avoid plastic bags, which trap moisture and invite mildew. Stuff bags lightly with paper to hold their shape. Never store leather compressed under weight for long periods.

Repairs

If something fails that care can't fix — stitching, hardware, the leather itself — that's what the 100-year guarantee is for. Write to garantia@doshermanos.mx and the workshop that made your piece will repair it.