Three habits that help vegetable-tanned leather age well, from the bench that made it.
Tomas Reyes
Leatherworker, Elm & Hide
Hi Alex,
Your Camden Tote should be on its way, so I wanted to send this before it lands rather than after. Vegetable-tanned leather rewards a little attention, and punishes none at all.
Three things, in this order
01 Keep it out of direct sun
For the first month especially. Fresh leather darkens unevenly in a sunny window.
02 Let it pick up a few scuffs
Wait before you condition. Early marks blend in rather than sitting on top.
03 Condition it every few months
A light coat, rubbed in with a soft cloth. That's all it needs, for years.
It will darken. That's the point.
It softens and deepens with use. That's not wear, that's the leather doing what it's supposed to do.
The full guide covers rain, stains and storing it over summer.
