The Care Library

How to keep a fine bag.

Every leather ages. Whether it ages well depends on how it is kept. These guides set out what we do, why we do it, and when to stop and hand a bag to a specialist. They are written for the bags you own now, whoever made them.

Always test any technique on a hidden area first. If a bag is valuable, delicate or already damaged, take it to a professional.

By task

Cleanse
Dress
- Conditioning a leather bag: what, when and how often
Keep
- How to store handbags properly
- Clean at home or send it away?

By material

Smooth leather — calfskin, cowhide and the leathers most bags are made from.
- How to clean a leather bag at home
Suede and nubuck
- How to clean a suede bag without ruining the nap
Vachetta
- Vachetta: the leather that darkens, and how to keep it even
Nylon
- Washing a nylon tote safely
Linings
- The inside of the bag: cleaning and protecting linings

The Keeper's Care Card

A single page, kept by the door: which care each material needs, what never to use, and the signs that mean a bag should go to a specialist. Join the Founding Keepers and it arrives with your first letter.