Leather Care Guide

Most leather on the market today is tanned using chromium—a carcinogen and heavy metal. It is a fast and lor-cost process. In contrast, vegetable tanning is a traditional, slow, and non-toxic process using organic plant matter (or synethic versions) to cure and preserve the hide. It produces hides with rich, warm, and uniquely variegated tones. Unlike modern chromium-tanned hides, vegetable-tanned leather wears well, molding to its owner’s habits much like raw denim.

Vegetable-tanned leather darkens and develops a patina over time with exposure to natural elements. For example, when exposed to water, the leather may form a dappled appearance that remains after the leather dries. When exposed to the sun, lighter leathers will also darken over time. Vegetable-tanned leather also absorbs oils. In our opinion, these qualities are not defects but rather reflections of the individual character and history of a piece that emerge over time.

If light cleaning is necessary, we recommend cleaning the piece with a clean, damp cloth. Saddle soap can be used if necessary, but rub lightly and carefully when cleaning the printed leather so as not to damage the print. If a deeper cleaning is needed, solid-colored leather products can be dry-cleaned by a professional leather specialist. The hand-screen-printed leather, however, will not stand up to the solvents used in the dry-cleaning process and must be hand-cleaned by a leather professional. We recommend using an expert such as Without a Trace (they accept items to be cleaned by mail).

Since the leathers that Production Mode uses are heavily conditioned with fats and oils during the tanning process, your leather product should not need to be oiled or conditioned for a long while, unless exposed to harsh elements. Always test the conditioner on an inconspicuous area before applying.

Please note that vegetable-tanned leathers are not entirely colorfast. The dyes and oils used to condition the leathers can bleed onto lighter-colored fabrics, especially if the leather becomes wet. Additionally, our lighter colored leather may pick up dyes from darker denims if not sealed with a leather protector spray. And as with any screen print that sits on top of a surface, the print on the leather may scratch, crack, or peel over time, especially if abraded or exposed to the elements.

When storing vegetable-tanned leathers, do not use plastic garment bags, as they do not allow the leather to breathe. Also, avoid folding the leather when storing, as permanent creases may form and the printed leathers may crack or stick if exposed to extreme heat or temperature changes.