How to take care of your leather bags and shoes in the monsoons

 

Though we could all use some relief from the scorching sun, the monsoons can be difficult to navigate. Not only do you need to swap out your summer essentials for more practical options, but your shoes and bags also require special attention in this weather. Vogue spoke with Esther Lennaerts, founder of Cobbler by Pressto, about how to protect your leather goods this season from the effects of humidity and moisture.

Your 101 to the different types of leather

According to Lennaerts, the velour family (soft-to-touch leathers similar to velvet), which includes splits, suede, nubuck, mocha, and nappalan, is the most difficult to care for. "Suede is easily damaged by the monsoon and loses hair." It's also difficult to restore its lost sheen and feel, which is why it requires special attention during the monsoon," she says. "Most velours are professionally cleaned and brushed with a suede or nubuck brush or stone to remove sand, dust, and other impurities." These materials should be polished to a high standard."

The aniline leather family (the type of leather that shows the texture of the hide, including the ridges and pores), according to Lennaerts, also requires special care. "Aniline and semi aniline must be handled with caution, especially aniline, which is extremely sensitive due to the lack of a protective pigmented coating." Moisture easily penetrates, and unfortunately, cleaning is extremely difficult," she explains. Lennaerts recommends that when cleaning aniline, you ask your service provider to use a gentle foam and a professional balm (that matches the exact color of your aniline).

While the aforementioned leather families are absolute no-nos for the monsoon season, the last group of pigmented leather—primarily used for shoes and bags—happens to be the most resistant to the season's humidity. "Pigmented leather has a rougher feel than aniline leather." "The durability is provided by a polymer surface coating containing pigments, which can easily absorb moisture in the air," she explains.

Not sure what kind of leather your shoe, bag, or piece of clothing is made of? Pay close attention to the label tags—they will tell you how to care for your leather items.

How to take care of your leather shoes, clothes and bags

"The monsoon season is undeniably difficult—the moisture from the air can accumulate in the leather and increase the chance of [attracting] fungus, which eats away at the leather and causes permanent damage," Lennaerts explains. "It's best to visit an expert who understands [the requirements of] the leather type during the cleaning as well as the polishing stage to clean leather."

Lennaerts emphasizes the importance of always keeping your items in a breathable bag when laying out the general rules for leather care. "Never use plastic because it creates a sauna-like environment and accelerates the formation of fungi," she advises. "When it comes to bags, keep in mind that it's not just the moisture on the outside that can cause fungus, but also the dirt and moisture that has accumulated inside." Lennaerts also recommends using wooden shoe trees for leather footwear. "They keep moisture out of the leather," she says at the end.