Leather care

Leather care, material care, guide

Our full grain leather is carefully treated with aniline, an aromatic organic compound, the main quality of which is to guarantee the adequate protection of the leather by covering it in a delicate layer. It is very thin and completely translucent, thereby letting the pores and natural scars of the skin show through without deteriorating its appearance or its texture. This finish ensures real authenticity and strong singularity to the leather, transcribed by a unique patina created over time.

As all our leathers receive protective treatment based on their finish before leaving the tannery, it is important to ask advice from an artisan shoemaker before applying any product (cream, polish, waterproofing treatment, etc.) to their surface. However, most stains caused by daily use can easily be cleaned. Simply rub the leather carefully with a soft pale cloth using suitable colourless and neutral cream or, failing that, gentle make-up remover. Before applying the cream, you can rub small stains with a white eraser to make them fade.

To avoid deteriorating your leather goods, keep them away from permanent markers, alcohol and solvents (perfume, some wines and other alcoholic beverages, nail varnish remover, bleach, etc.) and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun or the light, which may alter pale or bright shades. We also recommend protecting your products against strong rain, which could permanently warp the shape or surface of your bag due to imbibition.

Remember that leather is a natural raw material. Since the charm of its colour resides in the depth of its shade, the darker your bag is, the better it will be for you to pair it with a similarly toned outfit to avoid any risk of transfer. On the other hand, if your bag is pale, go for lighter coloured clothes.

Generally speaking, you should always protect your bag against heat and humidity. If you want, you can waterproof your bags. Before doing so, ask a specialist shoemaker for advice, they will recommend the most suitable product for their leather. However, this step isn't essential, as the quality of leather resides essentially in the particularity of its natural wear and evolution by your side over time. These variations in colour and texture will give it a charm highly appreciated by connoisseurs.

Tips

To look after your bag and keep it by your side for as long as possible, here is some advice for each type of leather. Our Lancaster Cleansing Polish Milk and our Lancaster Nourishing Balms are available on our website and in our shops.

Lancaster Cleansing Polish Milk

This aqueous solution is an ideal cleansing polish milk for all shades and all types of leather (except velours leather). Use it to clean marks and stains caused by natural ageing (daily wear and tear) on the surface of leather. It brightens colour and provides increased protection.

Lancaster Nourishing Balm

The nourishing balm is a special cream for leather with an aniline finish. It is available as a colourless or as a tinted solution (black, brown, taupe, gold). Use it to nourish and protect the leather as well as to brighten and look after its colour.

Cleaning and nourishing your bag

To guarantee a good level of impregnation and adhesion of the Lancaster Nourishing Balm, we recommend dusting and cleaning your bag first. Before each step, do a test on an invisible section of the bag (on its base for example).

• Using a soft cloth, dust your bag.

• Shake the bottle of Lancaster Cleansing Polish Milk well and pour a dose on a soft clean sloth, preferably made of cotton (1a). Then apply to the area you want to clean, rubbing gently (2a). Leave it to dry and wipe it off lightly.

• Apply the appropriate amount of Lancaster Nourishing Balm to a soft clean cloth (1b) and apply it to the leather. Rub it in using circular motions to polish the surface (2b). Remove any excess, leave to dry and wipe it off lightly.

Reserved for the highest quality part of the hide, the bags made with this leather are part of the higher end part of our collection. It is the most natural looking leather with the surface characteristic still exhibiting. The leather is treated with aniline, an aromatic organic compound. Its main attribute is to protect the hide with a very light and translucent pigment surface coating. The natural characteristics such as pores, scars, appearance and texture, are preserved.

However, aniline does not protect the leather against damages caused by rain, light, scratches and rubbing. The full-grain leather bags will develop a rich patina over time, which give them an authentic and unique look.

Caution:

•  The light and bright colors are sensitive to light due to the pigments used. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight; it will alter the color.

•  Avoid prolonged contact with materials that can bleed on the leather (other leathers, jeans and some clothing), especially on light colors.

•  Dark and bright colors may come off on clothes.

Care instructions:

• Protect the bag from humidity and light.

• We recommend using the LANCASTER cleansing milk and the LANCASTER moisturizing balm to protect the leather and enhance the luster.

• Apply a waterproof spray specially on light colors (optional).

The suede is a leather with a soft finish. It is made with the underside of the leather. It is less resistant than the classic leather, but its apppreciated for its soft touch and Suediney.

Caution:

•  All suede leathers are not guaranteed colorfast. It is recommendeed not to wear these natural leathers with light-colored clothing.

Care instructions:

• Protect the bag from humidity and rain with a waterproof spray.

• Remove surface dirt with a suede brush.

After being treated, dyed and coated with aniline, the texture of the leather is embossed to obtain a Croco or Python pattern. For even more depth and realism, it is hand painted. The final result is a real illusion.

The full-grain leather is corrected by embossing artificial grain. This process consists of beating and crumpling the hide to tighten the fibers. Then, coated with a pigmented paint layer to give its final appearance. This type of finish ensures greater resistance to damages (rubbing, dirt, rain…) and long lasting colors.

Care instructions:

• We recommend using the LANCASTER cleansing milk.

The split leather is created from the lower part of the hide. The leather is treated with a highly resistant coating. After being split, the leather is covered with a thick polyurethane layer, giving it a perfect consistency, a smooth look and a greater durability. It then can be embossed to add some depth (Saffiano grain).

Caution:

• Avoid prolonged contact with material that can bleed on the leather (magazine, other leathers, jeans and some clothing), especially on light colors.

Care instructions:

• We recommend using the LANCASTER cleansing milk.

This type of leather has a particular polished texture through a process of heating and plating that gives a smooth look to the leather. It is used on the retro styles, for its vintage look and feel. Despite its sturdy appearance, the distressed leather, remains a full-grain leather and requires regular care.

Caution:

• The light and bright colors are sensitive to light due to the pigments used. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight; it will alter the color.

Care instructions:

• Clean the leather with a cleansing milk and a soft cloth.

• Moisturize the leather with a tinted or translucent moisturizing balm.

Taurillion is a high-end leather, whose thickness gives it resilience and suppleness. The leather is corrected by graining, a procedure involving beating and creasing the leather inside a beater in order to give it a higher degree of softness with no loss of resilience. The leather is then covered with a layer of pigmented paint to give it its final appearance. This finishing makes the leather much more resistant to the external elements (blows, frictions; rain) and helps it retain its color for a longer time.

Care instructions:

• We recommend using the LANCASTER cleansing milk.

Sheepskin is a naturally grainy material. Its surface is tense and its texture is very supple and soft with a very delicate feel. The details are highlighted by an all-natural vegetable oil finish.

Caution:

• As for the Soft Vintage, the light and bright colors are sensitive to light due to the pigments used. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight; it will alter the color.

• Avoid prolonged contact with materials that can bleed on the leather (other leathers, jeans and some clothing), especially on light colors.

• Dark and bright colors may come off on clothes and vice versa.

Care instructions:

• Protect the bag from humidity and light.

• We recommend using the Lancaster cleansing milk and the Lancaster moisturizing balm to protect the leather and enhance the luster.

• Apply a waterproof spray specially on light colors (optional).

The body of the Smart, Basic, Ikon, Canvas and Bayadère bags is made in synthetic material, it is so light and easy to use. The trim is in distressed leather. Very resistant, they are perfect for everyday use.

Care instructions:

• Clean the canvas with a soft cloth, water and soap, then let it dry.

The LANCASTER guarantee

The Lancaster brand is based first and foremost on quality and trust.

This is why we take the utmost care designing and creating all our products. We also provide a one-year manufacturing defect guarantee from their date of purchase.

Simply show the guarantee and Lancaster will replace the pieces, acknowledged by their technical service as having a defect, free of charge. This guarantee covers all labour costs as well as return postage fees in mainland France.

However, it does not cover the following situations:

• normal wear and tear of the product,

• accidental damage,

• use of solvents, pens and permanent markers,

• abnormal use or lack of care.

If your item is damaged and can be repaired, you will be given a quote.

In any case, we recommend that you contact the shop where the item was purchased. If you purchased it via the online shop, please contact our web service at the following address: infoweb@lancaster.fr, and attach photos illustrating your claim.