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Is it advisable to have it dry cleaned?

No! Dry Cleaners are not experts in leather, we often see leather jackets which have been subjected to dry cleaning chemicals which result in stained and hardened leather, we can sometimes deal with the stains but once the leather has hardened it very difficult to reverse as it removes natural oils.

You can have a leather jacket cleaned by a leather professional!

Leather is a natural material that requires specialist care by a professional leather cleaning expert (such as ourselves here at Buffalo) who can restore its appearance and colour.
A professional will use the correct cleaning method for the type of leather you have, and will apply the correct dye or pigment colour so it doesn’t alter the original appearance, whilst also applying softeners to retain its suppleness.

And please remember do not use the following to clean your leather:

• Microfibre cloths – These shed tiny fibres which can mix in to a leather conditioner, the fibres harden when the leather conditioner dries causing a rough surface.
• White vinegar – This is highly acidic and can harm your leather, its also very pungent and the leather will hold that smell.
• Oil – Garment leather and upholstery leather is not created to take oil, oil will produce a sticky dull surface.
• Saddle soap – As the name indicates this is purely created for saddles which is entirely different leather compared to garment leather. 

The term leather dye is often incorrectly used, most would use the term ‘dye’ as a general rule for a product to colour leather.

The surprising fact is leather dye is NOT suitable for all leather types, and not ideal for certain environments, you don’t want that lovely dye rubbing off all over your clothes!

So what is the difference between leather dye and leather paint?

Leather dyes are transparent, they are not a solid colour, they’re a subtle tint of colour (similar to a wood dye)

Dyes have to soak in to the leather to have an effect on enhancing the colour, therefore your leather has to be very absorbent to use a dye.

If the leather isn’t absorbent enough for the dye to soak in it will sit on the surface and rub off on to your clothing.

It’s important to carry out an absorbency test by wiping over the leather using a very damp cloth, if the leather immediately changes colour to a much darker tone your leather should be suitable for a leather dye.

Absorbent leather normally fades over times (dyes tend to fade when exposed to daylight) at that point a leather dye colour restorer can be rubbed in to the surface to restore the original colour.

Don’t forget a dye can’t just be applied and that’s the end of it, the leather has to be finished using a finishing balm or buffing cream.

Here at buffalo we supply a kit which provides all 3 products you need to re-dye your leather.

Purchase Leather Dye Colour Restorer Kit for Absorbent Leather

The moral of this story is don't apply a dye if the leather isn't fully absorbent

The choice between faux and genuine leather is a familiar problem for many. 

Faux leather and vinyl, is known for being cheaper and being vegan friendly so has had increased recognition lately. But, a recent survey has found that faux leather is prone to more damage compared to leather.

This realisation has led to potential retail customers reconsidering genuine leather as the superior covering for their upholstery, not only for that, it’s also recognised for its strength and elegant style too.

The misunderstanding about faux leather, is that most faux leather is a product of the fossil fuel industry, its made of plastic and currently cannot be re-cycled so normally ends up in land fill. 

THE ACTUAL VALUE OF GENUINE LEATHER:

STRENGTH:

Real leather is well-known for its durability. Unlike its faux substitute, high-quality genuine leather can endure daily wear, often lasting years and years with proper care. This makes leather items more cost-effective in the long run.

AGING GRACIOUSLY:

Over time, genuine leather develops a unique character adding to its appealing nature. With certain leathers the natural aging process tells it own story, making each piece distinctive and beautiful as the years go by.

REPAIRABLE:

Natural scratches on aniline & semi-aniline leathers can normally be polished out, and keep their suppleness and strength through conditioning.

BIODEGRADABILITY:

Genuine leather is biodegradable, when disposed of it decomposes more easily compared to its faux substitute, reducing its environmental footprint.

SUSTAINABLE SOURCING:

Leather is a by-product of the meat trade, using what would otherwise be a leftover product. Research shows that this surplus bi-product which is passed to the leather industry processes millions of tons of hides annually, which would otherwise be cast-off in to landfill.

LESS PLASTIC WASTE:

Opting for genuine leather over faux helps reduce plastic waste. Faux leathers are created from plastics like polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride; these contribute to pollution and are not biodegradable.

REDUCED CHEMICAL USE:

State-of-the-art leather tanning processes are becoming more environmentally friendly. Selecting genuine leather not only offers a product of luxurious quality and durability but also helps environmentally valuable practices.