Leather care: Red
Leather Type: Chrome-tanned and retanned using a combination of tanning methods. The leather is finished with waxes, oils, and aniline dyes, then tumbled to bring out its natural grain.
Feel and Aging: Unlike our smooth black and brown leathers, this red leather has a naturally textured grain and a distinctive marbled finish. The combination of waxes, oils, and aniline dyes gives it depth and variation in color, making every piece unique.
When to Condition: It really depends on how you use your bag. A good rule of thumb is to condition it every 3–4 months, but there’s no need to stick to a strict schedule. Conditioning too often can make your leather overly soft or even greasy. If you only use your bag for special occasions, conditioning it 1–2 times a year should be enough. If it’s your everyday ride-or-die bag, I’d recommend conditioning it about every 3 months, depending on how it looks and feels.
How Can I Tell When It Needs Conditioning: The leather will start to look noticeably dry and dull. It will no longer have the vibrant red color.
What Products Do I Recommend?
You can purchase it directly from their website or on Amazon. It’s a great leather cream that helps clean, condition, restore, and protect your leather. I’ve been using it for years, and it’s my go-to for leather care.
Leather 4 Ever Balm
For an added layer of protection, you can finish with my in-house-made Leather 4 Ever Balm. Made with beeswax and oils, with a touch of clove for its scent, it adds a protective wax finish to your leather.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Clean your leather
If your piece doesn’t have much dirt on it, simply wipe it down with a damp cloth using water.
For dirtier areas, use a small amount of neutral soap diluted in water. Wipe the leather clean, then gently pat it dry with a clean cloth.
I recommend using microfiber or another cloth that won’t leave lint behind. My go-to is blue shop towels. I find them to be the best for this.
A note on cleaning: Never soak your bag in water. Always clean it using a damp cloth, and avoid saturating the leather.
Step 2: Apply Skidmore’s Leather Cream
Apply the leather cream all over your piece, making sure to reach all the nooks and crannies. Use a clean cloth to work the cream into the leather.
Let the leather absorb the product. Once most of it has soaked in, gently rub any remaining cream into the surface with your cloth.
And there you have it! Your leather is conditioned.
Step 3: Add a layer of protection (optional)
This step is completely optional, but recommended if you’d like to add an extra layer of protection.
Once you’ve completely worked the Skidmore’s Leather Cream into the leather, apply my in-house-made Leather 4 Ever Balm using a clean cloth. This balm is much waxier and firmer than the leather cream, so it takes a little more elbow grease to work it into the leather, especially with the red leather’s textured surface.
Make sure to really work the balm into the leather to avoid leaving any white patches. You don’t want the wax sitting on the surface, as it can dry with a whitish residue if it isn’t properly worked in.
Take your time, then buff the surface until it has a smooth, even sheen.
And that’s it! You’ve successfully conditioned your leather.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
If your piece has metal eyelets or studs, make sure you don’t leave water or conditioner sitting in or around them. Moisture trapped around metal hardware can lead to rust or corrosion over time.
DISCLAIMER: There are many ways to condition leather and plenty of products to choose from. This is the method I’ve found works best for the specific leathers I use at Yomahra. Every leather is different, so results may vary depending on the leather type and finish.