A leather jacket should last you ten years, not one season. But our weather does not make it easy. Summers here run long and dry, the monsoon brings damp, and by winter there is dust and smog sitting on everything. None of that ruins leather, as long as you do a few simple things.

Keep it out of the sun

This is the one people get wrong most often. Leaving a jacket hanging near a window, or on the back of a chair where the afternoon sun hits it, dries the leather out. Once it cracks there is no fixing it. Keep it inside the cupboard, and never dry it in front of a heater or with a hairdryer.

If it gets wet

Rain is not a disaster. Pat the jacket dry with a cotton cloth, hang it on a wide hanger and leave it at room temperature. It will be fine by morning. What damages leather is heat drying, not water.

Conditioning, twice a year

Leather conditioner puts back the oils that daily wear takes out. You will find it at most shoe shops and online. Take a little on a soft cloth, rub it in slowly, leave it twenty minutes, then wipe off whatever is sitting on the surface. Twice a year is enough for most people. If you are in Karachi and wear yours through the humid months, make it three times.

Marks and spills

Dust: a dry cloth every couple of weeks is all it needs.
Water marks: let them dry fully, then condition the whole panel so the colour settles evenly.
Oil or food: blot it, do not rub. Leave a little cornflour on the spot overnight and brush it off in the morning.
Anything stubborn: take it to a proper leather cleaner. Regular dry cleaners often use chemicals that strip the finish.

Storing it through summer

Your jacket is going to sit in a cupboard from March to October, so store it properly. Use a wide wooden hanger, leave a gap on both sides so air can move, and cover it with a cotton sheet or an old kurta. Do not use a plastic bag or a shopping bag. Plastic traps moisture and that is exactly how mould starts in humid weather.

A quick word on ours

Every LeatherCulture jacket is checked by hand before it is packed, and the stitching and hardware are covered for 12 months. If something goes wrong, message us and we will sort it out. You can see what is in stock on the shop page.

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