OUR LEATHER
Most of our products are made in either buffalo or cow pull-up or crazy horse leather. In order to fully appreciate this type of leather, it is important to understand its unique characteristics.
Buffalo and cow leather is soft and flexible and yet strong and durable. Buffalo leather can be stiffer and has a more pronounced grain than cow leather. Both leather are ideal for making durable bags and accessories.
Pull-up leather is aniline dyed (water-soluble synthetic dye without any insoluble pigments) and finished with a combination of transparent waxes and oils, which gives the leather a vibrant colour and a soft feel. When this leather is stretched or pulled, the oils on the surface cause the colour to migrate and becomes lighter in the pulled areas. Hence, the name “pull-up” refers to this change in colour. As a pure aniline leather, marks, scratches, and signs of wear will show and a rich patina, or shine, will increase over time.
The more pull-up leather is handled, the more it resembles distressed leather. Wrinkles and marks become an inherent part of the leather. While it is possible to rub out some scratches with the natural oils on your finger or thumb, most marks and creases incurred during handling become a lasting part of the product, giving it uniqueness and a personal touch.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR LEATHER
We receive a lot of queries on how to get rid of scratches and signs of wear from our products. First, it is important to understand that visible traces of wear and patina development appear quickly and strongly on pull-up and crazy horse leather. This is by design, and it is what gives the product the desired vintage look.
However, we also recommend applying a good quality leather wax or conditioner on your leather product every three to four months. This has many benefits; from getting rid of dryness and leaving the leather looking soft and supple to reducing the appearance of marks and scratches to making the leather more durable by making it more resistant to water and other elements of nature. Think of leather wax and conditioner as moisturizer for your skin - they serve the same purpose.
Amazon has a great selection of leather care products that you can order. If Amazon is not accessible to you, we recommend looking for Cherry Blossom Neutral Shoe Polish (imported beige tin) at your nearest superstore. If you have trouble finding that, you can always use some Vaseline petroleum jelly (original variant only and preferably imported) to wax your leather product. Here's what you need to do:
Using a lighly damp cloth, wipe the product clean of any dirt or residue. Then take a small amount of Vaseline and apply it in a circular motion on the entire leather using a soft and dry cloth until it is completely absorbed. Let the leather dry for five to ten minutes and then gently wipe off any residue.
Do not rub hard or use force as it may stain the leather, and avoid going over the stitching as it may become weak or get discoloured as a result.
It is always a good idea to do a little spot test on an inconspicuous part of the product and observe the results first before you get right into it. The Vaseline will slightly darken the shade of the leather.
Lastly, Bear Necessities offers free refurbishment of its products till the end of time. This includes everything from replacing accessories to repairing and mending the stitching to waxing and polishing, of course. All you need to do is mail us your product and we will take care of the rest.
IS OUR LEATHER WATER PROOF?
No, it is not. No leather is.
Leather can be varying degree of water resistant but no real leather can claim to be water proof. However, over time, a combination or oil, dirt and other residue which accumulates on the surface of the leather tends to make it more resistant to water.
The best way to make your leather product more water resistant is by applying a leather water proofing product available in the form of a spray or wax on it. Regular leather waxes and conditioners also do a good job at water proofing.
We wax all our products before shipping so you can expect some degree of water resistance. However, anything more than a few small drops can still leave a mark. In case your product gets wet, tap dry it with a towel immediately and let the remaining moisture evaporate naturally. Do not rub the wet area or apply unnatural heat.