Leather bag care — how to clean and protect your Joséphine Paris design?

It is the purchase you have been dreaming of for months. You have waited, compared, hesitated — at last, you have chosen it. You now hold in your hands your Joséphine Paris design, a leather piece of irreproachable quality, conceived to accompany you for many years. It is natural to want to take care of it.

Though it may seem delicate at first sight, leather counts in reality among the most durable materials. However, it is important to keep in mind that its appearance is not fixed. It will not have the same rendering on the day of purchase as after one year, ten years, twenty years of use. This evolution is natural and is what makes its preciousness. You will see over time that the form of your bag becomes more supple. Subtly, its appearance evolves. The leather develops what is called a "patina".

In our rigorous selection of materials, we opted for full-grain leather, an exacting and rare material. A high-quality choice that gives our pieces suppleness and a silken touch. These exceptional hides are not corrected. It is not unusual for them to show natural marks such as veins or slight creases. Far from being imperfections, these bear witness to the authenticity and uniqueness of your design. At Joséphine Paris, we consider this evolution as a signature. Every detail tells a story, every trace becomes the reflection of moments lived with your bag. To preserve the balance between this natural patina and the elegance of the material, it is essential to understand how to care for leather, clean your leather bag and protect the leather every day. Here are the gestures to know.

• Beware of abrasive surfaces — they risk damaging the leather.

• Leather being a sensitive material, the use of aggressive products is to be avoided. Wipes, alcohol and household products may cause irreversible damage.

• Protect your bag from humidity, rain, and keep it away from any source of direct heat.

• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun so as not to alter its colour.

• Apply creams in circular movements, insisting on the most solicited areas (handles, edges of closures, belts, snap hooks).

• Let the care product penetrate for a few minutes then polish the surface with a dry cloth to reveal the leather's shine.

• In case of a stain, act quickly to prevent it from penetrating deep into the material. Dab delicately the affected area with a clean cloth, without rubbing.