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What
you need to know about
your leather Garment.
A
UNIQUE AND NATURAL PRODUCT...
Garment
leather is a by-product
of the farming and food
production industries.
Environmental conditions,
the feed the animals receive,
as well as many other factors,
affect the leather's appearance
and overall quality. Furthermore,
every hide has sections
that are inherently wrinkled,
softer, or thinner than
other parts. Nature's creations
are never uniform. Therefore,
whether markings are genetic
or acquired, they impart
a unique, natural beauty
to genuine leather garments.
LEATHER
BREATHES...
Leather
is one of nature's most
sensual and practical materials.
Not only is it aesthetically
pleasing to the senses,
but, the structure of its
fibers make it strong,
durable and wind resistant.
When days turn warm, the
pores in the leather allow
perspiration to evaporate.
This "breathing" produces
a cooling effect and keeps
body temperature at a comfortable
level. Since leather does
not easily wrinkle, it
is an excellent choice
for extended wear or travel.
Leather ages gracefully,
like a favorite pair of
jeans, and will last a
long time if given proper
care.
TEXTURE...
The
first thing people do when
they are looking at leather
is touch it. As a general
rule, the softer the hand,
the more expensive the
leather. Stiff, "dry" feeling
leathers are typically
the least expensive. Suppleness, "oiliness" is
a result of both the skin
quality and type, as well
as care in tanning finishing.
Lamb is the softest grain
leather, followed by cow.
Smooth leathers are usually
better quality than buffed
ones, where the skin has
been buffed to hide imperfections.
MANUFACTURING...
Each
leather hide is cut, one
at a time, along patterns
that represent portions
of the sleeves, the collar,
etc., and obvious imperfections
in the leather are cut
out. The resulting pieces
from the various hides
are then matched up for
color, texture, and design,
and seven together to form
a garment. The more expensive
the garment, the higher
the standards at this and
every level of production.
CARE
AND MAINTENANCE...
- Store
garment on broad hangers,
not wire, to maintain
its shape. Avoid storing
under plastic, which dries
leather out. Leather
needs to breathe.
- If
wet, air dry naturally.
Modem quality leathers
do not water spot permanently.
Do not hang it near heat
sources. Keep it out
of both very humid and
very dry areas.
- Wrinkles
will hang out.
- Hems
may be fixed with a tiny
amount of rubber cement.
For best results, see
a leather care professional.
- Wipe
away dust and dirt with
a soft sponge or cloth.
Use a mild soap heavily
diluted with water. Very
dirty garments need to
be cleaned by a professional.
- Leather
conditioners and cleaning
products are available.
However, only use products
specifically designed for leather apparel. Cleaning fluids, shoe cream, saddle
soap, or mink oil should not be used on a leather garment.
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