How to Care for Full-Grain Leather

Full-grain leather is the top layer of the hide, with the grain left intact. That is why it takes a patina instead of wearing out — and why it asks for very little from you.

Once a month, no more

Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth. If the leather looks chalky or feels dry at the folds, work in a pea-sized amount of neutral cream with your fingertips, let it sit for twenty minutes, then buff away the excess. Over-conditioning softens the structure, so resist the urge to do this weekly.

Water is not the enemy, soaking is

A light rain will dry without a mark. If a bag does get wet, empty it, wipe it, and let it dry at room temperature away from radiators and direct sun. Never use a hairdryer — heat pulls the natural oils out and the leather will crack at the handle roots within a season.

Store it standing, stuffed lightly

Keep the shape with acid-free tissue rather than newspaper, whose ink can transfer. Store the bag in its cotton dust bag, standing upright, and leave the handles free. Avoid hanging a heavy tote by one handle for months at a time; the leather will stretch unevenly and no repair will fully reverse it.

Scratches are part of the record

On smooth calfskin, a light scratch will usually lift with the warmth of your thumb. On pebbled and saffiano leathers they barely register. If a mark bothers you after a year, send it to us — we refinish edges and replace hardware on any JINGJIE bag, for as long as we are making them.