Kathleen Gillick

Leather Perfect

Leather Cleaning, Repair, Alterations

phone:

925-283-5808

3622 Mt. Diablo Blvd.

Lafayette, CA 94549

Send Us a Message

You must be logged in to use this feature.

Introduce Us

You must be logged in to use this feature.

Leather Perfect: Cleaning, Repair, Alterations

Anti-Aging for the Leather You Love

04/28/2007 EXPECTATIONS AFTER CLEANING

Leather Reality ...

Loss of color - Be prepared to see a slight variance in the depth of color after cleaning. In manufacturing, the tanner immersed the skin in a dye bath to obtain a uniform color, but skins from various parts of the animal may vary in colorfastness. The cleaner can correct some color variance, but must rely on spray dyeing, which will not dye the suede or leather to the same degree as the original immersion process.
Loss of oils - During tanning, leathers are impregnated with oils to keep them supple. Some of these oils are lost in cleaning, and although the professional cleaner has special additives to restore suppleness, there could be some change in the feel or hand of the garment. Imperfections in the skin are often apparent after cleaning.
Scar tissue and vein marks - These imperfections in the animal's skin are masked by the manufacturer with fillers before dyeing. These fillers disappear after cleaning revealing the imperfections.
Wrinkles - Skins taken from the loose neck or belly portions of the animal are naturally wrinkled. During manufacturing the skins are stretched for a smooth appearance. As the skins relax with age and cleaning, the wrinkles reappear.
Shrinkage - Some shrinkage will likely occur in your garment over time as the skins relax. As you wear a leather garment it tends to conform comfortably to your body. After cleaning, the garment may feel a little snug but after wearing this feeling will dissipate.
Thin skins - Some skins are extremely thin and too fragile for use in apparel. These skins will wear exceptionally fast and cleaning will further aggravate the damage of thin skins.
Oxidation - Dyes can oxidize from exposure to light and gases in the atmosphere. This is a slow progressive condition that develops with age. It may become more noticeable after cleaning.
Color Shading from Adhesives - Adhesives are sometimes used to glue seams, hems, and other areas during construction of the garment. These glues or adhesives may not be solvent resistant. Sometimes the glues don't dissolve completely, but leach through the leather and cause shaded areas.