Leather garments have become part of our fashion culture over the past decades. The 1950's saw the explosion of the leather jacket as the epitome of cool, with legendary celebrities such as Marlon Brando wearing leather on the big screen (who, by the way, wore a Schott Jackets in the cult classic, "The Wild One". Since then, leather jackets have become a standard item of our everyday wardrobe.
Leather has been the preferred choice for experienced Motorcyclists for generations. To a rider, a leather garment may be the only barrier between your skin and the pavement. A quality leather garment will protect your skin from road rash in the event of a fall. Studies have shown a quality leather garment will have a 20 times survival rate over denim! Purchasing any quality leather riding garment should be considered a necessity when riding. The MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) recommends this to all Safety Course students.
Here are some tips that can prolong the life of all leather garments:
- Always hang leather garments on wide or padded hangers to maintain their shape.
- Never store leather goods in plastic or other non-breathable covers. This will cause leather to become dry.
- Allow wet or damp leather to air-dry naturally away from any heat source. Avoid extreme heat or humidity that may damage the skin's natural oils. Excessive dryness can cause cracking; excessive moisture can cause mildew. Leather can be treated with a leather conditioner yearly to restore flexibility and proper moisture levels. Suede and nubuck can be brushed with a terry towel to restore its look.
- In winter, promptly remove salt deposits from garments by sponging with clear water, then follow with the above treatment for wet or damp leather.
- Avoid very humid and dry environments as well as direct sunlight. This will shorten the life expectancy of your garment.
- Do not use waxes, silicone products or other leather preparations that impair a garment's ability to breathe.
- Wrinkles should hang out while on hanger. If ironing is desired, set iron on lowest setting, use a brown paper bag as a pressing cloth on right side of the garment and a quick hand to prevent overheating and shine. Do not use steam!
- Avoid spraying perfumes or hair sprays while wearing your garment and do not apply pins, adhesive badges or tape. Wearing a scarf at the neckline will help keep hair and body oil away from the collar.
- Hems may be fixed with a tiny amount of rubber cement. Seek out a professional leather care specialist when the garment becomes badly worn or soiled.
With proper care, your leather garment will age gracefully and can last a lifetime. Vintage jackets (Schott and others) have been known to last 50 years or more. A quality leather garment should be an investment in your wardrobe and/or riding safety.
For professional repairing, cleaning or reconditioning, we recommend contacing the following specialist:
Arrow Leathercare
3838 Toost Avenue
Kansas City, Mo. 64109
1-800-54-ARROW
Website: www.arrow-care.com
Customer Service: bea@arrow-care.com
They offer Free in-bound Shipping
Here are some of the Leather Care products we carry:
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