Looking after the piece
Care, plainly.
Hand-painted leather, canvas, velvet and braided cuffs. Each material has a small set of rules. Following them keeps the piece looking the way it left the bench.
Painted leather bags
Buckets, crossbodies, shoulders, minis. The paint is sealed after application, but the surface is still a hand-finished one. Treat it gently and it will outlast a season's printed version several times over.
When it rains
Hand-painted leather is not waterproof. A short surprise shower is survivable, longer is not. Dab dry with a soft cloth from the outside in. Stuff the bag with paper and let it dry away from direct heat.
If a mark lands
Most marks lift with a clean dry microfibre. For grease or makeup, a tiny dab of leather conditioner on a cotton bud. Test on the underside first.
If the colour ever wants refreshing
Email us a photo. We can rebrush a faded motif in the studio for a small fee. Some pieces come back looking better than the day they shipped.
Canvas totes
Heavyweight canvas with leather trim handles. The canvas takes life — coffee, hand cream, the school run — and the leather trim adds the limit.
For stains
Cold water, soft brush, mild soap on canvas only. Avoid the trim. Pat dry. If a stain is stubborn, get in touch — we have a small kit at the bench for these.
Velvet pouches and presentation
The make-up gold-splash pouch, the engagement box, anything velvet. The pile is what makes velvet look right. The pile is also what marks first.
For lint and dust
A soft-bristle brush, gently, in one direction. A lint roller works for the outside but never use it on the embroidered or hand-applied parts.
Bracelets, painted and braided
The painted floral bracelets are sealed but the seal is not chlorine-proof. The braided six-colour cuffs are dyed leather: the colour deepens with wear, which is the point.
The braided ones in particular
The first month, the braid will mark slightly where it sits on the wrist. That is the leather conforming, not damage. After three months it will have the patina of something that is yours.
Storage, between uses
- Bags: stuff with the dust cover or clean tissue. Store upright, away from direct sunlight. The cool dark of a wardrobe shelf is ideal.
- Bracelets: flat, in a small box or tray. Stacking is fine.
- Velvet pouches: flat, do not fold. Folding marks the pile.
- Long term: a silica gel packet in the bag during damp months keeps the inside fresh.