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The care that leather clothing requires is quite specific, since it is a delicate material that, despite being one of the favorites by all due to its versatility, is not treated like other fabrics. Leather clothing will always be one of the most delicate that you will have in your wardrobe, for this reason, it is important that you investigate and take into account some tips. When wearing leather or fur clothing, we are always careful that it does not get wet, because in many cases we do not know if it is very problematic and can end up with our garment, or on the contrary, it is not important at all. On this occasion we bring you a series of tips so that you can take care of your leather garments accordingly and so that you know how to act in the event of any type of accident.
Leather can get wet, myth or reality?
We often hear that “leather can’t get wet” because it damages faster, or simply because it shouldn’t be exposed to changes in temperature or humidity, but we really don’t know if what is said is true or part of the myth. Wet leather is certainly not ideal, but you should know that there are always ways to handle this type of situation, depending on the quality of the material you use. If the leather is of good quality (like the one we use at juanpinapiel.com, for example) the exposure to water is not serious, or something without a solution, you can simply choose to let the piece dry outdoors and in a place ventilated so that this does not alter the fiber. For example, if you wear a leather jacket and you are exposed to the rain, it is recommended that you let it dry outdoors.
The case of leather is somewhat different, but it also depends on the quality of the material, something may or may not be done so that it is not damaged. A wet fur jacket coat may not be damaged if the quality is good and if you can do what is necessary to keep the garment unaltered. So, it is definitely a myth that wet leather cannot be repaired. While it is true that this type of clothing should not be constantly exposed to moisture or liquids, once or twice it happens to you accidentally, no major damage will happen.
What to do if your jacket or fur coat gets wet?
There are many ways to treat leather garments when they are exposed to liquids or moisture, depending on the type of leather, you will know what to do in each case. The pores in the case of Napa do not have the same conformation as suede, nubuck or marmot skin. For this reason, in this section we indicate some tips so that you know what to do in case you have a problem with your leather clothing.
Repair wet leather or Napa garments
In the case of leather garments or garments with a Napa finish, it is said that they are the materials that have the greatest resistance to water, because most of the jackets made of this material have an internal lining and the construction allows water to almost slip off the surface. touch the outside. The peculiarity of one of the types of leather most used by people is that exposure to hot air or steam tends to wear them out quickly. For this reason, to repair wet leather, what you should do is hang the garment on its own hanger and let it dry with natural air so that you do not cause unnecessary damage to the piece. Ideally, the jacket or jacket can dry loose, with the natural wind and in a place where it does not have any type of pressure. It is not recommended to use hot air dryer.
Repair wet suede garments
Due to the conformation of suede garments, the treatment is totally different, because as they do not have a protective film like leather, the care is much more delicate. In this type of garment, the quality of the material does play an important role, because when the material is of low quality, it tends to dry out, become stiff or wear out easily if it is exposed to water. When you have a low-quality suede garment that begins to fade or become deformed, you must use other types of techniques to repair it, since the defect comes from the manufacture of the garment, in the tanning process, which is the most important to achieve the necessary lining in suede clothing. The only thing recommended in these cases is to let it dry without exposing it to heat. The difference with respect to wet leather is that, in this case, you must include a step after drying the garment, which is simply brushing the area that was wet with a shoulder pad that you have at home. Brushing is a step that you should not stop doing, because in some way, with it you are trying to return each of its tissues to its place.
This step of brushing is important, in any case, because what usually happens when you find the skin wet in your suede or nubuck garment is that the pores absorb the water and the appearance of the material is altered and takes on another shape. Therefore, what you do when brushing it, once the piece is dry, is to return each pore to its place of origin and try to make it look like it did at the beginning. It is important then that when you go to buy a suede garment, try to verify its quality well, so that you can recover your piece when an accident occurs and it gets wet. In the case of having a low-quality suede coat, it can even shrink one or two sizes less than it is when wet.
Repair a wet fur coat
The case of hair is similar to that of leather, but a little more delicate when exposed to liquid. If the fox, marmot or sable fur gets wet, nothing will happen, but you must take care that this does not happen so often, as continuous exposure to liquids can cause your garment to be damaged. The new step in drying mink or sable fur is that once it dries naturally, grab it and shake it a few times. This is recommended so that the hair returns to its place, loosens and does not alter the part appearance. Also, try to use a metal bristle brush to untangle any knots that moisture may have caused.
Steps to repair a wet leather garment
To give you an idea of how to repair a wet leather garment, be it suede, leather or suede, here are a few simple steps that will surely help you:
✔️ Absorb moisture from the leather garment with a dry cloth.
✔️ Blow dry and then rub the dry cloth on the surface of the garment.
✔️ Do not use heat or expose the garment to a place where heat is generated.
✔️ Let air dry on a hanger.
✔️ Once the garment has dried, check if it has any water stains, if so, brush the piece.
✔️ In case the garment is fur, use a metal bristle brush to untangle.
You already have everything you need to know to dry your leather jackets at hand, including some tricks that you can use when you need to repair any of this type of garment. So don’t be afraid if your coat gets wet and apply each tip as we have explained.
