Leather care

Leather care, material maintenance guide

Our full-grain leathers are treated with the utmost care using aniline, an aromatic organic compound whose main quality is to cover the leather and ensure adequate protection thanks to a delicate layer. Very thin and completely translucent, it reveals the pores and marks of the skin, without deteriorating its appearance and texture. This finish ensures the leather's true authenticity and strong uniqueness, reflected by a unique patina forged over time.

Since all our leathers have already received treatment at the tannery that protects them to varying degrees depending on their finish, it is important to consult a cobbler before applying any product (cream, polish, waterproofing, etc.) to their surface. However, most daily stains can be easily cleaned. Simply rub the leather gently with a soft, light-colored cloth using a suitable colorless and neutral care cream, or alternatively a gentle makeup remover. You can also, before applying the cream, reduce small stains using a simple white eraser.

To avoid damaging your leathers, prioritize avoiding indelible markers, alcohols, and solvents (perfume, certain wines and spirits, nail polish remover, bleach, etc.) as well as prolonged exposure to sunlight or light, which could alter light or bright tones. It is also recommended to protect your products from heavy rain, which could irreparably deform the shape or surfaces by soaking.

Remember that leather is a raw natural material. The charisma of its color lies in the depth of its dye. The darker your bag, the more preferable it is to pair it with outfits of similar or dark colors to avoid any risk of transfer. Conversely, if your bag is rather light-colored, prefer clothing in the same or light shades.

In general, protect your leathers from heat and humidity. If you wish, you can waterproof your bags by seeking the advice of a specialist cobbler who can guide you towards good products suitable for their leather. But note that this step is not essential because the quality of leather lies above all in the particularity of its natural wear and evolution, alongside you, over time. These variations in color and texture will give it a charm most appreciated by connoisseurs.

Some advice

To take care of your bag and keep it by your side as long as possible, we provide you with some advice for each material. You can find our Lancaster Cleaning and Polishing Milk as well as our Lancaster Nourishing Balms on our website and in our stores.

Lancaster Cleaning and Polishing Milk

In aqueous solution, the cleaning and polishing milk can be used on all leathers (except suede), regardless of color. It is used to clean dirt and stains caused by natural aging (daily wear) on the surface of the leather. The color is then revived and the leather is better protected.

Lancaster Nourishing Balm

The nourishing balm is a cream for leathers finished with aniline. It is available in colorless or tinted solution (black, brown, taupe, gold). It is used to nourish and protect the leather as well as to revive and maintain the color.

To clean and nourish your bag

To ensure good impregnation and adhesion of the Lancaster Nourishing Balm, it is recommended to dust and clean your bag beforehand. Before each step, test the product on a discreet part of the bag (underneath, for example).

  • Dust your bag with a soft cloth.
  • Shake the bottle of Lancaster Cleaning and Polishing Milk well and pour a dose onto a soft, clean cloth, preferably cotton (1a). Then apply to the area to be cleaned by gently massaging (2a). Let dry and then wipe lightly.
  • Apply the necessary amount of Lancaster Nourishing Balm to the surface of a soft, clean cloth (1b) then apply to the leather. Gently and circularly massage to polish the surface (2b). Remove the excess, let dry, and then wipe lightly.

Full-grain leather - Lines: Marble Touch, Studio Dream, Mademoiselle, Soft Vintage, Marco, Capital, Atlas

As the most noble part of the skin, all bags made with this leather are part of the high-end of our collections. Indeed, their appearance remains the closest to the original skin of the animal. They are treated with aniline, an aromatic organic compound. Its main quality is to cover the leather and ensure adequate protection thanks to a delicate, very thin, and totally translucent layer. The pores, marks, appearance, and texture of the skin are preserved.

Precaution for use:

  • Light and bright colors are sensitive to light due to the pigments used. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, which could alter the color.
  • Avoid prolonged contact with any material that may release dyes that could migrate to the leather (other leathers, jeans, and certain clothing), particularly towards light colors.
  • Colors may bleed onto light-colored clothing.

Maintenance tips:

  • Protect the bag from moisture and light.
  • Maintain with Lancaster cleaning milk and nourishing balm to protect the leather and the appearance of colors.
  • It is recommended to waterproof the bag.
Suede leather - Lines: Parisienne Garance & Velours, Vendôme, Smooth Lily & Velours, Smart Velours

Suede is a type of leather with a softer finish. It is obtained from the inner side of the leather. It is therefore less resistant than classic leather, but it is appreciated for its feel and velvety appearance.

Precaution for use:

  • Not all suede leathers can be guaranteed to be colorfast. It is recommended not to wear these 'natural' leathers with light-colored clothing and vice versa.

Maintenance tips:

  • Protect the bag from moisture and rain with a waterproofing agent.
  • Clean suede leather with a suede brush and suitable products.
Fashioned leathers: printed or embossed - Lines: Exotic Croco

After being worked, dyed, and treated subtly with aniline, the texture of these leathers is embossed to obtain highs and lows that replicate the skins of Croco or Python. To give even more relief and realism to the obtained material, it is finally hand-painted. The final appearance is a true trompe-l'œil.
Corrected grain leather - Lines: Dune, Pur & Element Foulonné, Gentlemen

Full-grain cowhide leather is corrected here by graining. This process consists of beating and wrinkling the leather in a drum to tighten the fibers. It is then covered with a layer of pigmented paint to give it its final appearance. This type of finish ensures the leather has greater resistance to external aggressions (blows, friction, rain...) and durable color retention over time.

Care advice:

  • Maintenance with LANCASTER cleaning milk or a leather cream found in a cobbler's shop.
Split leather - Lines: Vendôme, Smooth, Concorde, Saffiano, Nao, Pur & Element, Constance, Mathias

Split leather, or leather crust, constitutes the lower part of the skin. The leather is treated with an extremely resistant covering finish. Indeed, after being split, the leather is covered with a polyurethane film, ensuring perfect uniformity, a smooth appearance, and greater robustness. It can then be embossed to give it relief (Saffiano grain).

Precaution of use:

  • Avoid prolonged contact with any material likely to release dyes that could migrate to the leather (magazine, other leathers, jeans, and certain clothing), particularly towards light colors.

Care advice:

  • Maintenance with LANCASTER cleaning milk, a leather cream found in a cobbler's shop, or with a damp sponge.
Aged leather - Lines: Country

This type of leather has a particularly glossy texture thanks to a heating and pressing process that gives the leather a smoother appearance. It is used on retro models and is part of a desire to rediscover the traditional values of the past. Robust in appearance, aged leather remains a supple full-grain leather and requires regular maintenance.

Precaution of use:

  • Light and bright colors are sensitive to light due to the pigments used; avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight which could alter the color.

Care advice:

  • Clean the leather with LANCASTER cleaning milk using a soft cloth.
  • Nourish the leather with a nourishing balm, either tinted or colorless.
Corrected grain bull leather - Lines: Pure Bull

Bull leather is a high-end leather. Its thick skin gives it resistance and suppleness. This leather is corrected by graining. This process consists of beating and wrinkling the leather in a drum to give it more suppleness without altering its resistance. It is then covered with a layer of pigmented paint to give it its final appearance. This type of finish ensures the leather has greater resistance to external aggressions (blows, friction, rain...) and durable color retention over time.

Care advice:

  • Maintenance with LANCASTER cleaning milk, a leather cream found in a cobbler's shop, or with a damp sponge.
Sheepskin leather - Lines: Wild

Sheep leather is a material with a naturally more grainy appearance. Its surface is wrinkled and its texture very supple and soft, ensuring a particularly delicate touch. Its relief is highlighted by a deep finish with completely natural vegetable oil.

Precaution of use:

  • Just like the Soft Vintage line, light and bright colors are sensitive to light due to the pigments used. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight which could alter the color.
  • Avoid prolonged contact with any material that might release dyes that could migrate to the leather (other leathers, jeans, and certain clothing), especially towards light colors.
  • Be careful of colors that bleed onto clothing and vice versa.

Care advice:

  • Protect the bag from moisture and light.
  • Maintain with Lancaster cleansing milk/nourishing balm to protect the leather and the appearance of the colors.
  • It is recommended to waterproof the bag.
Nylon fabric or microfiber nylon - Lines: Ikon, Maya, Basic, Smart, Evan, Dan

The body of the Smart, Basic, Ikon, Canvas, and Bayadère bags is entirely made of synthetic textile. This ensures them unparalleled lightness and practicality. Their fittings are made of cowhide leather. Very resistant, they are perfect for everyday use.

Care advice:

  • Clean the fabric with a sponge soaked in water and soap, let it dry well.

The LANCASTER warranty

Lancaster is above all a brand of quality and trust.

We therefore take the greatest care in the design and manufacture of all our products. This is why we guarantee them against any manufacturing defect for a period of 1 year from their purchase.

Upon presentation of the warranty, Lancaster will replace free of charge the parts recognized as defective by its technical services. This warranty covers all labor costs and return shipping in mainland France.

However, it is excluded in the following cases:

  • normal wear and tear of the product,
  • accidental damage,
  • use of solvents, pens, and indelible markers,
  • abnormal use or lack of maintenance.

If your item is damaged and a repair is possible, a quote will be offered to you.

In any case, we invite you to preferably contact the store where the product was purchased. If you bought it through the online store, please contact the web service at the following address: infoweb@lancaster.fr, attaching supporting photos to your email.