Editorial Team · 7/2/2026 · 6 min read
A leather jacket is one of very few garments that improves with use. The creases that form across your elbows and shoulders are a record of how you move. Care, then, is not about keeping a jacket looking new — it is about keeping the hide supple so it can age well.
Start with the basics: after each wear, hang the jacket on a wide wooden hanger. Wire hangers concentrate weight at two points and will distort the shoulders permanently within a season.
Condition twice a year, no more. Leather balm restores the oils that evaporate through wear, but over-conditioning saturates the fibres and leaves the surface tacky. A pea-sized amount worked into a soft cloth is enough for an entire panel.
Rain is not a disaster. Blot — never rub — with a dry towel and let the jacket dry at room temperature, away from radiators. Direct heat is what actually cracks leather, not water.
The three mistakes to avoid: machine washing, storing in plastic (leather needs to breathe), and using household cleaners or alcohol wipes on a stain. For anything you cannot lift with a dry cloth, take it to a specialist leather cleaner.