Q & A Forum Topics
Leather & Suede & Furs
Back to topic listCHOOSING A LEATHER GARMENT
A leather or suede garment is a major investment, so it is important to choose it carefully and care for it wisely. In selecting a leather garment:
· Buy from a reputable retailer.
· Look for careful matching of colors and textures between portions of the garment. Suede will never be completely uniform, but this is part of it desirability.
· Avoid a snug fit. Hides are stretched during tanning and some relaxation shrinkage can be expected in use and cleaning.
· Read and save any accompanying care information.
A leather or suede garment is a major investment, so it is important to choose it carefully and care for it wisely. In selecting a leather garment:
· Buy from a reputable retailer.
· Look for careful matching of colors and textures between portions of the garment. Suede will never be completely uniform, but this is part of it desirability.
· Avoid a snug fit. Hides are stretched during tanning and some relaxation shrinkage can be expected in use and cleaning.
· Read and save any accompanying care information.
Posted At: March 19, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Posted by: Shane Johnston
WEAR AND CARE
Proper care of leather and suede begins at home. To get the maximum life from your garment:
· Wear a scarf to protect the collar area from perspiration and body oils.
· If the garment gets wet, let it air-dry away from heat.
· Store in a cool, ventilated area. Leather can dry out if exposed to dry heat or mildew if stored in a hot, humid environment.
· Do not store leather in a plastic bag.
· If staining occurs, take the garment to a professional suede and leather cleaner as soon as possible. Do not try to remove spots at home.
Proper care of leather and suede begins at home. To get the maximum life from your garment:
· Wear a scarf to protect the collar area from perspiration and body oils.
· If the garment gets wet, let it air-dry away from heat.
· Store in a cool, ventilated area. Leather can dry out if exposed to dry heat or mildew if stored in a hot, humid environment.
· Do not store leather in a plastic bag.
· If staining occurs, take the garment to a professional suede and leather cleaner as soon as possible. Do not try to remove spots at home.
Posted At: March 19, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Posted by: Shane Johnston
CLEANING YOUR LEATHER
When you take your leather or suede garment to a Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners, it is helpful if you can provide any care information that came with the garment. Be sure to point out any stains, since stains that are old and set cannot always be removed safely. Have all matching pieces cleaned at the same time.
When you take your leather or suede garment to a Dollar Wise Quality Cleaners, it is helpful if you can provide any care information that came with the garment. Be sure to point out any stains, since stains that are old and set cannot always be removed safely. Have all matching pieces cleaned at the same time.
Posted At: March 19, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Posted by: Shane Johnston
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER CLEANING
Although cleaning technologies for leather and suede are constantly improving, some changes will almost always result from the cleaning process. The following gives you an idea of what to expect:
*Variations among the garment’s sections.
Leather garments are made from skins taken from various portions of the animal and usually from several different animals. The manufacturer tries to match the skins as uniformly as
possible, but even the best matching may still show some variance in texture, weight, and color uniformity. These may be accentuated after cleaning.
*Loss of Colour.
Be prepared for a slight variance in the depth of color after cleaning. Skins from various parts of the animal may have different colorfastness. Also, some leather dyes may be soluble in dry cleaning fluid, resulting in overall color loss. We may be able to correct some color loss and variance with spraydyeing.
*Loss of oils.
During cleaning, some of the oils used in the tanning process to keep leather supple may be lost. A professional leather cleaner has special additives to restore suppleness, but there still may be some change in the feel of the garment. Some changes will almost always occur in the cleaning process; a hand-painted, suede vest is wearable art, but challenging to clean.
*Scar tissue and vein marks.
Tanners often use fillers before dyeing to mask any scar tissue or imperfections on the leather. Cleaning may remove some of the fillers and cause the defects to reappear.
*Wrinkles.
Skins taken from certain parts of an animal are naturally wrinkled, and have been stretched during manufacturing to achieve a smooth appearance. The agitation of cleaning can relax the
leather, accentuating the wrinkles.
*Texture and shading changes.
Manufacturers sometimes combine a smoother skin with a coarser – textured skin. Cleaning may make this more apparent. Different textures also may vary in how they absorb the fat liquors and additives in the cleaning process, resulting in some areas being darker than others. It is a natural phenomenon that is beyond the control of the cleaner.
*Shrinkage.
Although some shrinkage is likely to occur over time as the skins relax, this may be accentuated in cleaning. As you wear our garment, this snugness should dissipate. If the skins have been
overstretched during manufacture, they may relax permanently.
*Damage to thin skins.
Some skins are extremely thin and too fragile for use in apparel. These skins tend to wear exceptionally fast, even with normal usage. The agitation of cleaning will further aggravate the
damage of thin skins.
*Shading from adhesives.
Adhesives used to glue seams, hems, and other areas may not be solvent-resistant. When the glues do not dissolve completely, they may seep through the leather and cause shaded areas.
*Leather trim bleeding and transfer.
Leather buttons and piping on fabric items sometimes cause problems by bleeding color onto the adjacent fabric. All attached trim should be able to withstand the care method on the label. If this problem occurs, the item should be returned to the retailer.
*Oxidation.
Exposure to light and atmospheric gases can cause leather dyes to oxidize over time. Protected areas, such as under the collar, will retain more of the original color. This may become more noticeable after cleaning, and usually cannot be corrected by the leather cleaner.
*Problems with imitation leathers and suedes.
Imitation leathers and suedes are produced in a variety of ways and are sometimes difficult to distinguish from the real thing. Some may be coated with vinyl – or urethane-based films; others
may be made to look like suede. These coatings and imitations may be vulnerable to selfsticking, blistering, puckering, or stiffening in dry cleaning.
Although cleaning technologies for leather and suede are constantly improving, some changes will almost always result from the cleaning process. The following gives you an idea of what to expect:
*Variations among the garment’s sections.
Leather garments are made from skins taken from various portions of the animal and usually from several different animals. The manufacturer tries to match the skins as uniformly as
possible, but even the best matching may still show some variance in texture, weight, and color uniformity. These may be accentuated after cleaning.
*Loss of Colour.
Be prepared for a slight variance in the depth of color after cleaning. Skins from various parts of the animal may have different colorfastness. Also, some leather dyes may be soluble in dry cleaning fluid, resulting in overall color loss. We may be able to correct some color loss and variance with spraydyeing.
*Loss of oils.
During cleaning, some of the oils used in the tanning process to keep leather supple may be lost. A professional leather cleaner has special additives to restore suppleness, but there still may be some change in the feel of the garment. Some changes will almost always occur in the cleaning process; a hand-painted, suede vest is wearable art, but challenging to clean.
*Scar tissue and vein marks.
Tanners often use fillers before dyeing to mask any scar tissue or imperfections on the leather. Cleaning may remove some of the fillers and cause the defects to reappear.
*Wrinkles.
Skins taken from certain parts of an animal are naturally wrinkled, and have been stretched during manufacturing to achieve a smooth appearance. The agitation of cleaning can relax the
leather, accentuating the wrinkles.
*Texture and shading changes.
Manufacturers sometimes combine a smoother skin with a coarser – textured skin. Cleaning may make this more apparent. Different textures also may vary in how they absorb the fat liquors and additives in the cleaning process, resulting in some areas being darker than others. It is a natural phenomenon that is beyond the control of the cleaner.
*Shrinkage.
Although some shrinkage is likely to occur over time as the skins relax, this may be accentuated in cleaning. As you wear our garment, this snugness should dissipate. If the skins have been
overstretched during manufacture, they may relax permanently.
*Damage to thin skins.
Some skins are extremely thin and too fragile for use in apparel. These skins tend to wear exceptionally fast, even with normal usage. The agitation of cleaning will further aggravate the
damage of thin skins.
*Shading from adhesives.
Adhesives used to glue seams, hems, and other areas may not be solvent-resistant. When the glues do not dissolve completely, they may seep through the leather and cause shaded areas.
*Leather trim bleeding and transfer.
Leather buttons and piping on fabric items sometimes cause problems by bleeding color onto the adjacent fabric. All attached trim should be able to withstand the care method on the label. If this problem occurs, the item should be returned to the retailer.
*Oxidation.
Exposure to light and atmospheric gases can cause leather dyes to oxidize over time. Protected areas, such as under the collar, will retain more of the original color. This may become more noticeable after cleaning, and usually cannot be corrected by the leather cleaner.
*Problems with imitation leathers and suedes.
Imitation leathers and suedes are produced in a variety of ways and are sometimes difficult to distinguish from the real thing. Some may be coated with vinyl – or urethane-based films; others
may be made to look like suede. These coatings and imitations may be vulnerable to selfsticking, blistering, puckering, or stiffening in dry cleaning.
Posted At: March 19, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Posted by: Shane Johnston
Are Leather & Suedes cleaned the same way as other fabrics?
No. Special procedures and additives are used on leathers to help retain their colour and texture. Sometimes suedes and leathers are redyed to replace colour loss. It is not always possible to replace or match the colours.
No. Special procedures and additives are used on leathers to help retain their colour and texture. Sometimes suedes and leathers are redyed to replace colour loss. It is not always possible to replace or match the colours.
Posted At: March 19, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Posted by: Shane Johnston
LEATHER LOOK–ALIKES
Some trim that looks like suede or leather may actually be vinyl. These vinyls may stiffen, pucker, or curl upon exposure to dry cleaning. Fabrics that are treated with a plastic finish to give the appearance of smooth leather may separate, peel, or blister during dry cleaning. In some cases, simulated leather may be a combination of materials treated with a surface finish.
This finish may abrade and wear off from use or care. Imitation-leather trim may lose its surface finish, stiffen, or fray during dry cleaning. Some imitations look so realistic that no one can predict their cleanability. It must be assumed that the trim is compatible with the care procedures stated on the label.
Some trim that looks like suede or leather may actually be vinyl. These vinyls may stiffen, pucker, or curl upon exposure to dry cleaning. Fabrics that are treated with a plastic finish to give the appearance of smooth leather may separate, peel, or blister during dry cleaning. In some cases, simulated leather may be a combination of materials treated with a surface finish.
This finish may abrade and wear off from use or care. Imitation-leather trim may lose its surface finish, stiffen, or fray during dry cleaning. Some imitations look so realistic that no one can predict their cleanability. It must be assumed that the trim is compatible with the care procedures stated on the label.
Posted At: March 19, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Posted by: Shane Johnston
FUR TRIM
Problems can arise with fur trim on combination cloth-and-fur garments. Occasionally, the trim is composed of small pieces of older or thinner fur which can crack, peel, or shed during cleaning. Fur trims also do not have the same wear and cleaning characteristics as the fabrics to which they are attached. Some furs may be tipped with colours which are not colourfast to dry cleaning, causing disappearance of the fur’s intricate designs.
Problems can arise with fur trim on combination cloth-and-fur garments. Occasionally, the trim is composed of small pieces of older or thinner fur which can crack, peel, or shed during cleaning. Fur trims also do not have the same wear and cleaning characteristics as the fabrics to which they are attached. Some furs may be tipped with colours which are not colourfast to dry cleaning, causing disappearance of the fur’s intricate designs.
Posted At: March 19, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Posted by: Shane Johnston
