Leather gifts for Pujo and the wedding season, by budget
From a ₹690 card holder to a ₹7,450 satchel: what we suggest for Pujo, Bijoya visits and wedding gifts.
Scratches, stains and patina: what to fix and what to leave
Most marks on a full-grain bag fade or polish out. A few need care. Here is how to tell which is which.
The first scratch on a new bag is the hardest to see. It helps to know that most marks on full-grain leather are temporary, and the ones that stay usually make the bag look better.
Light scratches on pull-up and crazy-horse leather are the easiest. These leathers carry oil and wax in the fibres, and rubbing a scratch firmly with a clean thumb for half a minute warms the wax and closes it. Deeper scuffs fade over a week of normal use. Do not reach for a polish with colour in it; it sits on the surface and looks patchy.
Water marks on vegetable-tanned leather, such as our card holder, usually even out within a day or two. If a spot stays, dampen the whole panel lightly with a clean cloth so it dries evenly. Oil and ghee are different: blot at once, then cover the spot with a little cornflour overnight and brush it off. Old oil stains do not come out, though they darken along with the rest of the bag.
Ink, dye from new denim and mould need more care. Send us a photo before you try anything. Leave patina alone: the deepening colour and soft sheen on handles and edges are the leather taking in oil from your hands and the sun. That is the reason to buy full-grain.
