Wieso wird Leder brüchig und was können wir dagegen tun?
Heat, cold, UV light and moisture – harmful environmental influences not only affect our skin, but also take their toll on our leather accessories. The consequence: the leather becomes dry and brittle, so that in the worst case it can no longer be repaired. To avoid this, leather needs regular care and attention. But don't worry! If you follow just a few simple rules, you can enjoy your leather products for a lifetime!
Leather is naturally a very durable material. But it is also a natural product and needs a certain amount of care. Without the appropriate attention, the leather dries out over time, which can make it brittle and even lead to cracks.
Our Care Products
Why does leather become brittle?
To understand this, it helps to take a closer look at the material leather: Genuine leather is an organic product made from animal hide. During tanning, it undergoes various manufacturing processes that transform a perishable product into durable, hard-wearing, and yet supple leather. The type of leather and the tanning method used influence the later properties of the material. For example, how sensitive the leather is to sun, dirt, and moisture. However, the fact remains: Every leather needs care to prevent it from becoming brittle and to keep it beautiful in the long term. This is because the skin and the tanning agents and dyes dissolved in it react with substances from the environment. This results in the long-term deterioration of the leather's material properties.
Can brittle leather be repaired?
"If the leather is already brittle, it is already too late," explains Manfred Goll, master leather maker and production manager at BRAUN BÜFFEL, "you can try to treat the leather with a fatty leather balm to prevent further breakage, but you cannot get rid of the cracks."
Leather processing is only possible to a limited extent. Therefore, as is often the case, it is better to be safe than sorry and a new leather product should be well cared for from the start so that it does not need to be repaired in the first place. Older, surface-dyed smooth leather that is subjected to heavy wear can become brittle as the surface becomes scratched or the surface color rubs off. If the damage is not too great, it can be repaired or at least beautified and protected from wear using suitable leather care. Whether a product with already brittle leather can still be repaired naturally also depends on the type, processing, quality and color of the leather - and of course also on how badly the leather is already damaged.
If the leather is of high quality, only the color of the surface-dyed leather rubs off, the leather underneath remains undamaged. If the leather is unstable, the leather under the color layer can break open and the color layer cannot compensate for the lack of stability. In this case, it is almost impossible to repair the leather.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT LEATHER FROM BECOMING BRITTLE IN THE FIRST PLACE?
The good news is: unlike plastic, which is often used today, leather is a natural product that, with proper use and care, can last practically forever.
Ideally, the leather should be properly cared for from the beginning so that brittle spots on the leather do not even occur. How does proper leather care work?
CLEAN LEATHER
At the beginning of the regular care routine, a thorough but gentle cleaning is essential. Pay attention to the type of leather and find out which care product suits your leather item. Open-pored leathers, for example, are very sensitive to moisture and must therefore be cleaned differently than leathers with a sealed surface. Leather should never be dried on the heater or in direct sunlight, as heat dries out the leather even more and in turn makes it brittle.
LEATHER CARE
After cleaning comes conditioning. The leather – similar to our skin – is supplied with sufficient moisture so that it does not become brittle but remains beautiful and supple. Here too, it is important that the leather receives the appropriate care for its type. For example, there are special leather creams or lotions for smooth leather, nappa leather, and various types of suede.
WATERPROOF LEATHER
Finally, the leather must be regularly impregnated so that dirt, light and moisture do not even get a chance to penetrate too deeply into the surface of the leather and make it brittle.
If you carry out this care routine once or twice a year, you protect beloved leather accessories from drying out and consequently from brittle spots on the leather. This way, the leather remains permanently beautiful and supple, and you will enjoy it forever. Promised!
