Leather as a material is not very delicate material, but still needs gentle caring. Real leather items are somewhat stretchable but not indestructible. Leather is made from animal hides, has fibre that can stretch and contract over time. Straining the leather and putting pressure to stretch it can lead to permanent damage which leads to weakening of the fibre and develops cracks and stiffness.
Few reasons people stretch the real and authentic leather are listed below:
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New leather bags feeling stiff.
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When the space is limited in handbags.
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Leather straps that feel stiff.
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With time, the leather items can become dry. So, they don’t feel more comfortable.
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Understanding the leather is very important before you perform any activity on it. Because to predict reactions of the leather first we need to know about it.
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What to Avoid Before Stretching Leather
To protect a valuable product, you should know what you should do and also what you should not do. So, here are few things you should not do with a leather bag:
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Excessive heating using dryers or left in excessive sunlight can be very harmful as the leather product can lose its delicate texture.
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Soaking the leather items in water can lead to removal of natural oils and making it stiff, prone to cracking or rotting.
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Applying a lot of pressure on the leather product aggressively. As this may lead to weakening of the fibre.
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Leather products are graceful, but delicate making them difficult to handle and using harsh chemicals on the leather can lead to distortion of the product shape.
Essential Hacks to Stretch Leather Without Damage
Real leather items are delicate but can be stretched to some extent without damaging the item. Following are few guidelines to do that:
Use Leather Conditioner Before Stretching
Leather conditioners are a necessity to maintain the leather properties intact and increase its longevity. Here are few reasons why you should condition your leather bag:
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The conditioner strengthens the natural fibres and nourishes it.
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Keeps the leather soft, and subtle. This prevents the leather from drying, cracking or developing brittleness.
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The leather conditioner prevents the leather bags from developing stains, dirt or UV rays.
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To increase the life of the leather and protect the good feeling of the leather item
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The conditioner stores back the shine, deepens the color and helps frame richer patina over time.
Gentle Stuffing Method for Leather Bags
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Stuffing is a very good practice for products that require slow stretching or expansion so there is no permanent damage done to the luxurious and soft material.
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So, the process goes like stuffing the leather bag with soft materials like clothes, towels, etc. Remember do not add harsh materials in.
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Then let it be like that overnight or for 24 hours.
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One more thing to consider here is to not overstuff, else this may distort the shape of the leather bags.
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The slow stress does not put a lot of pressure on the leather bag and allows the bag to stress in its comfort zone.
Use Controlled Moisture (Not Water Soaking)
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Sometimes moisture is needed to stretch the bags. Just a little moisture on the inner layers of the leather bags is helpful. But be careful not to wet it much.
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A little moisture helps the fibre in the leather relax and stretch to some extent. This is a safe method to stretch a leather bag but needs a lot of care while doing.
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Once the bag is stretched, let the bag air dry on its own.
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This is an effective way but not very advisable.
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Also, this way needs a conditioning process after the whole process completes off.
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One more point to be considered here is to stretch the bag gently without applying a lot of pressure.
Wear-and-Use Stretching Technique
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Another way to stretch the leather bags is to wait till the leather adapts to our lifestyle.
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Gentle use can help the leather stretch gradually.
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So, carry your leather bag with you frequently so it can stretch on its own with time or get framed into our comfort ways with time.
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Allow lighter weight to your bag to help it stretch on its own.
How Leather Cleaning Kits Help in Safe Stretching
Leather bag care is a very important factor to consider if the talk is about the stretching of the leather. The cleaner the leather, the easier the stretch. When the leather bag is clean the stretching liquids can easily penetrate into the fibre and it will be a smooth stretch.
If you want to learn to clean a leather product properly, read this blog - How to Clean Leather Goods Without Causing Damage.
Protecting a leather bag can be a task sometimes but is a necessary factor to protect your bag. After following these steps it's essential that you take care of your leather bag after and before the strech.