Leather Soft, versatile and durable, leather is intrinsic to the Whistles collections. This long-lasting fabric can be made from skins such as sheep, cow, calf and pig; we use several types across our designs. See the variations we currently use below. TYPES OF LEATHER Nappa: The general term for the soft, chrome, tanned, smooth leather of all animal skin types. Nubuck: Aniline leather lightly buffed on the grain surface to create a velvety finish. The nap is very fine because of the tight fibre structure in the grain layer. Patent: A high gloss and shiny leather. Sheepskin: The sheep wool is left on the hide, making it warm to wear and used for coats, gloves, and slippers. Suede: A split leather which has been ground to create a distinctive surface. It is usually very soft and malleable and, therefore, perfect for creating garments. HOW TO CARE FOR LEATHERA STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE The perfect trans-seasonal fabric; follow these tips, and your leather styles should last for decades. STORING LEATHER GARMENTS Hanging leather garments on padded hangers is essential to maintain a defined shoulder line. Also, avoid rain-soaked leather on a warm radiator, as any heat will discolour and buff away the sleek finish. CLEANING CARE The best way to clean grain leather is with a soft brush. To elevate your garment further, experiment with a small amount of colour-matched polish on a hidden spot first. If you want your handbag or biker jacket to appear as good as new, apply a dab of Brasso to a clean duster and polish the metallic hardware. Always follow the care label on your leather or shearling garments – they can usually be professionally cleaned at leather specialist dry cleaners. SUEDE CARE Remove dust and dirt before cleaning suede garments. A crepe brush should gently and carefully remove any marks on the suede. Suede is a naturally dyed product and cannot be entirely colourfast, so some loss of colour may be experienced during wear. Professional cleaners will never use water, shampooing or steam cleaning methods to clean water-sensitive materials such as suede. Instead, specialist dry cleaning procedures will get the job done safely and efficiently. MAINTAINING LEATHER PIECES Protecting all your favourite leather pieces is truly worthwhile. Whether you want to preserve a cherished leather backpack or ensure your loafers last for seasons, leather balsam will restore and protect all leather surfaces. For the best results, gently work the balsam into the leather using a soft cloth and polish immediately. FOOTWEAR We use only the highest quality leathers, suedes and materials to create our range of footwear. However, slight marks and surface colour and texture variations can sometimes occur. This is an inherent characteristic of natural materials which may develop further during wear. To help maintain your shoes’ appearance and prolong their life, they should be cared for using the below products and advice. Again, always patch-test a small non-visible area when using a new care product. LEATHER SHOES Before cleaning, remove dust and dirt from leather shoes with a neutral leather cream. New leather shoes can also be softened by putting on socks and using a hairdryer on tight warm areas. The heat from the hairdryer will gently soften the leather. SUEDE SHOES When cleaning and maintaining dry suede, remove dust and dirt before cleaning garments and carefully eliminate marks. We’d advise using a crepe brush for this. Suede is also a naturally dyed product and cannot be entirely colourfast, so whilst wearing suede shoes; there may be some loss of colour over time. Do not wipe, rub, or scrub your suede vigorously and be reassured that water will not ruin your shoes if you let them dry. When the soft, delicate hairs get wet, they will tense up and become brittle, making them easy to rip off. Yet with patience, most damage can be resolved. CALFSKIN SHOES Hair on the leather naturally varies in length and direction. Colour can also vary within the product because dye reacts differently on different parts of the skin. Hair loss will occur if continual rubbing is experienced on the product’s surface, such as on the back of a shoe while driving—clean calfskin shoes with a soft, slightly damp cloth. PATENT LEATHER SHOES Clean patent shoes with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry thoroughly for a smear-free finish. LEATHER SOLES Due to the porous nature of leather, a leather sole will naturally absorb some water during wear. With this in mind, we recommend avoiding wearing such shoes in very wet conditions. A leather sole will also wear away after general use, making it necessary to have the shoe resoled by a cobbler as often as required. LEATHER HANDBAGS Before cleaning, remove dust and dirt from leather handbags with a neutral leather cream. Next, moisturise your bag using a leather moisturiser or balsam to prevent flaking and wrinkling. If your leather bag gets excessively wet, it is important not to dry it too quickly or to let it get ‘bone’ dry, as this will lead to the leather becoming hard and brittle. Dab some balm or neatsfoot oil onto a cloth, gently rub over the item and then wipe away any excess. Dry in an airy room, but not directly on a heater. SUEDE HANDBAGS Once again, remove dust and dirt before cleaning. A crepe brush should be used to gently and carefully remove any marks on the suede. As with suede shoes, some colour loss may be experienced during wear due to the suede being a naturally dyed product. Do not wipe, rub, or scrub your suede vigorously and be reassured that water will not ruin your shoes if you let them dry. When the soft, delicate hairs get wet, they will tense up and become brittle, making them easy to rip off. Yet with patience, most damage can be resolved. CALFSKIN HANDBAGS As with calfskin shoes, hair on the leather naturally varies in length and direction. Colour can also vary within the product because dye reacts differently on different parts of the skin. Hair loss will occur if continual rubbing is experienced on the product’s surface, such as on the back of a shoe while driving—clean calfskin shoes with a soft, slightly damp cloth. PATENT LEATHER HANDBAGS Clean patent leather handbags with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry them thoroughly for a smear-free finish. BELTS The perfect trans-seasonal fabric; follow these tips, and your leather styles should last for decades. LEATHER BELTS Before cleaning, remove dust and dirt from leather shoes with a neutral leather cream. SUEDE BELTS Remove dust and dirt before cleaning. A crepe brush should be used to gently and carefully remove any marks on the suede. Suede is a naturally dyed product and cannot be entirely colourfast, so some colour loss may be experienced during wear. CALFSKIN BELTS As with calfskin shoes and handbags, hair on the leather naturally varies in length and direction. Colour can also vary within the product because dye reacts differently on different parts of the skin. Hair loss will occur if continual rubbing is experienced on the product’s surface, such as on the back of a shoe while driving—clean calfskin shoes with a soft, slightly damp cloth. BACK TO PRODUCT CARE GUIDE