Hello, I'm Ohira, the craftsman and CEO of Cisei. I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself...
The most common question we receive from customers is "how to care for our products," so I would like to share my somewhat personal opinion on the matter.
Usually, when we go to a tanner or leather shop as a product manufacturer to buy leather, the first thing we are asked is what we make. Before starting the business negotiations, the leather shop wants to know what the leather will be used for, such as shoes, bags, or clothing.
This is because the finishing methods for the various materials that leather stores confidently introduce vary depending on the product's purpose.
For example, leather used for shoes (especially men's shoes) is polished and finished after the product is completed, so it is not color-fixed at the stage of finishing. Therefore, creams and waxes can easily penetrate the material even after use, making it easy to maintain.
On the other hand, leather materials that are finished for bags or clothing are usually treated with a color fixing process on the surface of the leather from any tanner to prevent the color from transferring to clothing or belongings that are likely to come into contact with the leather product.
The degree and method of processing varies depending on the manufacturer. There are various types, from thorough processing aimed at waterproofing and preventing fading, to minimal processing that emphasizes the texture of the material. Each company uses its own method, such as spraying pigments on the surface or attaching an extremely thin film.
So, how do you take care of leather that has been treated to fix the color on its surface? Well, basically there is no need to do anything.
This is because the surface of the leather has been treated to prevent the color from transferring to objects it comes into contact with. This means that even if you apply cream or oil on top of it, the treatment makes it difficult for the cream or oil to penetrate into the material, and the oil will dry out without penetrating.
However, although it is said that leather does not require any maintenance because it has already been processed, it is a natural material and will deteriorate depending on the frequency and conditions of use, as well as the usual storage method, and will not necessarily remain in like-new condition. The finish applied at the tanning stage to prevent deterioration and the color fixing treatment mentioned above will also weaken as the frequency of use increases. In addition, mold may develop depending on the humidity of the storage conditions, and the most irreversible change is cracking due to drying. Just like human skin, leather that has lost its oils due to drying will become hard and crack. If you start to notice a change in the texture of the material, we recommend moderate maintenance.
Regarding maintenance, I would like to introduce some of my favorite products.
Renapur
Renapur was born in 1988 in a rural town in southern Germany.
Like Japan, Germany has four seasons, and in this region, which experiences heavy snowfall in the winter, maintenance is essential to protect traditional costumes and precious leather products.
Renapur is still carefully made by the Schindler family, the founders, using the same recipe as back then, and because it is a natural product, it is very simple to use. There is no special way to use it, just apply it to the product and you will get the full effect.
It's a little pricey, but the content is generous and you can use it for a long time, and it seems to be the most effective product I've tried. It's easy to use, just apply a thin layer of the product with the included sponge as instructed. It's a little sticky when you first apply it, but it will go away in about half a day, so leave it in a well-ventilated place before using.
*This may not be suitable for some materials, so be sure to test it on an inconspicuous area first.
