We said, in the first entry of this journal, that we'd come back to leather care properly. This is that piece — what actually happens to a Post & Co piece after it leaves the box, and the small handful of things worth doing about it.

A new vegetable-tanned belt is stiffer than it will ever be again. It softens at the fold nearest the buckle first, simply from being put on and taken off, and the leather at that point will start to darken slightly before anywhere else. This isn't wear in the sense of damage — it's the leather settling into how you actually use it, and it's the beginning of the patina, not a sign of it going wrong.

The same thing happens with shoes, more noticeably. Full-grain leather uppers need a short adjustment period — the material is shaped in production, but it finishes shaping itself to your foot over the first several wears. Expect the fit to feel slightly firmer for the first week or two, particularly across the instep, and expect that to ease. This is normal and it's temporary; it's not a sizing problem.

1. Let leather dry away from direct heat if it gets wet — never on a radiator or in direct sun. Room temperature and time is all it needs.
2. Wipe off surface dust with a soft, dry cloth before it builds up, especially on shoes worn outdoors.
3. Apply a leather balm or cream every few months — more often in a dry climate, less in a humid one — worked in with a soft cloth, then buffed once absorbed.
4. Rotate use if you can. Leather recovers its shape better with a day of rest between wears than worn back-to-back.
5. Store away from prolonged direct sunlight, which fades vegetable-tanned leather faster than most other finishes.

Don't over-oil it. It's tempting to treat a stiff new belt or shoe heavily to soften it faster, but too much product too soon can darken the leather unevenly and make it feel greasy rather than supple. Small amounts, applied regularly, do more than one heavy application ever will.

Art Moda S.r.l. — Handmade Leather Accessories