If you own an expensive leather bag you have probably asked yourself this question: Why does a leather bag crack? While many people believe that leather bags are made from animal skin, the fact is that leather is actually a very tough material which is made up of a collection of proteins and fatty acids, which protect the skin’s surface.
In addition, leather is a natural fabric that can withstand the normal weather conditions in your home town (which is pretty much what it’s used for anyway!) So why does a leather bag crack?
If your leather bag is not properly protected then it is very much likely that you will get some cracking and splits in the leather.
Cracks generally appear on the side of the bag and on the bottom, although they can also form anywhere along the bag – you just need to check to make sure before buying your next bag.
It’s always best to purchase leather bags which are pre-bagged so that you make sure that they are protected from water first, then allow them to dry and crack naturally.
Why Does a Leather Bag Crack?
It used to be that leather goods such as purses, handbags, wallets and belts were considered a fashion accessory. However, as our lifestyle has changed and we have become a lot more health-conscious the number of accessories we wear has dropped off dramatically.
The demand for leather products has increased but the supply has not kept up and in order to keep up with the demand manufacturers have had to produce cheaper imitation leathers.
This has created a huge problem because even though the fake leather products are cheaper they are no longer as durable and as good as the real thing. Below we look at why a leather bag cracks and what you can do to prevent this happening to your handbag.
Firstly some leather goods are particularly prone to cracking because they are made from a material called Dura Filament. This is a very soft leather product which has become quite popular in recent years due to the lower cost of leather.
Leather items such as bags, wallets, belts and purses are all made from Dura Filament and some people will notice that when they crack it is usually in an area that is quite obvious and noticeable. If you notice that your leather items are crackling when you carry them, you may want to make the switch to a different brand of leather.
Is it Common For Leather Bags to Crack?
Is it very common for leather bags to crack after being used a few times? It is a natural response to want to throw the crackling leather away, but the truth is that cracking is part of the natural aging process of leather.
Cracks in leather come from overuse, exposure to sun or drying out excessively. This can occur even if you buy a cheap leather handbag from a discount outlet. It is important to protect a leather bag from cracking before it cracks, or you could end up spending more money on repairs.
When a leather bag gets worn down and starts to crack, it can result in small cracks called line cracks or pocket cracks.
These small cracks are not usually very serious, because they are simply the product of the leather moving slightly as it got wet.
However, pocket cracks are more worrying because they are deep cracks that can potentially lead to a larger crack or even the separation of the leather from its filler. If this happens the resulting piece will be much larger than the original and it will need to be replaced.
Can You Fix a Cracked Leather Bag?
If you are in the market for a new leather bag, then you are probably wondering how to fix a leather bag crack. The short answer depends on the kind of damage, but professional repair always works wonders.
Of course, nothing beats a new leather bag or briefcase from the store, so if you’ve got to crack leather which needs to be repaired or you just simply want to maintain your leather bag’s luster a bit longer, then read on.
You’ll learn how to protect a leather bag crack, repair a leather bag crack and even get tips on how to make leather bags even more attractive!
If you are wondering how to fix a light leather crack, then you should know that it typically happens when the bottom of the bag has been repeatedly punctured with a pointed object.
Typically, objects such as ballpoint pens, pencils and fingernails are the most likely culprits since all of these products have microscopic sharp edges, which cut into the leather fibers when they are forced to penetrate the bag.
This causes the crack to widen until it eventually bursts – a process which looks sort of like an oil leak. While this is not the most aesthetically pleasing way to describe the problem, it’s important to note that the crack will fill up with liquid as long as the liquid doesn’t evaporate while the crack remains.
How Do I Keep My Leather Bag From Cracking?
Many of us know how hard it can be to take care of a leather bag and keep it looking new. Cracking is something we all have to deal with whether you’re a leather bag owner or not, but what if your leather bag had a crack and no amount of leather repair kit can fix it? If you have a crack in your leather bag then it’s time to get down to work. Here’s how you can prevent a leather bag crack before it happens.
It used to be that leather conditioners were the only way you could protect leather and prevent cracking. There was a very popular brand back in the 90s called Landau. Landau allowed you to add oil to your leather with included leather conditioner and let it sit overnight.
The next day you simply wiped away the excess conditioner and viola – the leather was protected! Unfortunately, Landau has gone out of business and replaced their leather conditioner with Murano it seems, and now it seems to be more expensive than its old self.
This new leather conditioner is a little more expensive than Murano, but it’s definitely worth the extra expense if you really need to protect your leather bag from cracking.
The best leather repair kit on the market will cost you at least three hundred dollars, so if you need to protect a lot of money then this might be the best option for you.
Do Leather Bags Last Forever?
When people think about a leather bag, they wonder how long it will last, especially if they bought cheap leather bags. But even though the price tag is lower than other types of bags you still need to protect your expensive leather bag.
Leather protects itself from cracking under certain conditions. To protect your leather bag, you need to first understand what these are before you attempt to protect a leather bag with a crack. If you protect a leather bag properly it can last a very long time.
One reason that leather crack may appear is because it was not properly protected when it was new. You may have purchased your leather bag from a discount store and didn’t protect it properly.
The retailer did not use a quality protective sealant on the bag, or you may have used wax to protect the leather and it has turned yellow instead of white as it should be. Cracks are also common after a long period of sitting in a hot car. These can happen to any leather bag so you need to protect your leather bag when sitting in the car.
Conclusion
Another reason that leather bags may crack is if they were not properly maintained. Any leather bag can start to crack if it has not been cleaned regularly and it can also develop a patina if it is not cleaned often enough. So, to protect your expensive leather bag from cracking you should clean it regularly, use quality leather cleaner and you must protect it from outside elements.
