Care & Repair

Leather Care for Your BURKELY Bag

Our bags are sustainably and humanely made from high-quality leather. We believe it is important to contribute to a better world in this way. With proper use, our products can last for many years, during which the bag will come to life and gain character with every experience. Proper maintenance doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming.

We have been working with our dedicated manufacturers in India for years, and these long-standing collaborations enable us to guarantee quality. The leather of our Parisian Paige, Modest Meghan, Beloved Bailey, and Fundamentals Vintage collections is tanned with vegetable extracts and finished with natural oils. With passion and experience, we create your own BURKELY bag with this quality leather!

Precaution and Maintenance

Prevention is always better than cure. Leather remains a natural product that, just like your own skin, reacts to factors like (sun)light, water, and dirt. To keep the leather as beautiful as possible for as long as possible, we recommend the following three steps:

• Step 1: Protection (making dirt and water repellent);
• Step 2: Care (nourishing, coloring, and possibly making scratch-free);
• Step 3: Cleaning (removing stains);

Step 1: Protection

It starts with good protection to block external influences such as water and dirt, but also (sun)light. Before you start using the bag, we therefore recommend impregnating it well with a dirt and water repellent spray.

Invest in the right sprays, such as the Collonil Carbon Pro spray for suede & nubuck or the Collonil Carbon Wax spray for smooth & waxed leather. The Collonil Carbon Wax spray provides protection and also nourishes the leather due to the various waxes in the spray.

Using the sprays:

• Spray the bag at a distance of 30 cm;
• Let the bag dry for 30 minutes (possibly rub out for shine);
• Repeat regularly for the right protection (once every 30 days, depending on use).

Step 2: Care

We believe that leather becomes more beautiful as it is used more. But to prevent drying out and/or to care for usage marks, we advise regularly treating the leather with a nourishing cream. This also helps to restore the original color.

For waxed leather, the Collonil 1909 Wax Leather tube is a great choice because it contains valuable ingredients such as high-quality waxes & nourishing oils. It maintains the original look of the bag (removes scratches and brings back the color). Use: apply thinly & evenly with a dry cloth or brush. Allow to absorb well. Possibly rub out for shine.

For smooth leather, we recommend the Collonil 1909 Leather Cream tube. This tube also contains valuable nourishing oils but also has a mild cleaning function (ideal for light colors). This product makes the leather shine again. Use: apply thinly & evenly with a dry cloth or brush. Let it absorb and rub out for shine (and removal of spots).

For brushing up faded spots & the color of suede & nubuck, we recommend the Natur Crepe Brush. This restores its original structure. Due to the friction of the brush, heat is generated, giving this brush also a cleaning effect.

Step 3: Cleaning

If something has been spilled on your bag, the best way to remove it is to clean it dry first with a clean cotton cloth or with a brush.

For waxed leather & smooth leather, fat, oil, and moisture stains will gradually disappear. If you find the stain bothersome, the Collonil Clean & Care bottle can help reduce visibility. It is then important to treat the entire bag with this product to prevent color differences. Use: apply with a dry cloth or brush and allow to absorb well. Repeat if necessary.

Then treat the bag again with a nourishing cream to bring back the color and subsequently protect with a dirt and water repellent spray such as the aforementioned “Collonil Carbon Pro spray for suede & nubuck or the Collonil Carbon Wax spray for smooth & waxed leather.

Be careful when removing stains on suede and nubuck. As these are delicate types of leather, we recommend first cleaning them dry with the Natur Crepe Brush as mentioned earlier. If the stain is more serious, you can try the Collonil Clean & Care bottle. Ensure that you then treat the entire bag to prevent color differences. Use: apply with a dry cloth or brush and let it absorb well. Repeat if necessary.

Then roughen well with the Natur Crepe Brush and subsequently protect with the Collonil Carbon Pro spray. If the stain is severe and seems irreparable, please feel free to contact us for further advice.

Tips & Tricks

Try to limit the use of your bag in the rain. If your bag does get very wet, let it dry naturally and never use a heater or hairdryer as this can dry out the leather. If you want to store your purchase for an extended period, it’s best to do so in a cotton bag. Do not put your bag in a plastic bag. Leather is a natural product and needs to breathe. Stuff the bag with old newspapers so it retains its shape.