Why Leather Goes BAD?

We appreciate that leather is outer protective epidermis of an animal, treated to stop decomposition, soaked, rolled, dried, oiled, stretched, split, dyed, dried again, softened and colored.

The natural spongy leather fiber structure is omnidirectional — it has no particular direction or pattern. It will stretch in all directions with no particular grain pattern or stress. Over time, the natural tensile strength and elasticity that the hide once had becomes diminished. The surface coating, sitting over leather fibers that are becoming less plump eventually develop omnidirectional spider web cracks — not yet visible to the naked eye.

Repeated flexing and stretching eventually causes the color surface coating to chip away in certain areas and eventually the natural leather color beneath becomes visible. Usually this appears to be a crack in the leather. It is not a “crack,” though; it is merely the absence of surface colorant running in a patterned direction (wear creases). Also, in upholstered pieces like motor vehicles or furniture, many fabrics act like 600 grit sand paper. Demin, cords, chinos constantly rubbing against the finish can break it down, and create wear, decrease of the finish, and then as the fragile fibrous leather fibers become exposed, it is worn down to become holes and tears.

Time, heat, UV rays of the sun, wear and use also dry the actual hide, causing it to become less resilient. Because leather is fiberous, it also absorbs anything that it comes in contact with. Dark colored clothing can transfer dyes to lighter shades of leather. The dyes from leather belts, jackets, or purses can also transfer to the fiberous spongy leather. This is another reason to keep your hides nourished and plump with a leather conditioner formulated to actually be absorbed into the hide, not just sit on the surface.

Darker colors usually show the light color of the natural leather beneath, and light leathers do the same, except that having lost the protection of a resistant color coating, the exposed leather attracts dirt and oils and soon gets dirty and looks like a dark “crack.” Here is where the vat dyed leathers have a slight advantage: the color beneath the surface coating, although usually not exactly the same color, is close enough that these creases or “cracks” are less obvious — but still detrimental.