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How To: Caring For Florentine Leather Handbags & Accessories
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Time to read 2 min
We hope you’re enjoying your brand new Florentine Italian leather bag!
Your purchase was crafted with care by exceptional artisans, using the finest materials and impeccable attention to detail. We want to make sure that you enjoy an unparalleled experience for years to come.
Florentine leather is known for the patina it develops over time. That tan color you see will deepen the more you wear it. The resulting tone is rich and dimensional–like an old vintage bag. This leather also softens over time, growing more supple every time you carry it.
Check out our best tips on how to care for your handbag and accessories below, and don’t miss the latest Florentine styles, only from Dooney & Bourke.
Here's What You Need To Know About Caring For Your Italian Leather Handbag:
- This leather is not treated for water repellency. If it gets wet, it’ll temporarily darken. Don’t worry about its color. Once the leather is dry, your bag will return to its original hue.
- With continued use and exposure to light, this leather develops a beautiful patina which enhances the natural beauty of this leather. It also grows even more supple over time.
- This collection requires no creams, polishes, or leather conditioning products to maintain its beauty.
For even more information on the care and cleaning of your Florentine look and more, please see our complete guide here.
Frequently Asked Questions
My Florentine leather bag got wet and the color changed. Is it ruined?
Not at all. Florentine leather is not treated for water repellency, so moisture will temporarily darken the surface. This is normal behavior for this type of leather. Once the bag dries completely at room temperature, the color will return to its original tone. Avoid using a blow dryer or other heat source to speed up drying, as heat can damage the leather.
Do I need to condition or polish my Florentine leather bag?
No. One of the benefits of Florentine Vacchetta leather is that it requires no creams, polishes, or conditioning products to maintain its beauty. The leather is designed to develop naturally over time through regular use and light exposure. Applying products that are not recommended could interfere with that process.
What is patina, and is it supposed to happen to my bag?
Yes, and it is one of the most valued qualities of Florentine leather. Patina refers to the rich, dimensional deepening of color that develops as the leather is exposed to light, body oils, and regular handling. Over time, the original tan tone deepens into a warm, vintage-looking hue that is entirely unique to your bag and how you carry it. The leather also becomes more supple with use, meaning the bag genuinely improves the more you wear it.
How is Florentine leather different from other Dooney & Bourke leathers?
Florentine leather is an uncoated, vegetable-tanned Italian leather, which means it is left in a more natural state than treated leathers like All Weather Leather or pebble grain. That natural quality is what allows it to develop a patina and soften with wear. The trade-off is that it requires a bit more mindfulness around water and staining, but the payoff is a bag that develops genuine character over years of use rather than simply showing wear.
