Select and Care for Leather for Its Long Life

When shop ping for leather, the Leather Apparel Assn. suggests that you take the same care as you would for other clothing.

Consider the style, the fit, how it works with your wardrobe and if you’re comfortable with the price. Remember, as with any garment, that the quality of the materials and the workmanship affect price. Examine the stitching, the lining and whether details are ornamental or functional.

Technology and advanced design in the past few years have enhanced leather’s wearability and durability. Many coats include a chill breaker, an inside mock vest made of leather or wool. Some are pre-treated to be water- and stain-repellent. You can now even wash specially treated leathers by hand or in the machine.

These performance leathers, as they are known, are treated with chemicals or processes at the tanning stage before they are sewn into garments. The most repellent will cause liquids--rain, snow or spills--to bead up and roll off. The higher price might be justified by savings in cleaning bills. Topical sprays are less effective and need to be reapplied with wear and dry-cleaning.

Friitala Fashion Ltd. of Finland, which makes and sells outerwear to fine specialty stores such as Nordstrom, says its tanning process can keep lambskin water-free for four to six hours.