Product Care Guide
Caring for Nubuck Leather Gloves & Buffalo Hide Aprons
Our gloves are nubuck leather with a Kevlar lining (0.9-1.0mm), and our aprons are buffalo hide up to 2.7mm thick. Both come treated for water resistance and sewn with Kevlar thread. Leather this substantial does not need babying, but a few habits will add years to it, and a few mistakes will ruin it in an afternoon.
Gloves: Nubuck Leather
Nubuck has a sanded nap, so it is cared for more like suede than like smooth leather.
- Brush regularly: Brush off dust and grime with a soft-bristle brush. This is 90% of nubuck care.
- Spot clean: For small stains, use a nubuck eraser. Not water, not soap; both flatten the nap and leave marks.
- Re-protect after deep cleaning: A nubuck protector spray restores the water-resistant layer. Your gloves ship with this finish already applied, so this is maintenance, not setup.
- Dry properly: Wet gloves get patted down and air dried, away from sun and heat sources. Never on top of the shop heater, however tempting.
Aprons: Buffalo Hide
- Clean gently: Wipe down with a damp cloth. Damp, not wet; never soak thick leather.
- Condition occasionally: Every so often, work in an oil-based conditioner made for heavy hides. It keeps 2.7mm leather supple and stops cracking. Test it on a hidden corner first, since conditioners can darken leather.
- Dry slowly: If the apron gets wet, hang it and let it dry at its own pace.
What Ruins Both
- Washing: Never immerse them in water.
- Harsh chemicals: Bleach, soap, and chemical cleaners damage the leather.
- Direct heat: The dryer, the iron, or any direct heat while drying.
- Dry cleaning: If a stain is beyond you, take it to a leather care professional rather than experimenting; leather damage tends to be permanent.
Care Label:
Follow the habits above and the leather will outlast its looks, then keep going. Ask anyone attached to a beat-up, broken-in pair.