A leather bag changes most where you touch it. The handle becomes familiar first, then the corners and the part of the body that rests against your coat. We are interested in those changes because they show an object becoming part of a routine.
In the studio, we look at a leather sample in more than one condition. Flat on the table, bent around an edge, held under a window. We want to understand the way it catches light and how a simple construction will let its surface do the talking.
A clear shape gives the material room to develop its own character. We avoid treating every variation as a flaw to hide. A crease, a softer edge or a slightly deeper colour can become the detail that makes a bag feel like yours. The important distinction is between ordinary ageing and damage that needs attention.
Keep leather away from prolonged heat and damp, follow the care instructions for its finish and store a bag with enough support to keep its shape. No material looks after itself. But a little attention leaves room for the kind of wear that makes an object more personal, rather than less useful.
