"Bag care is essential for the longevity of our new purchase."
For leather, kente and mudcloth fabrics, sisal, crotchet thread, linings; khaki and baule.
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO LEATHER CARE
Leather is skin, and it can stretch. Avoid overfilling your handbag, purse or wallet to maintain its original silhouette. It is best to avoid water contact at all costs. Take extra care with leather items you use often. Take the time each week to wipe away dust and spots with a soft cloth or brush. Take care to avoid contact with heavily embellished clothes, sharp surfaces, or chunky jewellery when you are out and about.
While leather travel bags are designed with durability and the wear and tear of travel in mind, there are a few easy steps you can take to preserve the quality and finish of your suitcase, cabin bag or weekend bag.
Always stand it on its base studs rather than on its side to minimise contact with the floor. In transit, make use of a protective luggage cover to avert the possibility of scratches when your travel bag is in the hold or overhead compartment. In between trips, empty your travel bag and store it in its protective bag in a spot that comfortably accommodates it without the need for folding handles or tightly packing it against any other accessories.
Leather storing
Storing your leather well is one of the easiest ways you can prevent damage and maintain a high-quality finish:
- Store leather away from direct sunlight as this can cause fading
- Store handbags in a dust bag to avoid scratches
- Avoid using plastic bags; they prevent good ventilationStore leather away from artificial sources of heat, e.g. radiators can cause the leather to dry and crack
- Be sure to stand it on its base rather than hanging it up, as this can stretch the handles.
- Choose a spot that is tall enough to allow the handles to stand up unimpeded. Doing otherwise can cause them to become bent or misshapen.
- If you are planning to leave your bag in storage for an extended period, you might also like to take the time to wrap hardware such as zips and clasps in tissue paper to avoid them creating any unwanted imprints on your leather.
Do's and Don't of leather:
- Do regularly clean leather with a soft brush or cloth
- Do regularly air out leather
- Do blot away water or moisture as soon as possible
- Do dry wet leather naturally, away from artificial heat
- Do keep leather supple with a specialised leather conditioner every 3-6 months
- Do clean spots and stains with a mixture of soap flakes and warm water
- Do use a steam cleaner to disinfect and remove buildup from regular use
- Do test any conditioners, cleaners, polishes or wax in a hidden spot beforehand
- Don't machine wash leather
- Don't get leather wet wherever possible
- Don't dry wet leather next to a radiator or with a hairdryer
- Don't tumble dry leather
- Don't iron leather
- Don't immerse leather in water to clean
Maintenance and Care of your beautiful luxury bag
Leather is loved for its visual nuances; varying textures, delicate shifts in tone, slowly developing patinas and subtle signs of a life well-lived.
Regular dusting and a simple wipe with a damp cloth from time to time will certainly suffice.
Smooth, delicate, and patent leathers will benefit from a soft leather cream to nourish, hydrate and preserve their supple qualities. Gentle creams and conditioners can also be used to remove light scratches. Where bright colours are concerned, the polish can spot buff scratches and scuffs, while specialist colour restoring balms are ideal for complete rejuvenation.
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO COW HIDE
Cowhideis commonly used in our range because of its long-lasting durability and sleek appearance. Cowhide is on the front and back of our leather Engiteng duffel bags and all around our Tarkeet bucket bags.
To clean, start by gently brushing your cowhide bag to remove loose dirt. Follow this by gentle rubbing with a damp cloth to soak up any stains from spills. Avoid making the cloth too moist as this increases the risk of your bag getting mould damage. During this step remember that it is proper to use specially formulated cowhide cleaner.
Dust, dirt, and other debris can eventually damage the fibrous surface of the leather, causing it to become brittle and prone to cracking. If you need to spot-clean your cowhide, take a damp cloth and gently smooth the fur in its natural direction of growth. You can repeat this process until the hide is clean but be sure to remove excess water from the cloth before doing so. with a dry towel to remove excess moisture.
The final step is to brush the hair in its natural direction so that it dries smooth. You will need to lay down your cowhide bag on a flat surface to dry. Avoid direct sunlight and after it is well dried, store it in a cool dry place in its dust bag provided.
ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR SISAL BAGS
Sisal is generally made to withstand the elements (weather, wear and tear), but is very difficult to clean once the stain is left for a while without being cleaned and usually leaves a watermark if you let the basket absorb water instead of dabbing.
Sisal tote bags can handle a little water but not a lot. Cleaning with a damp cloth is possible but rub the surface. Let it dry in a warm place but not in direct sunlight. Remove any stains as quickly as possible by dabbing the stain with a clean, damp cloth. Do not rub the stain or you will push the stain into the fibres and damage the surface.
Continue dabbing with a clean cloth until it's clear of the stain. Let the basket dry airily to avoid misshaping. Spot cleaning is always ideal for sisal. Do not rub, machine wash, spin or tumble dry.
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO KHAKI CARE
Wipe with alint-freecleaning cloth. Dampen the cloth as needed, and repeat the process until satisfied. Let the khaki completely dry before packing up. Khaki lining in tote bags, handbags or duffel bags is best air-dried. Do not leave it out to dry in the sun if the bag has leather on it.
Once dried, store the bag in a dust bag that we provide. Always store items clean. Storing in plastic encourages yellowing and can trap mildew-causing moisture, a prime environment for bugs. Remove any dust and dirt by lightly brushing.
Heavy soiling should first be wiped off with clear warm water. Do not use soaps or detergents. Some bags will lose stiffness and structure when laundered. To prevent changes in the material or construction, we recommend spot-treating. To spot treat, wet the area and gently work into the stained area(s).
ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR MUDCLOTH & KENTE BAGS
Mudcloth and Kente are beautiful handwoven fabrics. In our collection, the mudcloth and kente are stitched on the face and the back of our duffel bags which are made with a special kind of leather called Oily Pull-Up leather.
This leather should not get into contact with water hence washing this bag is a bad idea. The best way to care for this bag is by spot-cleaning it. Cleaning with a damp cloth directly on the fabrics, not the leather is possible but do not rub the surface. You can also use soapy water. Let it dry in a warm place but not in direct sunlight.
Remove any stains as quickly as possible by dabbing the stain with a clean, damp cloth. Do not rub the stain or you will push the stain into the threads and damage the surface. Continue dabbing with a clean cloth until it's clear of the stain. Let the bag dry airily to avoid misshaping. Do not rub, machine wash, spin or tumble dry.
ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR CROTCHET AND MACRAME BAGS
Keep your classy crochet bag from looking pristine with proper cleaning and care. With its distinct texture and soft silhouette, it’s important to practice preventative care, not letting your bag get dirty, soaked, or dried out.
Unzip pockets and empty them to remove all dust, loose change, wrappers, etc. If you are doing a spot cleaning, you may not need to empty the bag. Add a splash of mild laundry detergent to a bowl of cold water. Dip a soft, clean cloth or non-abrasive sponge into water, wringing out the excess.
Gently rub the surface of your handbag. Rinse cloth or sponge so it is free of detergent and dampen with water, wiping off any soap residue on your bag. Using a clean, dry cloth, wipe your bag dry. You may also let your crochet bag air dry until it is completely moisture free. Do not machine wash, spin or tumble dry
Collaborating with local artisans
BEADWORK CARE
Our beaded bags are made of beautiful glass beads beaded together and hand-stitched to our leather bags. The stunning beadwork detail on our bags needs care. To ensure your bag stays in pristine condition, here's how to take care of the beadwork.
Avoid heavily embellished clothes, sharp surfaces, jewellery or other items/objects that may tug or pull out the beadwork. Keep the beads clean by wiping them with a soft cloth. Keep your bag in the drawstring bag provided in a dry and tempered spot without direct sunlight
ANKARA LINING CARE
Ankara is a beautiful fabric that originates from Western Africa. It is handmade with multi-coloured stripes. In order to take care of this lining, one must make sure to spot clean and whenever the bag is not in use make sure to empty it. Remove dust with a clean damp cloth. Add a tablespoon of salt to the water.
This seals the fabric colours and prevents them from bleeding. Rub gently to avoid damage to the stitchwork. Let it air dry Avoid drying under direct sunlight. This contributes to the fading of colours on the fabric. Keep the bag in its drawstring bag
PACKAGING FOR THE BAGS
Bag care is super important to us which is why we have provided a drawstring bag in our packaging that has a soft lining. This bag should be stored in a cool, dry place and can be hand washed or machine-washed separately but not your luxury bag.
There is also a QR code embedded in the lining of the bags that takes you to this page for those oops moments we all have. We got you don't worry! There's also soft tissue and stuffing to make sure your bag is in good shape and in pristine condition before receiving it.
We've got you covered!
You can decide to return any item purchased on azanacollective.com within 14 days of delivery date
Our Atelier
Clay City, Off Thika Road, Nairobi, Kenya
Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm
Saturday, 8am - 2pm
