Care notes: how a wallet ages

Veg-tanned leather has a predictable life. If you understand the stages, you'll know what's normal and when to step in.

Week one

It's stiff. That's deliberate — we ship it firm so the edges hold their shape and the pockets stay defined. Use it normally. Carry it in your back pocket. Within ten days it'll have softened to take the shape of how you sit.

Month six

The surface is starting to darken — the corners first, then the spine, then the body. Patina is uneven on purpose. Don't try to even it out by conditioning the lighter areas; you'll lock the contrast in too early.

Year one

Time for the first conditioning. A pea-sized amount of beeswax-based dressing, worked in with a fingertip, left overnight, then buffed off with a soft cloth. Once a year is plenty — over-conditioned leather goes greasy and stops developing colour.

Year three

If the stitching has worn — usually the corner that takes the most flex — send it back. We re-stitch for free for the life of the wallet. Edges that have softened can be re-burnished at the same time.

The one thing

Don't use shoe polish. It contains pigments and solvents that fight the patina. If the leather looks dry, use a clear leather conditioner — anything containing beeswax, lanolin, or neatsfoot oil. If it looks dirty, a barely-damp cloth and patience. That's all it needs.