Does leather get ruined by water? The test (and what to do if your bag gets wet)

It's the question you ask us the most: does a leather bag get ruined if it gets wet? And instead of answering you with pretty words, we did what we do best: soaking the leathers on camera, no tricks. Here's what we learned.

The rule that explains almost everything

Almost all of our leathers are vegetable-tanned cowhide leather, but they don't all react the same way to water: it depends on how much protection they carry.

• Water-repellent: water slides right off and doesn't penetrate. They carry a treatment that repels water and stains. Bombproof.
• Vegetable-tanned with a finish (night blue, turquoise, red, taupe brown, black…): they hold up more than well; water barely affects them.
• Vegetable-tanned with no finish (natural, wine, terracotta): these are the most natural ones and the ones that show water the most. They absorb a little, they can soak through, and although they recover as they dry, water can leave marks and history.

The key thing: none of them gets ruined. They simply react differently, but they're all made to go through life with you.

What happens when we wet a 100% natural, unfinished leather

You pour water on it and yes, you see it soak in a little. It even soaks through. You also see it darken, especially in colors like terracotta, wine or baby blue.

The most important thing: let it dry on its own - no hairdryers, sun or heating - and that's it. You'll see the drama ease off and it goes back to - almost - where it was.

I say "almost" because there's a high chance of some color variation. And for me, in all honesty, that's part of its character and it's precisely what makes that leather wonderful.

Everything has a solution... but if this is something that doesn't sit right with you, I wouldn't recommend getting a bienhecha in these leathers.

What happens with a water-repellent one (or one with a finish)

Here water simply doesn't get in: it beads, it doesn't soak through. It sits like a drop on the surface and rolls off. In case of any drama, relax: there's a solution, and it can also be cleaned inside and out without fear.

What to do if your bag gets wet

1. Don't rub with heat or roughly. The less you stress the leather, the better.
2. Blot the excess with a soft cloth, without scrubbing.
3. Let it dry on its own, away from the radiator and direct sun. The leather recovers by itself.
4. Once it's dry, and only if there are marks, dampen an extra-soft cloth just a touch and go over it to even it out; it may darken slightly, but it ends up looking great.
5. And every now and then, nourish it with wax to keep it in shape (heads up, we explain how to use wax by color here

So which one do I choose?

• Rain, rushing around and zero worries? → water-repellent or, at least, finished.
• Want a leather with history, one that ages with you? → vegetable-tanned 100% natural, unfinished.

Keep reading here

• Types of leather for bags: the complete guide
• How to care for a leather bag with wax

See the water-repellent bags →

At Labienhecha we don't just tell you: we show you. Because trust is also something we make well.