It's a common sight to see people who value taking care of their belongings take their new shoes to the "repair workshop" at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building B1F, and purchase appropriate care products along with them. Similarly, leather goods such as bags and wallets also require the same level of care to prolong their lifespan.

This special feature introduces shoe care brands that have earned the trust of shoe factories and shoe brands.
Yuichi Shibasaki from M.MOWBRAY will explain how to care for bags made from different materials, including leather x nylon, crocodile, suede/nubuck, and vegetable-tanned leather.
Even if your outfit is perfectly styled, a dirty bag can really ruin the look. Let's learn about everything from initial care after purchase to daily maintenance.

Bag care products are the same as shoe care products!

This time, we'll be using care products from M.MOWBRAY , a shoe care brand that has gained the support of many shoe (leather) enthusiasts for its care products that contain many natural ingredients, do not put too much stress on the leather, and maintain the performance of the leather.

The "Repair Workshop" located on the first basement floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building offers a wide variety of care products that can be used for both shoes and bags, including waterproof sprays and brushes for daily bag care. Just like with any other item, the more you care for your shoes or bag, the more attached you become to them.

There are two types of brushes used for bag care. Brushes with fine horsehair bristles are ideal for removing dust and everyday maintenance, while brushes with soft goat hair bristles are less likely to leave marks and are suitable for caring for delicate materials.

For nylon bags, it's essential to "keep them in the same condition as when you bought them."

[When you buy a nylon and leather bag]

It's wrong to think, "It's brand new, so it doesn't need any care." Because time has passed between manufacturing and delivery, initial care is necessary after purchase.

When you buy a bag made of nylon and leather, first, carefully brush the nylon parts with a brush such as a horsehair brush to remove any invisible dust that may have accumulated during manufacturing and transportation. Next, apply a waterproof spray such as "Protector Alpha" to the entire bag to prevent water stains.

While leather products can be enjoyed for their aging process, the key to nylon products is to "maintain their original condition." Applying a waterproof (water-repellent) and stain-resistant spray to a new bag protects it from rain, dust, dirt, oil, and other stains, preventing stains.

Always spray from a distance of at least 60 centimeters. The key is to first do a dry spray, then lightly spray the entire bag with a swinging motion of your arm.

Next, apply a nourishing cream to the leather parts to moisturize them. The best cream for moisturizing is "Rich Delicate Cream." It's a nourishing cream for soft leather with natural avocado oil as its main ingredient. It's recommended for vegetable-tanned leather, light-colored leather, and leather that dries out easily and absorbs moisture quickly.

Of course, you should also apply it when you've been using it for a while and notice that the corners or handles are starting to show wear and tear.

One thing to be careful about is the amount of cream you take at once. If you take too much, it's easy for it to become uneven, so take only the amount that fits on your fingertip, as shown in the image. Rub it into the cloth, then wrap the cloth around your finger and gently slide it over the leather.

[Daily Care]

For daily care, apply waterproof spray to your bag every time you use it. Ideally, you should do this every day after using it, but the waterproofing effect lasts for about a week, so if it's too much trouble to do it every time, weekend care is also fine.

The main way to care for a crocodile bag is by brushing.

[What to do when you buy a crocodile bag & daily care]

Leather other than that of cows, pigs, and sheep is collectively called "exotic leather." There are many different types of leather, including those from mammals, birds, and reptiles, but this time we will focus on crocodile leather.

Crocodile leather is used for bags, wallets, key cases, belts, and more, but there are many different finishing methods, so it's impossible to say definitively which cream or product is best suited for each item.

The basic care for crocodile leather is simply brushing. It all boils down to removing dust. For brushing, we recommend the "Pro Goat Brush," which uses goat hair. The soft texture unique to goat hair makes it less likely to leave hair marks and is suitable for delicate materials.

How can I prevent suede and nubuck bags from fading?

[When you buy a suede or nubuck bag]

The most important thing when caring for napped leathers such as suede and nubuck is to "prevent fading." As many people have probably experienced, these materials are difficult to care for in order to prevent color transfer and fading, so initial care is crucial.

When you buy a suede or nubuck bag, the first thing you should do is brush it to smooth the surface nap. Choose a brush made of horsehair, which is especially well-suited to nubuck material. A "work brush made of horsehair" with fine bristles is ideal for removing dust and for everyday maintenance.

After brushing, spray the entire bag with "Suede Color Fresh," a spray that nourishes and softens suede and nubuck materials. This is essential care for extending the life of your bag, as it prevents fading and staining and also provides waterproofing. As mentioned in the nylon x leather section, the key to applying the spray is to spray it evenly over the entire bag from a slight distance, using a swinging motion of your arm.

[Daily Care]

The napped leather used in leather products such as bags is often soft, so after using it and returning home, brush the entire bag to remove dust. Then, spray it with suede color freshener to complete the care. By taking care of your bag every time you use it, you can prevent fading and keep it in good condition.

To enjoy the aging process unique to vegetable-tanned leather, nourishing cream is essential.

[When you buy a vegetable-tanned leather bag]

Vegetable tanning is a method of tanning leather using tannins found in plant resins, stems, leaves, and fruits. When you purchase a bag made of vegetable-tanned leather, which ages beautifully, the first step in its care is to brush it to remove dust and other debris. After brushing, use a "rich delicate cream" to moisturize the leather.

Rich Delicate Cream enhances the texture of vegetable-tanned leather, but there's a knack to applying it. Take a small amount of cream on a cloth, rub it in, and test it on an inconspicuous area of your bag first. If it doesn't stain, spread a thin layer over the entire surface, then wipe it dry with a soft cloth.

The best places to test the cream are the bottom of the bag or small parts of the bag.

[Daily Care]

Generally, vegetable-tanned leather gradually darkens in color and develops a sheen with use, but if left untreated, it can become severely discolored and the surface of the leather may crack, leading to various problems.

To enjoy the aging process unique to vegetable-tanned leather, for example, making it a habit to apply Rich Delicate Cream when caring for your leather shoes on the weekends will gently change the appearance of the leather.