Leather Types: Vachetta Leather

What is Vachetta Leather?

Vachetta is untreated Italian leather used by Louis Vuitton on luggage and luxury handbags. Vachetta leather generally comes from the bull's shoulder, making it a tough, long-lasting and hard-wearing leather. Vachetta is a very natural type of leather, coloured using only dyes. It has no protection or additive treatments applied after its colouring process, making it very absorbent. This comes with pros and cons.

Does Vachetta leather change colour?

Louis Vuitton Vachetta leather doesn’t go through many processes in the tannery which is what makes it so natural – it's soft, smooth, and looks great. However, as there are no protection additives on the surface of the leather, so its absorbency means it will stain easily, and even change colour throughout use.

The changing of colour isn’t a bad thing. This process is called patina and it's one of the reasons why this type of leather is so popular. All leather goods crafted in this material are used differently so the patina is unique and no two bags will ever look the same.

Above: Two of our most popular bags are the Louis Vuitton Speedy and Neverfull.

What does Vachetta leather look like?

Vachetta leather is very pale and peachy when new, but as it's used in day-to-day life, it will develop its natural patina, becoming more of a honey/brown colour. It will also pick up natural markings such as stains and scratches which help add character to its aged look. Some people like this and others don’t, it’s a personal preference!

There is no way of getting around the leather changing. The leather is so natural and absorbent, even water particles in the air soak into the leather, which is the main cause of the leather's darkening.

As you can see from the image above, the handles often become the darkest area. This is developed not only through natural patina but also through natural oils from your skin. These oils soak into the leather whilst you're carrying your bag.

How do I care for an item with Vachetta leather?

Protect it the day you get it – leather is a skin and needs to be looked after, just like you do. You should:

Add protection cream to it as this will greatly improve the chance of spillages not staining the leather. You should wipe the handles of your bag down with a damp cloth after use. This will remove any natural oils from the surface of the leather. Doing this before they have a chance to soak in will keep the leather looking newer for longer and you will greatly prolong the life of the handles. If you're unlucky enough to be caught out in the rain, or you place your bag down on a wet surface, you should blot the wet area with a dry cloth – do not rub. Rubbing the area can cause it to become uncharacteristically shiny and it also runs the risk of spreading the stain. Always carry a bag hook to hang your handbag on the side of a table, eliminating the chance of you placing your bag down in a spillage on a wet surface. While your bag is not in use you should keep it stuffed to keep its shape and structure. Keeping it in its cotton dust bag will also stop any dust from settling on the leather.

Be prepared. Protect your item.

Above: We have care products available on our website for protecting Vachetta leather and untreated leather. Our Protection Cream applies an invisible barrier over the surface of the Louis Vuitton handbag, protecting it from all day-to-day dirt and grime, slows down spillages soaking in into the leather, repels ink, and also has a UV light barrier to help slow down colour fade.

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