Xposted from the other leather sub because I see now leather care posts are not welcome there. The manufacturer I was suggested to refer to is my dad, and when I asked it became sort of a sensitive situation that I think upset him because he spent so, so many hours on this in his early days of creating. Like someone smashing a sentimental ceramic piece that took forever to make then asking for advice about kintsugi. He was just like… “I… I just don’t know. It might be shot” and he truly doesn’t have experience restoring. Just making beautiful, fresh things out of new leather and gifting them. Everyone else has taken good care of them (by hardly using them) so fuck me 🥲 But I don’t think it is shot, and I want to try whatever I can!

TLDR: 1) saddle soap by Fiebings 2) allow to dry in fresh air 3) condition with Fiebing’s Aussie Conditioner 4) pray

My dad made me this backpack maybe 10 years ago. I used it to death but I regret how I’ve treated it and I want to bring it back to life as much as I can. None of it is moldy, so that’s a great start I think?? But there are so many options for leather care and I just don’t know where to start.

I have a spent extra soft toothbrush (so plastic bristles, obv) that’s for household work now, but I’m willing to spend up to $50 on products to salvage it so I’m open to suggestions.

I see all this info about horsehair brushes and I think those are pretty firm? More like the broad brushes that were in my dad’s shoeshine kit as a kid. Would that be a huge boon or is it something I’d only need if I plan on using them for lots of things for a long time?

As far as the content of the stains, I have no idea. Rain, fallen drinks, airports, all of it.

I’d also love any suggestions of how to get the bottom flap less curled at the corners. It’s also darker there because I got bad advice to reshape it and I got the whole thing evenly wet 🤡

I’m not sure what type of leather it is, but it’s thick as fuck (without a caliper I’m measuring it at 3mm maybe slightly more) and super heavy. It’s also dyed olive green and was purchased when we lived in Hong Kong. The construction/stitching is holding up beautifully and there is not a stitch out of place. The buckles are not functional—they are aesthetic and the flaps close with a magnetic button situation.

Does the fiebings saddle soap and conditioner sound like a solid plan or are there better/alternative options? Also, any recommended videos that feature this type of restoration? I sort of get decision paralysis faced with so many options of everything, but I saw skmelne else reference a woman who does leather restoration content. Of course I didn’t make a note of who that was so if you know who I’m talking about