Product Care
How to Care for Your LeoMara Bag: 6 Steps to Keep It Looking Beautiful
Your LeoMara bag was made by hand — shaped, stitched, and finished by skilled artisans in Chiang Mai. That kind of craftsmanship deserves a little care in return.
The good news? Looking after your bag is simple. Follow these six steps and your bag will stay vibrant, structured, and beautiful for years to come.
Step 1: Hand Wash Gently
When your bag needs a clean, fill a basin with cold water and add a small amount of mild detergent. Use a soft cloth to gently work the soapy water over the fabric — paying attention to any marks or stained areas first.
Cold water is key here. Hot water can cause natural fibres to shrink and colours to bleed, especially in handcrafted pieces where the dyes are applied with care rather than industrial fixation.
Step 2: Avoid Soaking or Scrubbing
It might be tempting to leave your bag to soak, or to really go at a stubborn stain with a brush — but resist the urge.
Prolonged soaking loosens stitching and can cause the dyes to migrate across the fabric. Hard scrubbing on woven material causes pilling and can distort the weave over time. Instead, use gentle, circular motions with a soft cloth — patience works better than pressure.
Step 3: No Bleach or Harsh Chemicals
Bleach and strong chemical cleaners are a definite no. They'll strip the colour from the fabric and can permanently damage any leather trims. The same goes for fabric softeners, which leave residue that clogs the weave, and acetone-based stain removers.
Mild soap and water will handle almost anything your bag encounters in day-to-day use.
Step 4: Air Dry in the Shade
Once washed, reshape your bag gently and leave it to dry naturally — somewhere with good airflow but away from direct sunlight.
UV rays are surprisingly harsh on textile dyes, causing colours to fade and leather to dry out and crack. Shade drying keeps your bag's colours rich and your leather trims supple. If possible, lay it flat rather than hanging it while still wet — this helps the bag hold its shape as it dries.
Step 5: Skip the Tumble Dryer
Never put your LeoMara bag in a tumble dryer. The heat will warp the fabric, distort the structure, and put serious stress on the stitching — especially on a shaped bag like ours.
The triangular design that makes LeoMara bags so distinctive is also what makes them particularly sensitive to heat distortion. Air drying takes a little longer, but it's worth it.
Step 6: Iron on Low, If Needed
If your bag needs a quick refresh after washing, you can iron it on a low heat setting — roughly equivalent to the silk or synthetic setting on most irons.
One important rule: never iron directly over leather trims. Either place a clean cloth between the iron and any leather areas, or simply avoid those sections entirely. The fabric panels can handle gentle heat; the leather cannot.
A Little Care Goes a Long Way
Handcrafted items are made to last — but only when they're looked after. With these six simple steps, your LeoMara bag will age beautifully, getting better with every use.
If you ever have questions about caring for your specific bag, feel free to reach out to us — we're always happy to help.