Leather Care
Caring for Your Leather
There is a moment, usually a few months in, when you notice something has changed about your bag. The leather has softened just slightly. The colour has deepened in the places you touch most. It has started to take on a quality that is entirely its own.
This is what natural leather does. It doesn't stay the same — it gets better. And the way you care for it in the early months shapes everything that comes after. Your Qisa is your investment.
The Leather We Use
Every Qisa bag is made from full-grain natural leather — the highest grade that exists, sourced from hides where the outermost surface is left completely intact, never sanded down or chemically corrected. This is the part of the hide with the tightest fiber structure, the greatest natural strength, and the most beautiful capacity to age.
We work with two primary leathers: full-grain Georgian leather, dense and characterful, part of a craft tradition that has existed in the Caucasus for centuries; and full-grain Italian-tanned leather, processed using the slow vegetable tanning methods of the Tuscan tanneries, which produce a material of extraordinary richness and depth.
Both are 100% natural. Both are sourced exclusively from hides that are a by-product of the food industry — no animal is raised or harmed for the purpose of making our leather. This has always been our position, and it always will be.
The natural colour variations, the faint marks, the subtle shifts in texture from one part of the hide to another — these are not flaws. They are the signature of genuine full-grain leather. They are proof that what you are holding is real.
What Natural Leather Does Over Time
Full-grain leather develops a patina — a gradual deepening and enriching of the surface that comes from use, light, and the natural oils in your hands. No two bags develop the same patina. The way yours ages is shaped by how you carry it, where you take it, how often you use it.
After a year of regular use, a Qisa bag looks even better than the day it first arrived. The leather is more supple, the colour richer, the surface more nuanced. After five years, it has become something that could not have been made in a factory — it carries the specific history of its life with you.
This is what we mean when we say our bags are built to last a lifetime. Not that they resist change, but that they change in the right direction
How to Care for Your Qisa Leather Bag
Natural leather is far more resilient than most people expect. It doesn't need constant attention — just the right attention, at the right moments.
Day to Day
Wipe down your bag with a soft, dry cloth after use if needed. For light surface dust or marks, a slightly damp cloth is enough — use gentle, circular motions and let the leather dry naturally. Avoid direct heat sources like radiators or hairdryers when drying. Keep it away from prolonged direct sunlight, which can fade the natural colour over time.
Conditioning
Leather is a natural material, and like skin, it benefits from occasional conditioning to stay supple and prevent dryness. Every three to four months — or whenever the leather starts to feel slightly dry to the touch — apply a small amount of quality leather conditioner or natural beeswax balm with a soft cloth, working it in gently across the entire surface.
Less is more. A thin, even application is far better than a heavy one. Let it absorb for a few minutes, then buff lightly with a clean cloth to bring up a subtle natural sheen.
We recommend conditioners that are free of silicone and petroleum distillates. Pure lanolin-based or beeswax-based products work beautifully with the natural tanning of our leather and won't interfere with patina development.
Cleaning
For most marks and light stains, a slightly damp cloth and gentle pressure is all you need. For more stubborn stains, use a small amount of natural leather soap — saddle soap works well — applied with a soft cloth in gentle circular motions. Wipe clean with a damp cloth and allow to dry naturally.
Do not use household cleaning products, alcohol, acetone, or anything not specifically designed for natural leather. These strip the natural oils from the hide and can cause permanent damage.
Water and Weather
All Qisa bags are treated with a natural leather repellent before they leave our workshop, which provides solid protection against light rain and everyday moisture. This treatment does not make the leather waterproof, but it means a caught-in-the-rain moment is not a cause for concern.
If your bag gets wet, simply let it dry naturally at room temperature, away from direct heat. Once fully dry, apply a thin layer of conditioner to restore suppleness. Do not attempt to speed up drying — heat causes leather to crack and stiffen.
For ongoing protection, particularly if you live somewhere with heavy rainfall, reapply a quality water-repellent spray designed for natural leather every few months.
Storage
When you're not using your bag, store it in a cool, dry place with good air circulation. If storing for an extended period, stuff it lightly with tissue paper or a soft cloth to help it hold its shape. Avoid storing in plastic bags, which trap moisture and can cause the leather to deteriorate. The dust bag included with your Qisa order is ideal for longer-term storage.
Scratches and Scuffs
One of the most reassuring things about full-grain leather is how it responds to surface scratches. In most cases, rubbing the affected area gently with your fingertip — using the natural warmth and oils of your skin — is enough to work a light scratch back into the surface. The leather absorbs it.
Deeper scuffs will soften and blend into the patina over time. This is not leather showing its age badly. This is leather doing what it is designed to do — recording its life honestly and becoming more beautiful for it.
Our 2 Year Repair Guarantee
Every Qisa bag comes with a free 2 year repair guarantee. If something comes loose, a stitch needs attention, or hardware needs adjusting, ship it back to our workshop in Georgia and we will fix it, free of charge. This is not a limited warranty — it is a commitment to the bags we make.
Questions About Your Leather
If you're ever unsure about a mark, a product, or how to handle something specific, write to us at info@qisabags.com. We answer every message personally, and we know our leather well enough to give you a straight answer.
Or come to the workshop in Tbilisi. There is nothing like seeing the leather in person and watching our bags being made to understand what it is — and what it will become.
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