Leather Hat Care and Maintenance: 4 Things to Remember
Love the outdoors? Better yet, love looking sharp while in the great outdoor? Then you probably have (or is planning to have) a leather hat in your collection. Owning a leather hat is a must for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities or whose everyday routine requires protection from the sun or dust. It’s also a staple for people who are into country-style clothing.
Leather hats have evolved from being just functional headwear into timeless fashion pieces, being both stylish and durable. However, like any other accessory, it cannot last long without proper care and maintenance. They require different care than hats made of other materials. For instance, exposing them to the sun for an overly long period of time can lead to discolouration and irreversible damage.
To increase the longevity of your leather outback hat, here are some simple yet helpful tips you can follow to properly care for and maintain your well-loved everyday essential.
1. Do not squeeze the front of your hat.
Sure, it’s cool to hold the hat in a laidback manner and maybe give it a little squeeze in the process. But too much squeezing can be damaging. Some people think that by squeezing their hats, they can maintain the shape or even reshape them. This is not true. Tugging the brim and squeezing the front of a hat may lead to deformation. Once a leather hat loses its shape, it would be hard to bring it back to its original, perfect form.
Quick Tip: Instead of attempting to change the shape of your leather hat, you may want to consider adding a new one to your collection so you’ll have an alternative. This gives your other hats some time to rest and properly preserve their shape. You don’t have to limit yourself to a cowboy leather hat either. There are other leather hats in various shapes and styles that fit other weather and purpose.
2. Keep perfume and hair spray away from the leather.
It’s always good to smell nice and appear well-put. However, many perfumes and hair sprays contain alcohol, which can dry out and stain leather material. Once they ruin the top coat of the hat, undoing the harm will be no easy feat. To avoid staining your leather piece, it would be best to let your perfume and hair spray dry completely first before putting on the hat.
Quick Tip: When it comes to removing stains and blemishes, do not experiment and use any liquid or harmful chemicals. Instead, apply an effective leather cleaner on the soiled area. This way, the leather hat will look as good as new
3. Store leather hats away from direct sunlight.
Leather is made from animal skin. Despite it being processed, it is still susceptible to damage when it is left out in the sun for too long. To avoid drying, cracking, and discolouration, never store leather hats where it’s exposed to direct sunlight.
Quick Tip: Using a hat stand is one of the best ways to keep a leather hat in tip-top shape when not in use. When you hang your hats away from direct sunlight, you’re not only preventing premature aging caused by overexposure to ultraviolet rays. You are also keeping them in proper shape.
4. Do not attach badges, tapes, or pins to the leather.
To maintain the integrity of your leather, don’t even consider pinning or taping any embellishment to it as this may mar the finish. Incorrect stitching can cause holes that are nearly impossible to reverse.
Quick Tip: If you really must add some sort of emblems or embroidery, it is wise to have a professional do it. This is something that is not worth DIYing.
Revel in Your Outback Leather Hat
Leather hats come in various shapes, colours, styles, and even functions. They are great fashion statements and gift ideas not just for adventurous men, but for women as well. To ensure that your leather hats would stand the test of time, only choose high-quality leather hats from trusted brands.
Kakadu Traders Australia is committed to producing a variety of high-quality products, such as the Ranger in Black and Mallacoota leather hats. We design our hats to be stylish, durable, and comfortable so you can wear them with confidence anytime and anywhere your adventure takes you!
