Have you noticed wrinkles in your leather jacket? Many people assume that leather jackets are wrinkle-proof, but unfortunately this isn’t the case. While they are less likely to develop wrinkles than most other types of jackets, leather jackets can still develop wrinkles if not properly maintained.
It’s frustrating when you find wrinkles on your leather jacket. Maybe you’re heading to work, or perhaps you’re getting dressed for a semi-formal dinner. event. Regardless, you should strive to keep your clothes smooth and wrinkle-free. So, what causes leather jackets to develop wrinkles, and what steps can you take to prevent it from happening?
Seasonal Storage
It’s not uncommon for leather jackets to develop wrinkles when stored for long periods, such as the spring or summer seasons. Leather jackets are incredibly warm thanks, in part, to their construction consisting of 100% genuine leather. While this makes them ideal for the cold months of the year, some people may discover that leather jackets are too hot to wear during the warm months of the year. If you’re going to store your leather jacket for one or more seasons, though, you should be conscious of where and how you store it. Otherwise, it could develop wrinkles.
You can still store your leather jacket for the season; you just need to take some precautions to protect it from wrinkles. Here are a few tips to follow when storing your leather jacket, all of which will lower the risk of wrinkles:
- Clean your leather jacket with a lint-free microfiber cloth before storing it.
- Store your leather jacket on a heavy-duty — preferably wooden — clothes hanger rather than simply folding it.
- Smooth out any wrinkles with the palm of your hand.
Moisture
You might be surprised to learn that moisture can cause your leather jacket to wrinkle. Leather jackets have a naturally porous texture that’s able to absorb small amounts of moisture from the surrounding environment. If you store your leather jacket in a humid environment, such as a basement or attic, it will “suck up” moisture, which may lead to unsightly creases and wrinkles.
To prevent wrinkles from forming on your leather jacket, you need to keep it away from moisture. This means storing it in a relatively dry, climate-controlled environment. And if you happen to wear your leather jacket on a rainy day, dry it off with a clean towel when you get inside. By keeping your leather jacket dry, it shouldn’t develop wrinkles.
Heat
Another common reason why leather jackets develop wrinkles is because they are exposed to heat. Leather jackets are susceptible to heat-related damage. Maybe you accidentally place your leather jacket near a space heater, or perhaps you set it near an open fireplace. Regardless, heat will cause structural changes within the leather material that can manifest as wrinkles.
The bottom line is that you need to keep your leather jacket away from all sources of direct heat. It only takes a single instance of heat exposure to create wrinkles. And in some cases, heat can cause more severe and permanent damage. For the best look, as well as performance, you should keep your leather jacket away from all sources of direct heat. Heat is just one more way that leather jackets can develop wrinkles.
Low-Quality Leather
If your jacket is made of low-quality leather, it may develop wrinkles. Not all leather jackets are made of the same type of leather. Even if two jackets are made of 100% genuine leather, the quality of their leather may vary. Low-quality leather, of course, is more likely to develop wrinkles than high-quality leather.
Low-quality leather is typically thinner than high-quality leather. Therefore, jackets made of low-quality leather are naturally more prone to wrinkles than their counterparts made of high-quality leather.
It’s Too Big
Another reason why some leather jackets develop wrinkles is because they are too big. If your leather jacket is too big for your body, it will have excess material that “hangs” when worn. While this may sound harmless, it leaves your leather jacket vulnerable to wrinkles.
With an oversized leather jacket, the excess leather material will drape loosely from your body. Whether you wear it for a few hours or the entire day, it may develop wrinkles as a result. So, how do you prevent this from happening? The only viable solution is to get a leather jacket that fits your body. It shouldn’t be too big, nor should it be too small. Your leather jacket needs to fit perfectly to achieve a naturally wrinkle-resistant form.
Here at LeatherCult, you can order high-quality leather jackets in custom sizes. You aren’t restricted to choosing a leather jacket in a generic size, such as small, medium or large. Instead, you’ll have the option to include your own body measurements. Upon receiving these measurements, we’ll use them to design a custom-sized leather jacket specifically for you. Not only do custom-sized leather jackets look better than those in generic sizes, but they are less likely to develop wrinkles as well.
Don’t Iron Your Leather Jacket
Avoid the temptation of ironing your leather jacket. While most garments can be ironed to remove wrinkles, leather jackets require a different approach. As previously mentioned, heat can damage jackets made of genuine leather. Clothing irons, of course, use heat to smooth out wrinkles.
If your leather jacket gets wrinkled, try hanging it on a clothes hanger for a few days in a climate-controlled environment, such as your coat closet. The semi-heavyweight construction sill weigh down your leather jacket, thereby smoothing out any small wrinkles. If you still see wrinkles, you can try hanging up your leather jacket in the bathroom with the hot water running. As the steam builds up, it will smooth out the wrinkles without directly exposing your leather jacket to heat.