To keep your leather jacket in the best condition, the most important thing to realize is that it is not just fabric, but animal skin and it will react differently to the elements than textile fabrics.  During the tanning process, chemical agents are used to drive moisture out of the skin and tightly bind its fibres together.  Although skin is naturally oily, oil-based tanning processes are used to create extremely soft leather.  Over time the leather will lose its oils and will harden, dry and shrink as a result.

The only way to prevent this is to have the jacket properly chemically cleaned at a professional leather cleaner, most of which will use a petroleum-based cleaner to replenish the natural oils of the leather and keep it supple.  This only needs to be done every couple of years or so.  Otherwise, the only products that should be applied to leather are water and stain repellants.  Make sure to ask a professional leather cleaner which products to use, because certain soaps and cleaning solutions can damage the finish and colour of the leather, and some oil-based products can cause the stitching to putrefy.

Other Maintenance Tips

Water is not necessarily bad for leather, although on types other than top-grain, it can leave water spots.  The best way to clean minor dirt and stains from your jacket is to wipe it down with a damp cloth and nothing else.  If you do get caught in the rain without having applied water repellant, it doesn’t mean the leather will be damaged.  Just remember to let it dry naturally on a hanger, rather than using a heat source to dry it, because the heat will cause it to shrink.

In fact, it’s always a good idea to store your leather jacket on a hanger.  You know how creases will stay in your skin for a while if it’s pressed up against a surface?  With leather it’s the same thing, except it takes a much longer time for the creases to fill back out.  Using a hanger will make sure the leather gets to breathe properly and allow it to maintain its proper shape.

Worth The Investment

If maintained with care, a leather jacket can last for decades and even improve with age as your body breaks in the leather until it fits you like a second skin.  It’s well worth the small time investment considering how expensive quality leather costs and you’ll see the difference when your stylish new coat keeps looking good for years.