How to care

How to care for your bunko leather product

Congratulations on your new bunko leather product!

Many of the questions we commonly get from our customers about bunko leather are answered here.

Your bunko leather product will bring you many years of enjoyment if you care for it properly, so be sure to read through the information provided below.

A. There are three keys to maximizing the life of your wallet.

Overstuffed wallet

Overstuffed wallet

1. Do not overstuff it

The way you place items in your wallet will affect its shape.

Overstuffing it or packing it unevenly tends to damage the outer surface, and can lead to permanent misshaping.

Made from animal skin, leather is a flexible material with a high degree of elasticity.

Just as leather shoes gradually mold to fit your feet, your wallet will change shape if you try to put too much in it.

This will also stretch the leather at the fold, making it prone to developing creases.

Please note that areas that have changed shape due to the characteristic qualities of leather cannot be repaired.

Example of an overstuffed wallet

Example of an overstuffed wallet

2. Keep your wallet in your bag or purse when you go out

There is not much you can do to prevent wear or fading on the parts of your wallet that you handle all the time. Eventually, the damage can become quite noticeable.

Bunko leather in particular is prone to losing the depth of its embossing if you tend to carry your wallet in your hand when you’re out and about.

You can help prevent this by changing up the way you typically use or open your wallet, and by carrying it in your bag or purse rather than in your hand.

3. Give it a breather occasionally

Your bunko leather wallet is a lot like a pair of shoes: if you use it every single day, it will really take a beating.

We tend to put our wallets through a lot without even thinking about it, so we recommend that you change it out every six months or so to give it a break and extend its life.

A. Just handling your wallet on a daily basis will transfer oil from your hands and help keep it in good condition.

Unlike the leather that is typically used to make wallets, bunko leather is processed to add color and a vintage look.

Because it’s a little different, there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re caring for it.

1. Do not use brushes or other tools on the surface

Brushing will rub off the wild rice powder used to antique the wallet, and may also cause the coloring to peel off.

If your wallet gets dirty, wipe it gently with a dry, soft cloth as if you’re brushing off dust.

2. Avoid excess oil

Unlike typical leather products, bunko leather is coated to prevent the surface from fading and to create a certain amount of water resistance.

If you’re concerned about surface roughness, rub some moisturizing cream into your hands, and then gently and repeatedly rub the affected area.

A. The inside of the change pocket is lined with synthetic leather, so you can wipe it with a damp cloth.

The contact surfaces of the change pocket are made from synthetic leather, so they can be wiped with a damp cloth.

Wet a clean cloth with water and wring it out well. Apply a small amount of watered-down neutral detergent and gently wipe the affected area.

A. Warping occurs when the wallet is too full.

Do not overstuff your wallet.

We place an interlining between the bunko leather and the leather used to line our wallets. Both materials tend to remain warped once they have been bent out of shape.

Unfortunately, there is no way to undo the damage.

(Each card pocket is only made to hold one card.)

Long wallet bent in the middle when zipped

Long wallet bent in the middle when zipped

A. We do not recommend carrying our wallets in your back pocket, since it can cause permanent warping.

These imperfections cannot be repaired.

The dyes used in denim also have a tendency to bleed, so we strongly recommend that you do not carry our products in your pockets.

Passport holder with permanent warping

Please note that placing our products in your back pocket tends to create permanent warping, as shown in the photo below.

A. Some creasing along leather folds is unavoidable with regular use.

Leather is hide that covers the shape of an animal, but it must be pulled straight and then forcibly folded when it is processed for use in accessories.

Areas like wallet folds, which are meant to be extremely pliable, will invariably stretch and wrinkle with extended use--much like a human knee or elbow. This is a natural characteristic of leather and does not indicate a flawed product.

Creasing along the fold of the bill pocket

Creasing along the fold of the bill pocket

A. Leather edges are the most prone to wear and tear.

The corners of leather accessories are almost always the first to wear down.

There is nothing you can do about the everyday friction that causes wear on leather surfaces, and unfortunately there is no way to repair it or restore the white color.

A. We suggest that you do not carry your wallet around in your hand, but keep it in your bag instead.

The embossed pattern on your bunko leather product is coated with a wild rice powder called sabi and then sealed with lacquer to create brown outlines.

Overstuffing your wallet or frequently carrying it in your hand not only causes the embossing to wear down, but can also cause the sabi to wear away.

Once the sabi comes off, there is no way to reapply it.

Please take special care not to overstuff your wallet or make a habit of carrying it in your hand when you’re out.

If your wallet accidentally gets wet, use a dry cloth to wipe as much water off as you can.

Your product is coated to offer some level of water resistance to protect the color, but if it gets wet, you should still use a dry cloth to wipe away as much water as you can.

If your wallet gets completely submerged, place it in a well-ventilated, shaded area for a few days to dry once you have wiped off the water as best you can with a dry cloth. If the surface gets rough, rub some moisturizing cream into your hands, and then gently and repeatedly rub the affected area.

If you accidentally put bunko leather in the washing machine, it will soak up water and flatten the embossing.

This will cause the distinctive raised pattern to disappear.

Typical bunko leather surface

Typical bunko leather surface

Bunko leather with flattened embossing after being accidentally thrown in the wash

There is no way to restore the embossed pattern once it is flattened, so be very careful not to let your wallet go through the wash.