Condition leather before storing in dry climates

Condition your bag before storing it.

Dry air pulls moisture right out of leather. Without that moisture, the fibers get brittle and crack. Most people just throw it in a dust bag and hope for the best—that’s why their bags look like dried-up baseball gloves after two winters.

Here’s the routine: Clean the leather with a dedicated cleaner (nothing with alcohol or harsh chemicals), then apply a conditioner specifically for finished leather. Coach sells its own but any reputable brand—like Bickmore or Leather Honey—works fine. Let it soak in for a few hours, then buff gently. Stuff the bag with acid-free tissue paper to hold its shape, wrap it in the dust bag (or a cotton pillowcase—avoid plastic), and store it somewhere with stable humidity. If you’re in Phoenix or Denver, consider a small humidifier in the closet or a damp sponge in a sealed container nearby. Thirty percent relative humidity is the floor. Below that, nothing you do to the leather will save it.

Do this twice a year, once before summer and once before winter, and that bag will outlive the trend cycle.