What Is Vachetta Leather?

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Vachetta leather is untreated Italian leather often used in luggage and handbag trimming. This leather, which stains easily and darkens in sunlight, has been popularized by high-end brands such as Louis Vuitton and Coach.

Despite the admonitions to regularly clean leather that is treated, vachetta leather does not require such maintenance because it is untreated. If vachetta leather gets wet or is soiled, cleaning only damages the leather and changes its color. It is best to leave the stain or marks on the surface; the pale color eventually darkens, and the stains on the leather blend into the darker color.

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