Laser marking is one of the many applications of CO2 lasers. In this application, the energy emitted by the laser beam is used to mark the surface of a given fabric or material. During the last years, laser marking has proven to be a very efficient and useful tool for manufacturing applications, especially in the field of fashion and fabric decoration.

The variety of materials that can be marked with the CO2 laser is very wide and includes both natural as well as synthetic materials and metals. This technique find its natural use on products such as wood, paper, cardboard, rubber, plastic, etc. Materials of this type are extremely suitable for being marked with CO2 lasers.

Thanks to this feature, CO2 lasers are also ideal for other industrial sectors such as fashion, that make extensive use of organic materials such as natural fibers or leather. From this point of view, laser marking has proven to be an efficient and powerful tool for the finishing of clothing and textile products in general. In particular, the decoration of leather is one of the applications in this area that have most benefited from the introduction of the CO2 laser as a production and finishing tool.

Traditionally, leather processing uses hand tools, leather chemistry, like leather pigments or leather softeners, or even heat to decorate or cut this material. This type of work certainly has a strong artisan character. This kind of production, however, does not lend itself well to the quantities required by a mass market. Leather is a difficult material to produce industrially while maintaining high quality levels. However, the introduction of CO2 laser marking has changed the situation. Thanks to this tool, it is in fact possible to obtain high quality results in leather processing even on industrial applications. Laser marking produces a permanent result, perfectly defined and very accurate. The signs produced are very resistant, do not wear out with use, and do not fade due to exposure to a light source. Thanks to this technique, our leather products can now be even more charming.

Very often we take it for granted that we are able to immediately distinguish real leather from all other fabrics. Sometimes, in fact, some industrial fabrics appear like real leather. For this reason today, we are going to list all the characteristics of real leather.

Maybe it seems strange to hear it, but the main feature of real leather is its natural imperfection. The wrinkles and veins that you can notice at first glance on a sofa or a bag are one of the signs of the realness of this material. In fact, the clearly visible pore grain indicates that the material has not undergone grinding with abrasive paper or has not been further coated to look perfect. Leather is only treated with proper leather chemistry products. That of real leather is perhaps one of the few cases in which the more imperfect a fabric is, the more it acquires value, thanks to its uniqueness and authenticity.

Another element characterizing real leather is its compact and elastic structure, also thanks to leather softeners. Even after folding or stretching, the material immediately returns to its initial state. It is, in fact, a very flexible quality material.

And here is the third characteristic of real leather: A strong resistance even towards the worst conditions. Leather is one of the few products that the more it ages, the more it improves. Particularly rigid at the beginning, with the passing of time, it becomes soft and fleshy. Moreover, genuine leather is fireproof and breathable, elements that are difficult to find in other fabrics. Also, thanks to leather auxiliary chemicals, like waterproofing wax, it gets not affected by water.

The most inexperienced normally distinguish real leather from other materials thanks to its fragrance. It is a pleasant, delicate but never exaggerated smell, able to tickle the olfactory emotions. After sight and smell, real leather is also recognizable through touch: Real leather never appears cold, but particularly warm and natural.

All the aforementioned characteristics make real leather one of the most appreciated and valuable coverings in the world.

We have already spoken about the 10 essential tricks to clean your leather bag. A leather bag is a valuable thing and there are way more advice in order to maintain your object at its best, as well as a lot of leather chemistry products. Here are the 7 more essential tricks to clean your leather bag:

1. If you don’t have a dust bag, just use a simple pillowcase.
2. Consider buying a spotting cover product and a leather softener in order to be prepared to any kind of unexpected event.
3. Do not leave your bag exposed to direct sunlight, this can discolor and damage the leather heavily.
4. Do not wear light colored handbags with dark clothes, the color may shift from clothes to the bag, causing those spots that are among the most difficult to remove.
5. For really stubborn stains, look for a shoe polish in the same color as your bag and apply a minimum quantity on the affected area. You can also use proper leather pigments.
6. If you want to remove a bad smell from the bag, you can use odor removers, but avoid using the most aggressive, solvent-based or nebulized, because they could damage the color and the leather itself.
7. And to eliminate all traces of persistent odors, put a small container of baking soda in your bag, covered with a dust bag or pillow case, and leave it inside for at least 24 hours. Baking soda will absorb any unpleasant odor!

Taking care of leather items can be complicated, especially without the proper leather chemistry. This is why we have decided to share with you these 10 essential tricks to clean your leather bag.

1. Once a week, clean with warm water and some soap: Dissolve a small amount of liquid soap in warm water and use a soft, damp cloth to remove dirt from the outer surface of your bag;
2. Clean the bag following the direction of the folds;
3. Never use baby wipes, vinegar or other home-made remedies to remove stains; many of these products have substances of various kinds that can damage the color and cause other problems;
4. To remove traces of ink, treat them at straight away. Best would be to bring your bag to a professional as soon as possible, but if this is not possible, try some leather chemical products dedicated to ink removal;
5. Pad your bag when you are not using it;
6. Never use water on grease stains, because in this way you will simply remove some layers of leather – with an horrible result;
7. Use a specific product made by leather chemical companies to remove stubborn dirt. Such products could be expensive, but the result will be much better than any craft solution;
8. Always test the leather cleaning product before using it, possibly inside the bag;
9. Avoid touching the bag if you have just used a hand cream;
10. If the bag comes with a dust bag, use it!