With terms like vintage leather, distressed leather, and vintage-inspired leather all over the place, you might be wondering, “What does vintage leather actually mean?” There are two main things to know.
- Vintage Leather Age
For clothing, vintage technically means items that are 20 to 100 years old. Anything older than 100 years is considered antique. For leather, vintage typically refers to items made before the early 1980s.
- Vintage Leather Character
High-quality leather gets better with age. Instead of wearing out, it develops a beautiful patina and unique character that’s hard to replicate. Owning true vintage leather means you have a piece of history, and it deserves special care. Avoid soaking it and regularly use a quality leather conditioner.
But don’t fret—if your old man isn’t ready to hand down his vintage leather briefcase just yet, you can still find high-quality leather bags with a vintage-inspired or distressed finish. The key is the quality of the leather. The better the leather, the more character it will naturally develop.
