Storing leather items can be tricky - I struggled for years, until I started leather crafting and my collection became so large that I was forced to find practical solutions that also optimized my limited space.
My Instagram poll provided a crystal clear result: 100% of respondents stated that they struggle with storing these items as well - so I'll share with you what I've found to work well, including links to the hangers I use (click the photo of any item to view it on Amazon).
Aside from regularly conditioning your leather pieces with a high quality balm, storage is also important for keeping your leather pieces looking their best, and ensuring they are usable for years to come.
Harnesses
Harnesses are probably the most difficult pieces to store properly, but I've found the perfect hangers. They have wide set hooks perfect for shoulder straps, and with their vertical design, you can store up to 8 harnesses on one hanger.
It's important to store leather in the shape it's intended to be worn/used, to prevent misshaping and creases; this hanger allows you to do that easily and with minimal space.
Wide Belts & Corsets
To store wide belts, especially those with ties or other buckle free closures (as they don’t have a buckle to hang from) pant hangers work wonderfully. They're also a great space-saver, allowing you to hang 5 or 6 wide belts more or less vertically.
Traditional Belts & Accessory Chains/Straps
For traditional belts with buckle closures, a wall mounted multi-hook fixture will give you the most bang for your space-buck; it allows you to store tons of belts in a low profile, efficient way.
The Shops Corset Belts
It's ideal to store these gently rolled (with tie straps wrapped around them to prevent kinks from storage) on a shelf when possible.
If you need to store them draped, I don't recommend hangers that put pressure on them (such as the pant hangers mentioned above), as this can force them into a sharp crease which could damage the shape or look of the piece. Below is what I use for my corset belts to save space.
Storing Oil tanned and Vegetable Tanned Leather
If you have a mix of oil tanned and vegetable tanned pieces, you may need to be thoughtful in how you store these pieces. If your oil tanned pieces are dyed, due to the high oil content of the leather it's possible that there could be some dye transfer if they're stored pressed against vegetable tanned leather (especially lighter colored veg tanned leather). As an example, I prevent this issue with my corset belts, shown in the photo above, by placing the oil tanned leather corsets at the bottom of the rack, with my vegetable tanned pieces on top.
I hope this was helpful! If you have any additional tips or product recommendations, feel free to add them in a comment.
If you're looking for information on cleaning and moisturizing your leather pieces, visit my posts on those topics:
You'll find general leather care information here.
You'll find specific leather care information for Vachetta leather here.
I also handcraft an absolutely fantastic leather balm (that smells positively divine). I shared details on this balm and why it's what I use and recommend, as well as my recipe - so you can make it yourself if you'd like! Visit this post for that information; or to purchase the balm in the shop, click here.
XX Emily
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