How has the leather from Glart changed after three months of daily use?
Hello, I'm Takahashi, a member of the waji staff.
I previously wrote an article about acquiring "glart," a bag that features a combination of genuine leather and glass, an icon of waji.
I got a stained glass design smartphone case. Glart smartphone case staff review: Unboxing
I chose the small size smartphone case from the glart series. I've been using it almost every day for the past three months.
Glart is an item that allows you to enjoy not only the real glass embedded in it, but also the changes that occur over time in the genuine leather.
I used it every day so I didn't notice any changes, but I noticed some shine and dry patches when I first started using it.
I feel like the flavor has really come out as we've spent time together.
On the other hand, what bothers me is the scratches and scuffs, especially on the back side.
What should I do about scratches on my favorite Glart?
I've asked about solutions.
Visit the Waji brand store in Kiyosumi Shirakawa
I visited the Waji direct store "Genreless Exhibition," located just a one-minute walk from Kiyosumi Shirakawa Station on the Hanzomon Line.
The shop has a hideaway atmosphere.
Looking at the Glart products lined up in the store, I remembered that my Glart was originally matte and lacked shine .
Ask store staff about how to care for your Glart
When I showed Glart to the store staff, they reassured me by saying, "It's easy to maintain."
What I took out from the counter was a cream called "Ranapar."
It is a natural vegetable oil known as leather treatment.
Store Staff: The smallest size is about 500 yen on Amazon. You only need a small amount of cream per use, so it will last a long time.
Spread a thin layer of cream on the glart
Store Staff: The key is to apply it thinly. If you use too much cream, it will end up looking uneven, so just a little is fine.
The store staff applied the product with practiced hands. They used white gloves, but they said that you can also use leftover cotton cloth at home .
Store staff: It only takes a minute. Done.
It's so beautiful! I was moved.
When the Glart was returned, it was so clean that it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was indistinguishable from a brand new item on display in the store.
The matte texture and supple leather have been restored, and scratches are now barely noticeable.
He taught me that maintenance can be done without specialized knowledge or expensive tools.
There seems to be no need to have the impression that leather products are difficult to care for.
What happens when you take care of it?
We spoke to Sakamaki, a certified leather sommelier and store owner of waji.
Takahashi: What are the benefits of caring for glart and other leather products?
Sakamaki: Applying cream replenishes the oils in the leather, making it more supple.
Sakamaki: Doing so makes the leather more resistant to twisting, prevents water stains, and makes scratches like this one less noticeable.
Sakamaki: For items that we touch often, like smartphone cases and wallets, the oils from our hands will replenish the oil, but you can supplement the effect by applying cream.
I see.
By caring for it, you can bring out the positive effects of making it last longer. Doing it yourself will make you feel even more attached to it.
Changes such as scratches can be seen as part of the item's character, but it may also be a good idea to take care of it so that you can enjoy it for a long time.
I learned that there is no need to be afraid of scratches or maintenance.
If you are planning to purchase the glart series, please give it a try.
glart notebook-style multi-smartphone case (S)
(Text and photos) Kusekke Design Takahashi Soji Website