Suede and leather cleaning
Jackets, coats, skirts, and trims cleaned by leather specialists, with color and texture restored rather than stripped.
Suede and leather are skin, not cloth. They hold oils, they take on a color of their own where they are handled most, and a normal dry cleaning cycle strips them of the fats that keep them supple. They need a different process, and they need someone who has seen how a given hide behaves before.
What the process involves
Leather and suede are cleaned in a way that removes soil while replacing the natural oils that come out with it. Without that step the hide dries, stiffens, and cracks — which is what has happened to most jackets that came back from a cleaner feeling like cardboard.
Color is refreshed where it has worn at the cuffs, collar, and pocket edges, and the nap on suede is raised again after cleaning so it does not come back flat and shiny. Linings are cleaned and repaired at the same time.
What to expect
Leather work takes longer than ordinary dry cleaning — plan on a few weeks, not a few days, and bring winter coats in during the spring rather than the week you need them.
We will also be straight with you about limits. Some staining on suede is permanent, heavily faded garments will not return to the color they were new, and there is always a small amount of variation in how a hide responds. We would rather tell you that at the counter than have you discover it at pickup.
Between cleanings
Brush suede with a suede brush in one direction after wearing, and keep it off radiators and out of direct sun. Let a wet leather jacket dry at room temperature on a wide hanger — never with heat. Store both on shaped hangers with room around them; leather needs air, and a plastic garment bag will trap moisture against it.
Common questions
How long does leather cleaning take?
Considerably longer than ordinary dry cleaning — plan on a few weeks. Bring coats in at the end of the season rather than the start.
Can you remove a stain from suede?
Sometimes. Oil and ink on suede are difficult and occasionally permanent. Bring it in and we will look at it before promising anything.
My leather jacket has faded. Can the color be restored?
Color can be refreshed and evened out, particularly at the wear points. A heavily faded garment will improve but will not look new.
Do you clean shearling and fur-trimmed coats?
Yes. Mention the trim at drop-off so it is handled separately from the body of the coat.
Often asked for together
Dry cleaning
Everything is cleaned in our own NYS DEC-approved machine at 1287 Madison Ave. Nothing is shipped out.
Tailoring & alterations
A tailor works on the premises, so fittings, adjustments, and repairs happen here rather than in a queue somewhere else.
Pickup & delivery
We collect from your building and bring everything back, at no extra charge, across Carnegie Hill and the Upper East Side.
Bring it in, or let us come to you.
Free pickup and delivery across Carnegie Hill and the Upper East Side. Call and we will set up a time that repeats — or just walk in.