Vegan leather is a forgiving material. It is supple, consistent, and resistant to most of the small accidents a bag will encounter over its life. With a handful of small habits, your ByNyla piece will keep its shape, finish, and feel for many seasons.
This guide walks through the care routine we recommend — nothing fussy, nothing time-consuming. Just a few sensible steps that protect a bag you have chosen to live with for a long time.
Daily Care
The best thing you can do for any bag is to handle it with the same quiet attention you gave when you chose it. A clean surface to set it down on. A hook rather than a hot radiator. Hands that are not greasy from lunch. None of this is precious — it is simply how nicely-made things stay nicely-made.
- Wipe the outside down with a soft, dry cloth at the end of the day.
- Empty pens and uncapped lipsticks before you set the bag aside.
- Avoid resting the bag on rough or oily surfaces.
Spot-Cleaning
For everyday marks — coffee splashes, makeup transfer, a brush against a wall — a soft cloth and a little lukewarm water is almost always enough.
The simple method
- Dampen a soft cloth with lukewarm water. Wring it out so it is barely wet.
- Wipe the affected area gently in small circles.
- Follow with a dry cloth to lift any remaining moisture.
- Air-dry away from direct heat or sunlight.
For tougher marks, a tiny drop of mild, fragrance-free soap can be added to the water. Test on an inside seam first. Avoid solvents, alcohol-based wipes, and anything labelled as a leather-care product designed for animal hide — vegan leathers prefer water, not oils.
Storage
How you store a bag matters more than how you carry it. Most damage happens between uses, not during them.
- Keep your bag in the dust bag it arrived in.
- Loosely stuff the body with bubble wrap, soft fabric, or its own tissue paper to hold its shape.
- Store upright on a shelf rather than hanging from a strap, which can stretch over time.
- Avoid plastic bins or sealed boxes — vegan leather prefers to breathe.
Water and Sunlight
A passing rain shower is not a problem. Prolonged soaking is.
- If your bag gets wet, dab — never rub — with a soft towel and let it air-dry slowly.
- Never use a hairdryer or radiator to speed up drying.
- Long, direct sun exposure can fade and dry the surface over time. Store away from sunny window sills.
Conditioning (or Not)
Unlike animal leather, vegan leather does not need oiling, waxing, or balming. In fact, most leather conditioners will damage the finish. If your bag ever feels a little dull, a soft cloth and a light wipe-down with water is usually all it needs.
What Not to Do
- Do not use bleach, acetone, or alcohol wipes.
- Do not machine-wash, even on a delicate cycle.
- Do not iron or apply direct heat.
- Do not store next to dark, untreated denim or freshly dyed garments — the colour can transfer.
- Do not overstuff. A bag that is constantly stretched will lose its shape.
The Long View
A well-cared-for bag is part of a wardrobe in a way that a disposable one never is. Five minutes of attention every few weeks is enough to keep a ByNyla piece looking the way it did the day it arrived.
Browse the full bags collection, or read more about the materials we use.