If you're unable to find your answers there, we're always happy to take your questions, 7 days a week, from 11am to 10pm.

You can easily reach us at:

Email:  Sales@MyFeb29.com

The best way to be notified is via our newsletter and our Facebook page, be sure to “Like” us!

Please note that pricing policy differs for each delivery destination and country. The prices on the website cannot be used as a benchmark to compare the prices at February 29 retail and online store. In very rare cases, there might be price errors and February 29 shall not be liable for any errors in the pricing of items purchased on MyFeb29.com

If there are any changes, February 29 will contact buyer before proceeding with the order. All prices displayed are not inclusive of any shipping charges, duties, and taxes. Shipping charges will be computed and shown at the checkout page after shipping mode is selected.

For Standard Delivery, prices are not inclusive of duties and taxes. Please check with your local authority for your tax rights. All prices displayed are not inclusive of any shipping charges. Shipping charges will be computed and shown at the checkout page.

An e-Coupon is an online discount coupon which can be used to offset the retail price of item you want to purchase online.

Where can I get them?

e-Coupons are specially prepared to reward our customers when we have surveys & promotion events.  They are usually sent to you once you have completed our surveys or have participated in our promotion events.

How do I use them?

Its extremely easy!  Just type in the coupon code that was given to you before you make payment.

Click save & you can instantly see the discount you are given!

February 29 have made every effort to display as accurately as possible the colours of our products that appear on our eStore. However, as computer and display monitors vary, we cannot guarantee that your monitor's display of any colour will be completely accurate.

Stay tuned for the upcoming member benefits!  =)

Our products are covered by a 365 days warranty from the day they were bought, when used under normal conditions and for the purpose intended.

Yup!  Your secrets are safe with us!  *lol*

For more details, please visit our Privacy policy link.

We do take custom orders from time to time; it really depends on how nose deep in work we are during that period and quantity ordered.

Just drop us an email at sales@myfeb29.com with your idea and we'll get back to you asap.

p/s.    Do note that custom orders are usually priced much higher than our ready crafted items because of the quantity.

We have to design, draft and create leather patterns for bags and this process is pretty intensive and resource hogging.

Freelance pattern makers usually charge $100 - $300 / hr to make bag patterns.

If we craft 100 bags from this pattern, the pattern making cost would be spread to $100/100 bags = $1 a bag.

We are sure you get the idea.  :)

1. Touch the bag. Feel the leather up and down and see if you can differentiate more then one type of substance. Real leather will feel like it came from one single source and will not feel as though it's a blend of multiple synthetic fibers.

2. Smell the bag. Leather has a very distinct smell and you should be able to pick up the scent in an instant. If you are not sure, go to a leather store and reintroduce yourself to the aroma. 

3. Look closely at the bag. Real leather normally have natural markings such as pores, wrinkles, scars and color differentiation. If the material seems like its printed, it maybe 'treated' leather or synthetic leather.

4. Look for its cut edges. Real leather edges are normally rough and flurry, whereas synthetic leather maybe sealed with wax coatings or smooth edged. Do note that these tips are not sure ways to differentiate genuine leather. Even industry professionals have issues identifying genuine leather just by sight due to the advancement of polymer technology.

We source all over asia to get the best value for $$$ leather in the market.

• Cow leather
• Sheep leather
• Goat leather
• Exotic leather (Ocassionally i.e.  snake - python) 

We believe that there is no BEST material in the world.

We believe that the BEST material would be the one that meets the needs of our clientele.

Therefore, we use a wide variety of leathers to meet the requests of our customers.

• Full Grain
• Top Grain
• Split Leather
• Chrome Tan
• Vegetable Tan

For those that are not familiar with Singapore, we are a small red dot on the world map whose excellent geographical location contributed to us becoming a global hub for finance, commerce and transportation.

We design and craft our many of our prototypes on this sunny island.

Our prototypes would be sent to our workshops in south east asia to keep prices affordable for our supporters.

Yup!  We do have a couple of them so free free to browse our e-store or pop by our outlets.

We usually don't design many with coin compartments, simply because coins make wallets much thicker than they should be.  Not to even mention, they are one of the main reasons why leather stretch and damage your cards.

So please get a dedicated coin pouch or tip more often. =)

Just like how you shouldn't chuck your leather bag into the washer, you shouldn't wash your waxed canvas item too.

If somehow you got trapped in a quick sand pit and the bag got soil real bad; just hose the dirt off and bring it back to us for a quick waxing restoration.

Just wear your pants at their normal height on your waist, take a measuring tape and get that length around the waist band.  That would be the most accurate measurement.

And no, please don't wear your pants at your chest or low style near your knees.  *lol*

Please click on ‘Forget your password’ or ‘Forget your username’ which is available at the ‘Login’ box at the top right corner of our website.

Enter your email address and click on “Submit”. A set of instructions to reset your password will be sent to your registered email.

After your credentials has been verified, you will be able to create a new password.

Setting up a February 29 eStore account will allow you to order without having to enter your details every time you shop with us.  The information you share with us will only be used to process your order and for February 29 marketing efforts.  You do have the option to opt out of our mailing list.

We are pretty spooked by online security too

so we DO NOT store any customer's credit/debit card information.  =)

When you pay by credit/debit card, all credit/debit card information is directly transacted in a secure fashion to  PayPal, our payment gateway provider.

All successful transactions are followed up by a confirmation email that contains an order number within an hour of purchase. If you have not received confirmation via email, please try placing your order again.

Please try again and key in the correct details such as card number, expiry date etc.

If the problem persists, you may wish to try an different credit card.

If all else fails, do drop us an email at sales@myfeb29.com & we'll try our best to sort things out for you.

Store Credits are credits issued for returns and/or cancellations accepted. Store credits are provided in a form of a code that may be used to purchase future orders on the website.

Currently, we only accept MasterCard, Visa, PayPal payments & interbanking transfers

All credit and debit card holders are subject to validation and authorization by both us and the card issuer, to maintain security and prevent fraud.

We suggest you use 3D secured credit card payment or PayPal for faster order processing.

In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death & taxes.

~Ben Franklin

For international orders, you may have to pay additional costs according to your respective countries' taxation laws.   

Please do check with your respective countries' customs offices.

We only accept US dollar for international orders and Singapore dollar for local Singapore site.

I.e. if you are staying in New Zealand but your delivery destination is in Singapore, you will be charged on Singapore’s default currency which is in Singapore dollars (SGD).

On the other hand, if you are staying in Singapore but your delivery destination is in China, you will be charged on China's default currency which is in US dollar (USD).

PayPal is a payment method for online purchases enabling buyers and businesses to send and receive money online.

As of today, PayPal has over 100 million member accounts in 190 countries and regions. One advantage of using PayPal payment method is that it offers faster, safer and easier checkouts and promises to protect customers from revealing their credit card and other financial information to the merchant.

You can sign up for a PayPal account by going to www.paypal.com.

Yes. When we dispatch your order for delivery you will receive a unique tracking number via email.

Once you receive this tracking number, you can check the delivery status of your shipment.

The order status will be displayed next to your order.

i.e. Pending, confirmed, cancelled, refunded, shipped

Oppps!  Cross our fingers that your wrong order isn't marked for shipping yet.

February 29 will accept cancellation of orders and payment refund where payment is received but has not been cleared. 

In the event that payment is cleared and order is being processed for shipping, we will treat this order as final and no payment refunded. 

 
You can, however, replace the items confirmed in that order with other items from our wide range of collection.

February 29 will process your order immediately once your payment is cleared.

You will receive an email with your order delivery details.

After you place your order, you will receive an acknowledgement e-mail from us to confirm that your orders have been received.

However, do note that orders will only be shipped when your credit card payment has been approved, billing and delivery address verified. Alternatively, you may check the status of your order through “My Account”.

Please sign in to “My Account’ to view your order history. Click on the order you wish to view to see the details.

 In the product page, there is a link that says "Notify me”. If you click on that link, you will see a popup that will enable you to add your email address to our notification list.

When it becomes available, you will receive an automated email sent by our system to inform you that your item is available for purchase. This does not mean that the item(s) is reserved for you and neither are you obligated to purchase the item(s).

Opps!  Murphys' law happens and we are so sorry you have to meet "him"!

It maybe "hijacked" by our dog Skippy, perhaps it has fallen off the train in India. 

We always do a final check before shipping but we do know xxxx do happens.

Do give us a email sales@myfeb29.com & please check that the invoice that was included in your package.

The standard delivery timeframe for Local Singapore orders is within 3 to 4 business days.

International order ranges from 2 to 10 days depending on countries.

Please give a couple more days if you live down a dirt track in Madagascar.  I'm sure the postman is trying his best to find his way there.  :)

Customers will be notified of any delays.

Local Shipping

We are unable to ship to any PO Box, military, protected area/location. We are also unable to ship to the following locations in Singapore: Changi Air Freight Center, Changi Airport, Jurong Island, Jurong Port, PSA Terminal Wharves - Tanjong Pagar / Pasir Panjang / Sembawang and MINDEF COMCEN.

These places are kind of scary. =(

Shipping charges for failure of attempted delivery to the restricted areas will be borne by the buyer.

International Shipping

We ship to pretty much where our postal office will take our goods.

Do allow a couple more days if you live down a dirt track in Madagascar though.. =)

If your country is not available at the checkout page, please email us at  Sales@MyFeb29.com & we'll get back to you asap.  =)

Opps!  We can't chase down our postman, he is simply too fast on his feet!

Unfortunately, we are unable to redirect orders once your items have been shipped.

Therefore, please ensure you provide the correct shipping address.

Yes! We do so please leave your request in the comments box before payment so we'll contact you on the insurance costs for your purchased items.  

Local shipping charges would be FREE OF CHARGE.

Promotional International shipping charges will be automatically calculated and displayed before payment.

Dangzz!  

Althought its is extremely rare, it is possible that the address label became illegible during the shipping and handling process, or that the delivery agent made a mistake and left the package at a different address than what was printed on the label.

If you did not receive your package, please contact us sales@myfeb29.com for assistance.

Oh no...we know stuffs like this do happen.  Maybe its time for some more caffine!  =)

If the address is incorrect, your item will be returned to us by the delivery agent or the unintended recipient.  You will be required to pay the shipping fees again to re-send to the correct address, once the item is returned to us.

Please check your address carefully when placing a new order.

To remove an outdated or incorrect address from your account, please log on to your online account.

If no one is available at the delivery address to receive the products, the delivery agent will leave an “unable to deliver” note at the address and the recipient should follow the instructions on that note to arrange re-delivery of the products.

Yeah!  Who's that lucky xxxxxx???

If a recipient is not expecting a gift, they may refuse the package if they believe it was sent to them in error. You may wish to let the recipient know that a surprise is on the way. Undeliverable package charges will be borne by the buyer.

You may also add in the comments field for special requests before payment is made online.  i.e.  Price tag removal on product

We may even add in a surprise for your special someone.  =)

Ouch!  Got a scratch on that new bag or perhaps some abrasion marks when you knocked into a wall while "spotting" that beauty that stepped out of the train?

We are sorry to say that although we provide a 3 days design exchange policy for our local store purchases, we are unable to do exchanges for goods that are affected by scratches, cuts, stains, abrasion, odor, "water" damage, mould & etc.

However, we offer goodwill servicing to help resolve such problems as much as possible.  Please check with us for more information.

We strongly encourage our customers purchasing at our local outlets to check the purchased item along with our retail associates so that we can dish out valuable tips on bag maintenance and avoid unhappiness.

We sincerely appreciate the support our customers have been giving us and thank you for understanding.

Change of mind returns are definitely possible in some circumstances.

Rest assure that we want to make sure our customers like what they purchase so just email us at  sales@myfeb29.com & we'll help to sort it out for you.

You would just need to help us take note of the following

 1.  Item(s) has to be in its original condition with the original tags and tickets.

2.  The exchange item has to be of equal value or higher value than the original item. For items with a higher value, difference in value has to be borne by the customer. For items of lower value, no refund is available for the price difference.

 3.  The buyer will be needed to take charge of the shipping cost back to us and shipping back to the buyer.

For local purchases

Items purchased online and delivered within Singapore can be exchanged once at any February 29 retail store in Singapore, within 14 days from invoice date. You will need to bring along your original invoice together with the item(s) in its original condition and packaging to the retail store. 

Our retail associates will evaluate the condition of your returned items & determine if the item can be exchanged depending on circumstances.   For eligible design exchanges, you can exchange a design in the retail store immediately.

 If the exchange value is higher than the original item, customer is required to top up the difference, and there will be no refund if the exchange value is lower than the original item.  The balance fund can be used on another immediate purchase.

For International purchases

Follow the steps below if your items were purchased online and delivered outside of Singapore.

Step 1:

e-Mail us at   sales@myfeb29.com with the following details.

1.  Order Number stated on your receipt.

2.  Full Name

3.  Contact Number

4.  Images showing the front, back, top and the base of the item(s) purchased.

5.  Reason for exchange

Step 2:

We will process the request to exchange the design once. This should take approximately 1 to 3 business days.  Once your exchange eligibility is confirmed, a return confirmation form  via email will be sent to you with instructions to return the item(s). Should the exchanged item(s) be deemed not in its original condition, we reserve all rights to return the item(s) at the sender's cost. Once we have received your item(s) in its original condition, we can then proceed with your design exchange.

Step 3:

All items should be shipped via insured mail to: 

ATTENTION: CUSTOMER SERVICE - ESTORE (RETURNS DEPT) 

February 29

51 Ayer Rajah Crescent #05-08/09

Singapore 139948

 * Please ship the return form along with the item(s).

Other Terms and Conditions

 All original shipping and/or handling charges are non-refundable.

 All exchanged item(s) must be in its original brand new condition and original packaging; with the original tags and tickets. Item(s) which show signs of worn are not eligible for exchange or return. February 29 reserves all rights to inspect the condition of the item prior to any exchange or return. February 29’s decision shall be final.

 All promotional, sale and discounted items are non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Should there be by dispute in the pricing during return or exchange, the current selling price will be binding.

 Any form of price adjustment to previous order(s) is not applicable.

 You have the option of creating your own personal FedEx account so we can ship the item back to you at your expense if your request for exchange is denied.

Just email us at  sales@myfeb29.com with the following details within 7 days from receiving.

1.  Order Number stated on your receipt.

2.  Full Name

3.  Contact Number

4.  Images showing the item(s) which was wrongly sent.

We'll definitely get the issue sorted out.  Postage will also be FOC of course!

We are very sorry that you have received a defective item; all items are checked before shipment but we do know murphy’s law do happen once in a while. We  may just need more coffee to perk us up! =)

Don’t worry, be happy & leave it to us to sort things out for you.

Please email us at sales@myfeb29.com within 7 days from invoice date with the following details.

1.  Order Number stated on your receipt.

2.  Full Name

3.  Contact Number

4.  Images showing the defective area, the front, back, top and the base of the item(s) purchased.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND BACK YOUR MERCHANDISE UNTIL A RETURNS/SERVICING FORM HAS BEEN ISSUED TO YOU.

The return/servicing request will be processed within 3 working days & we’ll send an email with  instructions on proceeding with the return.

We want you to love what you have purchased from us. Should there be any dissatisfaction with your purchase, please let us know and we will assist you accordingly.  =)

 Exchange and Return Policy

All requests for exchange and return must be raised within 7 days from the invoice date. For Singapore online orders, you have the option to exchange at any retail store in Singapore.

Exchange via Retail Stores (FOR LOCAL ONLINE PURCHASES, not outlet purchases)

Items purchased online and delivered within Singapore can be exchanged at any February 29 retail store in Singapore, within 7 days from the invoice date. You will need to bring along your original invoice together with the item(s) in its original condition and packaging to the retail store. Our retail associates will evaluate the condition of your returned items.

For eligible returns, you will receive an exchange in the retail store immediately and there will not be any other form of return (such as cash or credit note). If the exchange value is higher than the original item, customer is required to top up the difference, and there will be no refund if the exchange value is lower than the original item. For returns on wrong item delivered or duplicate order, please contact sales@myfeb29.com directly. 

Returns for overseas purchases

Items purchased online & sent overseas can be return by submitting return request via the online store, within 7 days of receiving your item(s). Thereafter you would need to return the items within 30 days from the date of approval. Please follow the steps below for return via online. 

February 29 online store credit is the only form of refund available for any returns or exchange request done via online. The online store credit can only be used at www.MyFeb29.com and NOT in any of February29 retail store or departmental store. The online store credit is valid for 3 months from the date of issue and can be used to offset purchase made online at www.MyFeb29.com. It can take around 2 to 5 business days for the online store credit to be issued. Instructions on how to use your online store credit for purchase will be sent to you via email. You can then use the online store credit for your desired purchase.

Please email us at  sales@myfeb29.com with 7 days of receiving the item with the following details.

1.  Order Number stated on your receipt.

2.  Full Name

3.  Contact Number

4.  Images showing the defective area, the front, back, top and the base of the item(s) purchased.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND BACK YOUR MERCHANDISE UNTIL A RETURNS/SERVICING FORM HAS BEEN ISSUED TO YOU.

The return/servicing request will be processed within 3 working days & we’ll send an email with  instructions on proceeding with the return.

Lost a rivet off your bag or broke the snap hook on your bag strap & don't wish to pay exorbitant charges from 3 party service centres?

No need to fret as we offer very affordable servicing just to keep your bag in working condition!  =)

Here are some of the usual issues we are able to rectify for you.

1.  Damaged snaphooks & buckles

2.  Missing rivets & buttons.

3.  Loose & damaged zippers.

4.  Damaged cloth linings & stitchings.

Just pop by our local outlets with your February 29  items that require servicing & we'll guide you on our servicing processes

Or you can simply take some clear pictures with descriptions & send them over to    Sales@MyFeb29.com

We are however unable to service the following due to the nature of the damage.

1.  Stains & color transfer.

2.  Decay & stickiness.

3.  Abrasion & peeling.

*Servicing duration will depend on the severity of damage & availability of parts.

Servicing is typically free for the first 180 days subjected to terms & conditions.

What happens after the first 6 months then?

Our artisans at the service centre would then give an accurate quote on the fees and timing once they get their hands on it.

We craft our own leather goods so don't worry about high servicing costs like some luxury brands.

Some luxury brand usually would just outsource to a middlemen vendor to repair your items and very often

you'll be charged a pretty hefty fee.

We try our best to keep cost low for our customers.  =)

Do note that servicing duration depends on several factors

1.  The type of servicing

2.  The severity of damage

3.  Availability of servicing parts

Typically, it can range from a few hours to 1 to 2 months.

So don't worry and just sit back and relax.  We'll contact you once its completed.  =)

If you need them urgently, do request for "urgent servicing" from our sales associates or  Returns_Servicing@MyFeb29.com

"Urgent" jobs might be charged a higher fee though.

Just pop by any of our local retail outlets with your item and our guys will guide you on the servicing process.

It's pretty affordable & hassle free so don't worrry.  =)

Our artisans at the service centre would then give an accurate quote on the fees and timing once they get their hands on it.

Do note that servicing duration depends on the level of servicing / level of damage.  Typically, it can range from a few hours to 1 to 2 months.

If you are not in Singapore, just email us at   Returns_Servicing@MyFeb29.com and we'll try our best to help you from there.

We offer a full 180 days manufacturer's warranty against manufacturing defects and we'll repair/replace/refund your product as necessary.

Like what old Ben Franklin quoted; "In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes"

For international orders, you might have to pay additional costs according to your respective countries' taxation laws.

Please check with your respective countries' customs offices.

We all know custom offices in some countries can be pretty anal about packages.

Well, who can blame them since weirdos have been sending explosives and god knows what all over the world.

What we definitely will do, is not to pack your item to look like a ticking clock or handgun under the xray.  Hope that helps & lets pray for the best!  =P

You've probably run into this problem before: You're zipping up your bag, and the lining suddenly gets caught in the zipper's teeth.

Here's how to get out of it.

1. Stop zipping as soon as you feel something is caught.

 2. Examine the zip to locate the problem. The inner lining may be caught so check the inside of the bag.

 3. Gently pull the lining away from the zip head from inside the bag. Tug lightly if necessary. Pull at the lining, not at the zipper. Pulling the zip tag up or down will worsen the problem.

 4. If any teeth became separated as you removed the lining, push them back into place.

 5. Run your fingers along the length of the zip and push the lining away from the zip to prevent future snags.

 6. Use a little force to pull the zip head to the bottom. Then re-zip, making sure to avoid the lining as you go.

Partying in a cigarette smoke filled club or enjoying your dinner at that famous BBQ diner may have already got you complaining of that stale odor on your precious bag.  These are some methods to help you get that fresh smell back again.

• Don't throw those perfume sample testers away, leave it in your bag instead and your bag will smell like your favorite brand of perfume at no extra cost.
• Don't throw those used tea bags away.  Dry them and leave them in your bags as tea leaves are well known to absorb any odors efficiently.
• Leaving crushed up balls of newspapers in your un-used bags still kept in your closet will reduce moisture build up and absorb odor.
• Air your bags in a windy area. Do not leave under the sun.

Mould spores are all around in our environment and they grow pretty fast in wet and damp conditions too.

So leaving your bag on the seemingly clean floor would be a big no no!

What about a romantic stroll in the rain with your leather tote?

Not a big deal unless you would just go home an chuck the wet bag into the closet.

High Humidity or heat levels will cause fungus to grow easily and cause materials such as faux leather to have chemical reactions which may cause the following.

1.  Stickiness of material

2.  Peeling of material

3.  Discolouration, etc.

Typical Humidity levels in Singapore may hit as high as 90% RH so its always good to invest in a quality dehumidifier to maintain your quality leather pieces.

The usage of a humidifier at settings 35 ~ 50% would be best to maintain leather & faux leather products.

Humidity levels set too low will cause leather & faux leather to crack easily.

When mould grows into leather, usually it does not cause major damage.  The mould soaks up its food from the parts of the leather that do not contribute to strength. In fact, until the mould starts to grow new spores, it is effectively invisible – you cannot tell it is there.

The biggest problem with moulds in leather is caused by a change in color - staining. Often they stain the leather in bright colors, and leave spots and grain marks that will make finished leather look inferior.  This causes downgrading of the finished product, and can cost a lot of money.

Once moulds are inside the leather, simply cleaning the surface will not solve the problem, since the moulds will grow right out again.

Moulds can also consume some important additives used in leather making, such as fat liquors, tannins and so on.

How to slow down mould growth?

If we understand the things moulds need to grow, we can change these things, and slow down growth.

1. Water.  Mould will not grow on dry materials.  If finished leather is dried and kept dry, there will be no mould.  However, allowing leather to get wet will encourage mould growth.  Leather in the wet blue state is very prone to mould growth.

2. Acidity.   Mould grows best when it is in a slightly acid environment.  Pickled pelts are too acid for fast mould growth.  Very alkaline conditions do not support much mould growth.

3. Warmth.  Mould likes it best between 25 and 30 deg. C.  That is why it is worse in summer, or in the tropics.  Keeping leather stored in cool conditions will not stop mould, but will slow its growth a little.

4. Oxygen.  Without oxygen, moulds cannot grow.  If wet blues or pickled pelts are baled and pressed into a tightly packed state, mould will only grow on the outside.  There is too little oxygen inside the pack.

5. Nutrients.  Moulds soak up the soluble parts of leather as food.  Unfortunately, we cannot remove these to control mould growth.  Some leathers (like vegetable tanned leathers) have more nutrients, and support especially vigorous mould growth.

 Move the bag to a well-ventilated location.

 Begin the cleaning process by donning the air mask. Use one of the clean cloths to gently wipe off as much of the surface mold as possible. Be sure to keep the air mask in place for this activity, as the wiping action will release mold into the air.

 Use the soft bristle toothbrush to get into the grain of the leather. Mold collects into these small crevices in the grain and will grow if not removed. As with the wiping, using the toothbrush will cause mold to fly into the air, so keep the mask on.

 Prepare a solution of mild soap in warm water. There are several soaps on the market that are considered safe for use on leather. It is usually possible to purchase soaps of this type  stores that specialize in leather goods.

 Using a soft clean cloth, apply the soap and water liberally to the surface of the leather. Make sure to wash the entire surface of the leather, not just the spots where the mold is present. After soaping up the surface, use clean water to rinse remove any soap residue.

 Use dry cloth to soak up any remaining water on the surface of the leather. Apply a coat of leather conditioner according to the instructions that come with the product. Many conditioners require a second wipe down with a clean cloth to remove any excess product. Allow the leather to air dry before using the bag.

There is not fool proof way to make your canvas bag water-proof unless you wrap it up in several layers of ziplock bags.  =P

However, we do know of an excellent and cost effective way to make your canvas material bags repel water which will come in extremely useful when you are caught in the rain.

Visit your home department store and look for water repellant spray, it is normally located at the shoes or car care section.

Just spray a light mist every few days and it will provide a water protective layer that will repel damaging rain water.

Do try the spray on an inconspicuous area of your bag to test for adverse reaction first.

If you don't want the hassle, you could always leave your fabric bags with our professionals for a re-coating of waterproofing wax.

As we cram more activities into our days, we tend to cram even more stuffs into our bags.  This eventually leads to what we call the handbag syndrome.

The neck has a natural curve to it and it evenly distributes force along the spine.  When we carry a heavy bag on one side over a period of time, that natural curve starts to straighten which will lead to chronic neck and back pains.

• DON'T carry more than 10 percent of your body weight. Any more can throw off your posture.   i.e. A 45 kg lady should not carry more than 4.5 kgs load which is almost equivalent to a small pack of grain rice.

• DO consider a backpack. It distributes the weight between both shoulders.

• DO look for a shoulder bag with short, wide straps. Slender straps tend to dig into your shoulder or fall off. Also, try to alternate the shoulder you carry it on.

• Avoid long-strapped bags and chain handles. The former swings around as you walk, while the chain handle digs into your skin.

• When carrying shoulder bags, make sure the longest your bag sits is around your waist or bellybutton area.

The longevity of your bag depends on many factors such as

1.  Material of the bag.

• - Select materials such as genuine leather, tight knitted canvas or nylon for they are one of the few materials that are very durable with proper care.
• - Tearing of the inner lining of the bag is one of the most common problems, do check if the cloth lining is relatively thick to minimize the risk of tearing.
• - Metal bag clips are less prone to breaking so try knocking them against each other.  If a dull tone is heard, it may be plastic instead.
• Faux/ fake/pleather/ synthetic leather can mimic the look of genuine leather but never can it be as durable.

2.  Workmanship of the bag.

• - Thicker stitching  with bigger knots at the end may indicate tougher and more durable stitches.

3.  Intended use of the bag.

• Never use a bag for a use not intended for it. 

  • If its a small document bag, do not try to squeeze your heavy laptop in just because you do not have a laptop bag at that moment.   Never overload it!

  • If you need a bag for rugged use such as going to the beach or rock climbing, nylon or genuine leather would be a better material to begin with.

  • If you need something light, water resistant or perhaps easier to match your evening gown, it maybe better to consider synthetic leather as they are relatively lighter and they do come in a vast variety of colors and textures.

4.  Maintenance of the bag.

• Materials such a genuine leather require polishing and conditioning to improve its luster and strength.
• Never leave a wet bag in the closet, regardless of the material.  Dampness increases the probability of mould growing which will destroy the bag's visual asthetics and physical attributes.  Decay may also set in, causing damages to cloth stitching and linings.

Many unfinished leather products such as suede are richly colored and, while providing a distinctive flair, may transfer onto other fabrics.  Similarly, pigment from other fabrics may also transfer color onto your suede product.   However, a little common sense will prevent most potential color bleed issues. 

For instance, avoiding skin oils transfer and avoiding moisture (i.e., wearing your accessory on excessively humid days or in the rain) help prevent or reduce this problem.  Also, try to avoid carrying your suede duffle with your lighter colored fabrics.   Likewise, avoid carrying your pristine light colored suede bag with your new blue denim jeans.

• - Darker coloured unfinished leathers suede normally will have excess dyes in them that required several conditioning sessions to minimize color transfer.
• - The use of spray type of suede protector will normally minimize the probablity of such issues from occuring. 
• - Avoid moisture like rain, sweat which will hasten colour transfer.

This common mishap is known as Crocking; it is defined as the rub off of color from 1 item to another.

Most clothing do contain dyes that requires several washes to get that excess dyes out.  That's one of the reasons, you see your favorite pair of jeans fading after numerous washes.

It is always good to read the care label on your leather cleaner and test it on an inconspicuous area before apply it on the whole bag.

Different leather cleaners contain varying amount of cleaning agents.  These cleaning agents are unable to differentiate between dirt stains and color dyes.

Therefore, they may strip off the dirt stain ALONG with color dyes.

It is the same logic as washing your laundry.  Laundry bleach will strip off dirt stains on a white shirt but what if you wash that bright red dress you bought using bleach?

Your bright red dress will turn a dull pink because the cleaning bleach is unable to differentiate between dirt stains and cloth dyes.

The key is to test on an inconspicuous area. =)

You might also want to try our self-formulated leather tonic which is a neutral pH and for it gentle cleansing properties.

If your item is genuine leather, it maybe the color coating that is peeling off instead of the leather.

Genuine leather doesn't just peel off,  it gets scratches, abrasions and cuts but never just peels.

Just like how ladies makeup "coat" the skin to make it look flawless, some leathers are treated the same way too.

There are many reasons why the "coating" does not stick to leather firmly.

1.  Improper care and maintenance.

2. Improper preparation and coating of the leather.

3. Quality of the "coat".

How do I remedy it then?

There are many bag restoration specialists in the market that would "re-coat" the leather for you.

Pretty much like re-spraying your car after an fender bender, we would say.  Be warned that these services don't come cheap so its better to spruce up on your leather maintenance.

1.  Pay dry the bag with a dry cotton towel.  Tissues would also work fine.

2. Remove all contents in bag and air dry.  (Never use a heated hair dryer on leather)

3. Use a suitable leather cleaner and conditioner to clean the leather and replenish the oil in the leather to minimize cracking.

if the stain just happened, immediately blot the area with a dry tissue to absorb the staining agent.

Do not rub, it would push the staining agent deeper into the leather.

If you have a suitable leather cleaner on hand, use it immediately.

It is always best to approach a professional leather cleaning specialist to handle your bags.