Leather Jacket Guides

How you store a leather jacket matters almost as much as how you wear it. A few months on a wire hanger in a damp closet can leave you with shoulder bumps, stiff leather or spots of mold, while a jacket stored well comes out looking just as it went in.

Here's how to store a leather jacket day to day and between seasons, step by step.

Everyday storage: hang it the right way

Between wears, the goal is simple: support the shoulders and let the leather breathe.

• Use a wide, padded or shaped hanger. Genuine leather is fairly heavy, and a thin wire or plastic hanger concentrates that weight on two small points, which can push the shoulders into lasting bumps. A wooden hanger with broad, contoured shoulders spreads the load.
• Skip the hook or door peg. Hanging a jacket by its collar loop for days pulls the neckline out of shape.
• Empty the pockets. Keys, wallets and other heavy items drag the leather down and leave bulges.
• Close it partway. Fastening the top button or zipping the front a little helps the jacket hang straight and keeps the collar and lapels in shape.
• Give it space. A crowded closet crushes leather and holds in moisture, so leave a little room on either side.

How to store a leather jacket for the season

Long-term storage, whether it's a heavy jacket over summer or a light one over winter, needs a little more preparation. Work through these steps before you put it away.

1. Clean it first

Dirt, body oils and food marks can set in over months, and grime gives mold something to feed on. Wipe the jacket down and deal with any marks using our guide on how to clean a leather jacket.

2. Condition if the leather feels dry

If the leather looks dull or feels stiff, apply a light coat of leather conditioner and let it absorb fully before storage. Don't overdo it: a heavy layer can leave the surface tacky and attract dust. Our guide on how to condition a leather jacket walks you through it.

3. Make sure it's completely dry

Never put away a jacket that is even slightly damp. After rain or cleaning, let it dry naturally at room temperature on a wide hanger, away from radiators and direct heat. If it got soaked, follow our tips for a leather jacket in the rain first.

4. Use a breathable garment bag

Choose a cotton, linen or canvas garment bag. It keeps dust and light off the leather while still letting air move. Avoid plastic dry-cleaning covers and vinyl bags, which trap moisture and can lead to mildew and a musty smell. In a pinch, an old cotton sheet draped over the shoulders does the job.

5. Choose a cool, dry, dark spot

A closet inside the living space of your home, kept at normal room temperature, is usually ideal. Avoid attics, which get hot, and basements and garages, which tend to be damp. Keep the jacket away from windows, radiators and heating vents too. Sunlight fades color, heat dries leather out, and damp is the main cause of mold. If you have a humidity monitor, a reading of roughly 40–50% is a comfortable range for leather.

Why you shouldn't fold a leather jacket for long

Leather holds creases. A jacket folded in a drawer or box for months can come out with deep lines across the body and sleeves that take time to relax, and sharp folds in the same place can wear the finish over time. Hang it whenever you can.

If you need to fold it for travel or a short stay in a suitcase, fold it loosely, pad the folds with acid-free tissue paper or a soft T-shirt, and hang it up as soon as you arrive. If creases do appear, our guide on how to get wrinkles out of leather can help.

Damp climates, moths and odors

• Silica gel: in humid climates, put a few silica gel packets in the garment bag or on the closet shelf to absorb excess moisture, and replace or dry them out regularly. A small closet dehumidifier helps in very damp homes.
• Cedar: cedar blocks and rings are a popular way to deter moths, which go for wool rather than leather, so they're most useful for jackets with sheepskin or wool linings. As a simple precaution, keep cedar from resting directly against the leather.
• Mothballs: skip them. Their strong smell soaks into leather and linings and is very hard to remove.
• Musty smells: if a stored jacket smells stale, hang it in a well-ventilated room, out of direct sun, for a day or two.

Storing shearling, sheepskin and suede jackets

These jackets need the same basic care as smooth leather, with a few extra steps:

• Brush before storing. Gently brush suede with a suede brush to lift dirt and restore the nap, and comb out the wool on shearling collars and linings.
• Give them extra room. Crushing flattens wool and marks suede, so don't squeeze these jackets between others.
• Keep them out of the light. Suede and lightly finished leathers can fade in strong light, so a breathable cover matters even more.

Men's Black Lambskin Shearling Aviator Jacket Men's Sheepskin B-3 Bomber Jacket Women's Brown Suede Trucker Jacket

For more on these materials, see our guides to suede leather and shearling leather.

Check on it every month or two

Storage isn't set and forget. Every month or two, take the jacket out, look it over and let it air for an hour.

• Look for fuzzy white or greenish spots on the surface or along the seams, which can be early mold.
• Feel the leather. If it has become stiff or dry, condition it lightly.
• Check that the hanger still supports the shoulders properly.
• Put the jacket on for a few minutes. Wearing leather now and then helps keep it supple.

If you do find mold, take the jacket outdoors, gently wipe the spots away with a soft, slightly damp cloth and let it air in a dry, shaded place. Then move it somewhere drier. Heavy or recurring mold is a job for a leather cleaning specialist.

FAQ

Can I store a leather jacket in a plastic bag?

Not for long. Plastic traps moisture against the leather, which can cause mildew and odors. Use a breathable cotton or canvas garment bag instead.

Is it OK to fold a leather jacket?

For a short trip, yes, if you fold it loosely and pad the folds. For storage lasting weeks or months, hang it on a wide hanger to avoid deep creases.

Where is the best place to store a leather jacket?

An interior closet that stays cool, dry and dark, away from windows, radiators and exterior walls. Avoid attics, basements and garages.

Should I condition a leather jacket before storing it?

Only if it needs it. Clean it first, then apply a light coat of conditioner if the leather feels dry, and let it absorb fully before you put the jacket away.

How do I store a leather jacket in a humid climate?

Use a breathable bag, add silica gel packets or a closet dehumidifier, leave space around the jacket and check it more often for early signs of mold.

Knowing how to store a leather jacket properly takes a few minutes and pays off every season: clean it, hang it on a wide hanger, cover it with breathable fabric and keep it cool, dry and dark. And if you're packing away a light jacket as the weather turns, it may be time for something warmer from our shearling jackets collection.