Leather is a flexible material fabric which has the tendency to adapt a specific shape. This is one of the properties of leather that makes it highly versatile, resilient, and long-lasting. It is not an unusual thing that you may have to deal with a loose or oversized leather jacket, and your leather jacket may be the most important clothing in your wardrobe. If you are still not ready to give it up, you may need to follow some methods that help shrink a leather jacket. Shrinking a leather jacket is not a complicated thing, and you can do it easily at home unless it needs alteration from a professional tailor.
A leather jacket is a timeless and stylish attire, but what if it doesn’t fit you anymore and looks oversized? In that case, you will want to do something about it; otherwise, it might look off instead of stunning. You might be worried that shrinking a leather jacket might cause some damage, and decide that it is best to wear it as it is, without even trying to fix it. But don’t worry, there are some great methods and effective techniques to shrink a leather jacket without ruining it.
If your favorite brown leather jacket has started to feel too loose or oversized, then this guide will show you exactly how to shrink a leather jacket for a better fit. After making a perfect fit, you can follow the latest trend by following the brown leather jacket styling guide.
By the end of this article, you will know exactly how to shrink a leather jacket for a better and more appealing fit.
Can you shrink a leather jacket?
You might be surprised to learn that it is actually possible to shrink your leather jacket. But, yes, it is a totally doable thing. You need to know about the specific type of leather used in your leather jacket because you may need an individualized plan to handle each type of leather, as some leather jackets are more delicate than others and need to be handled with care. Using the shrinking process on such leathers may cause discoloration and bending.
Full-grain leather is tough and strong, so it can bear the shrinking process more effectively. On the other hand, faux leather is delicate and may peel off during the process. However, this variation occurs between each type of leather. Leather usually reacts to humidity and temperature as it comes from the animal origin, so extreme temperatures and moisture can cause damage to the material. So, when you are shrinking a leather jacket, you may need to take extra precautions to protect the material.
Why do leather jackets shrink and stretch?
Leather is a flexible material and can stretch or shrink over time, especially when you wear it more often. It happens when the fibers in the leather jacket stretch under pressure. Over time, the leather becomes loose through stretching.
Other factors that cause the shrinking of a leather jacket include exposure to heat and excessive humidity, and not conditioning the leather with leather conditioners. Poor handling, such as improper storage and not using leather jacket cleaner, can also contribute to the shrinking or stretching of a leather jacket.
You can invest in the quality of your leather jacket by choosing a brand like Daniel Smart MFG., as they provide high-quality men and women leather jackets. Premium quality leather jackets do not stretch easily. However, the jackets that stretch easily can also shrink easily.
How to shrink a leather jacket?
If your favorite leather jacket is not a perfect fit anymore and it looks oversized when you wear it, then you need to fix it by following the simple methods that are described below step-by-step:
- Hand Wash Technique:
Hand washing is the most effective and easiest technique to shrink a leather jacket. Here is how you can do it:
- Prepare a tub of water and fill the tub with lukewarm water.
- The water level should be such that the whole jacket is immersed easily.
- Submerge your leather jacket in the water tub and wait for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Rub your leather jacket against its own fabric. The dye will be extracted.
- After some time, remove your leather jacket from the tub and remove as much water as you can by twisting and squeezing it.
- Place your leather jacket over a cotton cloth that can absorb most of the water.
- Change sides of your leather jacket often to absorb all the water from the jacket.
- Avoid hanging your leather jacket in direct sunlight as it can cause shrinkage more than desired.
- Shrinking in a Washing Machine:
Using a washing machine to shrink a leather jacket is an effective method, but it is not used widely because of the risk of damaging the leather material during the cycle. However, you can still use this method for extremely oversized leather jackets.
- Wash your leather jacket in a machine with a regular cycle of 15 to 20 minutes.
- Use cold water and avoid using soap.
- After completing the cycle, take out the leather jacket from the washing machine and remove excess water by squeezing.
- Now, put the jacket inside the dryer when it’s still wet. Avoid using the dryer with excessive heat, as it can cause stiffness.
- You can also repeat the process for a leather jacket too big.
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Spray Water to shrink your leather jacket:
Using this technique is more recommended when you are dealing with the particular areas of your leather jacket that need to shrink. Here is a breakdown of the steps:
- Use a spray bottle and fill it with cold water.
- Spray the water on the surface of your leather jacket or on the area that needs to be corrected.
- After that, let it dry in a normal room temperature environment with good ventilation and balanced humidity.
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Exposure to Heat:
It is another method you can use to shrink your leather jacket. But you need to be extra cautious not to expose your leather jacket to extreme heat, as it can damage the color and dry up the necessary moisture.
- Clean your leather jacket with a clean, soft cloth.
- Apply leather conditioner before applying heat, as it helps protect the fabric from drying and keeps it flexible.
- Prepare the oven with a medium heat or use a heat gun.
- Expose your leather jacket to heat for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- You can also use the heat method after washing your leather jacket.
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Alteration with the help of a professional tailor:
When it seems almost impossible to treat your oversized leather jacket with the above-mentioned methods, you may need professional help to alter your leather jacket. It is also recommended to go for professional alteration when you do not compromise on your attire and perfect fit.
- Find a professional leather jacket tailor who knows how to adjust oversized leather jackets.
- Allow the tailor to take measurements for the perfect fit according to your body.
- Tell the tailor about your specific demands on the fit.
How to shrink faux leather jacket?
Shrinking a genuine leather jacket can slightly differ in methods when you resize leather jacket made up of fake leather, also termed as faux leather. Genuine leather comes from animal skin and reacts with water, humidity, and temperature. Faux leather is a synthetic material that reacts mildly with water and temperature. For such differences, you need to shrink a faux leather jacket differently. Here is how you can do it:
- Using a spray water bottle to shrink your leather jacket is highly recommended because immersing your faux leather jacket may distort the fabric and may also lead to peeling off the upper synthetic layer from the fabric beneath.
- You can also apply the heat method by using your blow dryer from a safe distance. Excess heat should be avoided when dealing with both genuine and faux leather jackets.
Things to Avoid When You Shrink Leather Jacket:
Shrinking your leather jacket might seem easy, but there are some things that you should avoid to prevent damage. To avoid such things from happening, you can do a patch test, in which you test a small hidden area of your leather jacket before applying it to the whole. Here are the things you should avoid:
- Do not use excess heat to shrink your leather jacket, as it can lead to damage to the fabric. Your leather jacket might get stiff and crack if you use heat treatment without using leather conditioners and softeners.
- Use natural sunlight to dry your leather jacket, as shrinking treatment may cause discoloration and hardening of the texture. So, you should not place your leather jacket directly under the sunlight.
- When you are using a technique where you immerse your leather jacket in a tub of water, do not exceed its time limit, as the water can weaken the fibers in your leather jacket and make it more prone to wear and tear. Always use the standard time given in the instructions
- Do not use detergents and soaps while using the washing machine method. The chemicals in detergents may pull out the natural oil from your leather jacket and cause drying and cracking.
- If you are not conditioning your leather jacket before and after using a heat method, you are making it rough in texture.
Conclusion:
Dealing with an oversized leather jacket is now not a problem, as we have provided you with the most effective methods that you can use to shrink it at home. You should know about the specific type of leather and its characteristics before choosing a specific method because different leathers react differently when exposed to heat and water. By taking extra care beforehand, you can maintain the quality of your leather jacket as well as its longevity. With the right approach, you can enjoy your leather jacket in a fit that suits your style perfectly.
FAQs:
Can leather shrink in heat?
Yes, leather can shrink when it is exposed to heat because of its natural material, which comes from animal hide. If leather gets wet and then exposed to heat, it can contract and modify its shape. For this tendency of the leather, it is one of the effective methods to use when shrinking a leather jacket. If you need to shrink your leather jacket, simply soak your leather jacket in water and then apply moderate heat to help it shrink gradually. Too much heat can dry out the leather, making it stiff, cracked, or damaged. That is why you have to condition the leather afterward.
How to shrink a bomber jacket?
For a bomber leather jacket, you can use the washing machine method, in which you simply put the leather jacket in the washing machine for a regular cycle of 10 minutes without using detergent.
How to shrink fake leather jacket?
A fake leather jacket is made up of synthetic material, so you need to follow simple methods like dampening your leather jacket and then applying a moderate amount of heat to avoid peeling off and deforming the fabric.