Care Guide

 

A Muva. bag is made to be carried, not protected. A little softening at the corners is the point. These are the six rules that come from our own workshop, then what changes material by material.

The six rules

Sun & heat Keep the bag out of prolonged direct sunlight, and never dry it near a radiator, hairdryer or flame. Heat hardens leather and fades dye.
Sharp objects Keys, buckles, zips on other bags — anything hard will scratch or cut the surface. Give keys a pocket.
Colour transfer Don't let a light-coloured bag rub against dark clothing, and don't let a dark bag rest on pale fabric. Transfer goes both ways and is far easier to prevent than to remove.
If it gets rained on Blot it dry immediately with a soft cloth, then let it finish drying flat at room temperature.
Never soak or wash No rain by choice, no machine wash, no submerging. None of our bags are waterproof.
Corrosive liquids Perfume, hairspray, hand sanitiser, alcohol, nail polish remover, household cleaner. Spray before you pick the bag up, not after.


By material

Cow suede

The largest part of our range. Suede is a nap, not a finish — it wants brushing, never liquid.

  • Brush gently with a soft suede brush, always in one direction.
  • Blot spills straight away with a dry cloth. Don't rub, and don't add water.
  • For a stubborn mark, a suede eraser will do more than any cleaner.
  • If it gets damp, dry it at room temperature, then brush the nap back up once it's fully dry.

Split cow leather & cowhide

  • Wipe with a soft, barely damp cloth, then dry with a clean one.
  • Condition two or three times a year with a neutral leather cream. Test on the base first.
  • No alcohol, no solvents, no household cleaners — they strip the finish permanently.

Polyester, canvas & denim

  • Spot clean with a damp cloth and a drop of mild soap; work from the outside of the mark inwards.
  • Air dry fully before storing. Still no machine wash — the lining, interfacing and hardware won't survive it.
  • New denim styles can crock onto pale clothing for the first few wears.

Charms — microfiber, plush & artificial wool

  • Spot clean with a damp cloth and a drop of mild soap.
  • Comb the pile back into place while it is still slightly damp, then let it dry away from heat.
  • Never machine wash or tumble dry a plush charm; the filling compacts and doesn't recover.
  • Unclip charms before putting a bag away — a hanging charm distorts the leather it rests against.

Hardware

Polish clasps, chains and zip pulls with a dry microfiber cloth. Keep perfume, hairspray and hand cream off metal, and wipe it the same day if they land there.

Storing

  • Stuff the bag lightly with tissue or a soft cloth so it keeps its shape.
  • Store upright, in its original packaging, away from direct sunlight.
  • Don't hang a bag by its strap for months at a time — it stretches the strap and marks the leather where it folds.
  • Let it breathe. Sealed plastic traps moisture and is how mould starts.

Every product page lists that style's exact material and lining under Material. If you're not sure which section applies to a bag you own, send us the style name and we'll tell you.