Care Guide

THE FIRST FRENCH LUXURY MAISON

Au Départ, established in 1834, is the first French luxury maison, specialised in luxury leather and travel goods, the epitome of French heritage.

This Au Départ product is crafted with the finest quality materials by passionate artisans. Our master artisans combine their accumulated craft knowledge with new technologies and innovative ways of thinking, to produce truly modern objects of desire. Maison Au Départ recommends the following care guidelines to ensure their natural beauty is maintained.

Leather

At Au Départ our leather is of premium quality ‘full grain’ leather. This ensures the leather is resilient and ages well, while also highlighting some of the natural characteristics of the grain, such as wrinkles, veins and pores.

Be gentle with your handbag; never overload it to ensure it maintains its beautiful shape, for a lifetime. Do not expose the leather to direct sunlight or humidity for extended periods of time; avoid contact with makeup, perfume and any other chemical substances.

If your handbag gets wet, gently pat it dry with an absorbent cloth that does not pill. Refrain from rubbing, as this can alter the colour of the leather. For light colours, like white, avoid prolonged contact or rubbing with different coloured materials, to prevent colour transfer and staining. When not in use, keep in the protective dust bag, in an upright position and with sufficient space around it.

Suede Or Nubuck

These are delicate types of leather. As such, their colours may rub off onto other materials. To avoid colour transfer and staining keep away from prolonged contact or rubbing with different materials. To prevent colour transfer be particularly careful that these types of handbags do not rub against light-coloured clothing.

Do not expose the leather to direct sunlight or humidity and avoid contact with makeup, perfume and any other harsh chemical substances.

Lambskin

This leather is known for its exceptional softness. To maintain its natural suppleness, our lambskin is deliberately given the minimum protective treatment possible. Over time, it will gain a soft patina. This type of leather is sensitive to moisture and repeated rubbing.

The Monogram Canvas

The Au Départ monogram canvas, showcasing the L’Hexagone, is a fabric that is at the very heart of our heritage and savoir-faire; our tight weave, made of linen and cotton, coated with a light, natural resin, makes our products light, soft yet sturdy, water-resistant and long-lasting.

Despite its extraordinary qualities, over time, the canvas can be damaged by continual abrasion and one may observe a slight fading in the intensity of the L‘Hexagone pattern. This can sometimes be seen in heavily used areas of the product, such as corners, folds and bottoms. This natural ageing process has been part of Au Départ’s mystique ever since the 19th century. L’Hexagone conjures up the charm possessed by trunks of yesteryear on which the canvas was originally used. This natural, patina-like evolution is a sign of the authenticity of the natural materials and craftsmanship typical of Au Départ.

Exotic Leather

This is particularly sensitive to moisture. If your handbag gets wet, dry it immediately, patting it with an absorbent cloth that does not pill. Do not use any products to shine or maintain the leather and avoid creamy cosmetics.