Leatherique:  The finest leather care for your car!

It's Spring time and my baby is back from winter storage. And like me we are both in need of some TLC inside and out - so when it came time to treat my leather interior I tried Leatherique Products.  Somehow I was skeptical - but after one try my seats looked brand new!  Luckily for us I had a chance to talk to George about the company and his fabulous products.

Nika: How long has the company been in business ?

George: We're a family owned and operated business that has been shipping worldwide and serving the leather specialty market for almost 50 years. We work with the automotive industry, museums, The Smithsonian, as well as folks who collect antique leathers, WW Bomber Jackets, Civil War re-enactors, leather accessories, holsters, antique watch collectors, camera buffs, decorators, motorcycle leathers, and the public for all their leather care needs.

Nika: What made you start the company ?

George:The formulas were originated by my dad for the restoration of old prewar Bentleys, Auburns, and Dusenbergs. His Hobby was doing ground up restorations on these old cars, and alot of his work is in museums today. He would enter his restorations at concourse and car shows, and could always garner those extra 5 points to win first place by having a totally original interior, where other guys would have had to replace the leather. My dad tried everything on the market, and nothing really worked to re-nourish the old cardboard hard leather, and make it pliable and usable again. So working with a chemist friend, he developed these products to renew the hides first, then remove the old cracked surface color, and replace it with a durable, flexible, non toxic new finish.

Nika: Why is your product so good?

George: Our products are really appreciate by the consumer because they work as advertised. Our Rejuvenator Oil contains no real oil, no silicones, waxes, petroleum distillates, lanoline, etc, that sit on the surface to make leather slick, shiny, and create a surface seal. It is a penetrating protein collagen formula that will actually be absorbed directly into the hide to plump the dry leather fibers, restore tensile strength, luxurious suppleness, and expel dirt to the surface, where it can be safely cleaned away with our ph correct Prestine clean. The Prestine Clean has a light conditioner in it, so it can be used for weekly dusting and maintenance, while you would use the Rejuvenator 2-4 times per year depending on climate and wear to keep the spongy, fibrous hide nourished. When your hide is supple and healthy, cracking is prevented because the hide can flex with wear and stress. We also offer custom color matched leather dyes to keep the surface perfect. Because leather is fibrous, even a speck of sand can force the fibers apart. That is why it is important to also keep the surface protected. Leather should not ever be sealed, as it needs to be able to breathe. That is what is so luxurious about it, it can adjust to temperature so easily and is very durable when properly nourished and cared for.

Nika: How easy is it to use and what else is it good for?

George: Our products are very easy to use, are environmentally safe, non toxic, and is perfect for equestrian use as it will not hurt the horse. You simply massage the Rejuvenator onto the leather as you would suntan lotion and allow it to sit for several hours so it can be absorbed. Dirt will be expelled to the surface where it is cleaned away with Prestine Clean. Older hides may take 2-3 applications. Remember it took a few years for the leather to degrade, and will take a bit of effort to bring it back. The product is amazing on all leather to extend or renew its life; good bags and purses, Coach, Dooney and Burke, leather sofas and upholstery, equestrian, motorcycle leathers to keep them clean, soft and supple, boats, apparel, antiques, and automotive applications all benefit from care and feeding of the hides, and maintenance of the surface. You should never ignore your leather. It was once a surface that was fed and nourished by the creature it protected. Common sense will tell you that you need to continue that nourishment in order for it to last. Imagine what would happen to your skin if it was sealed? Anyone whose had a cast on knows.

Nika: How can someone order this product?

George: Please visit our website at www.Leatherique.com. We'll have online ordering up shortly, you can order via email, print the order page and fax it to us, or email us and one of our customer care representatives will call you. Email me anytime if you have any leather care questions and we're always honored to help!

Nika: Thank you George - now if only it could work on MY old hide!