How to Restore Leather Sleeves on a Letterman Jacket

Letterman jackets conjure up nostalgia for the simpler times. Fall football games, sitting around the soda fountain and walking home from school with a sweetheart all come to mind when pulling your arms through the sleeves. Most traditional letterman jackets have sleeves made of genuine leather, making them timeless and fashionable. Over time, the leather can dry out, become stiff or begin to fade. With a simple leather conditioner and other household materials, you can restore the sleeves of your prized jacket.

Instructions

1 Cut away any loose or frayed threads between the sleeves and the front and back panels of the jacket using a small pair of scissors.

2 Brush each sleeve thoroughly with a soft bristled brush to remove all dust, dirt and other debris from the pores of the leather.

3 Scoop out a generous amount of leather conditioner with your fingers. Starting from the shoulder of the sleeve, rub the conditioner into the leather using a firm, circular motion. Continue until the entire sleeve is coated with conditioner. Repeat for the other sleeve.

4 Allow the conditioner to penetrate the leather for 15 to 20 minutes. Wipe off any excess conditioner using a soft terry cloth. Hang the jacket and leave it undisturbed overnight.

5 Buff each sleeve with a flannel cloth to restore the leather's subtle natural shine.

Tips & Warnings

Apply leather conditioner to the sleeves once every several months to keep the material in top condition.

Avoid using any chemical-based cleaning products on your leather.