The Hibernation Protocol: How to Store Leather Jackets Properly

The Danger of the Off-Season

When the sun comes out and the temperatures rise, your IndiFash leather jacket goes into "Hibernation." For most people, this means shoving it into the back of a dark, cramped closet and forgetting about it until October. This is a high-risk behavior. Between moisture traps, pest attraction, and structural warping, your closet can be more dangerous than the open road. This is the IndiFash Hibernation Protocol.

1. The Structural Law: Contoured Support

Leather is heavy. An average IndiFash Biker jacket weighs between 4 and 7 lbs. If you hang that weight on a thin wire or plastic hanger, all of that force is concentrated on two narrow points on your shoulders.

• The Result: "Hanger Nipples"—permanent, unsightly bumps in the leather where the hanger has stretched the hide.
• The Fix: Use a Contoured Wooden Hanger with a minimum 2-inch width at the shoulder points. This distributes the weight across the entire yoke, preserving the jacket's silhouette.

2. The Breathability Mandate: No Plastic Allowed

Many people store their jackets in the plastic bags provided by dry cleaners. This is a fatal mistake.

• The Greenhouse Effect: Leather contains residual moisture and oils. When trapped in plastic, these fluids "sweat" out, creating a high-humidity micro-environment that is the perfect breeding ground for white mildew and green mold.
• The Solution: Use a 100% Cotton Dust Cover or even an old, clean cotton bedsheet. Cotton protects from dust while allowing air to flow freely, preventing anaerobic bacteria from forming.

3. The UV and Temperature Shield

Storage should be Cool, Dark, and Dry.

• Light Damage: Long-term exposure to direct sunlight or even strong fluorescent light will cause "Photo-Oxidation," which fades the dyes and weakens the fiber bonds.
• Thermal Rot: Do not store your leather near a water heater, boiler, or in a hot attic. High heat causes the collagen to shrink and pull away from the tanning agents, leading to "Dry Rot."

4. The Pre-Storage Ritual

Before you "archive" your jacket for the summer:

1. Empty all pockets (heavy items can cause the leather to sag and stretch).
2. Zip the jacket fully to maintain its front-to-back symmetry.
3. Clean and condition it. This ensures the oils are "Locked in" during the dry summer months.

Hibernation Checklist

Storage Component	The 'Gold Standard'
Hanger Type	Contoured Cedar Wood (Wide Shoulder)
Cover Material	Breathable Organic Cotton
Environment	Internal Closet (Away from exterior walls)

Conclusion

How you treat your jacket in the summer determines how it will treat you in the winter. By following the Hibernation Protocol, you ensure that every time you pull your IndiFash jacket out of the closet, it looks just as sharp, supple, and formidable as the day you first wore it.

Store like a pro. Read more in our Archival Maintenance Series.