I know that suede and other types of roughout leathers are usually said not to really require conditioning. But on vintage jackets that can have had to endure 30+ years of wear and weather it's something that I feel should be beneficial. It's still the same material after all, and it too gets drier. I'm also interested in washing old suede jackets since I've learned they can handle it fine if done properly, but I would definitely want to recondition them after a wash.
Now there's light spray-on conditioners specifically for suede like Saphir Renovateur, although I doubt this will really suffice in getting oil into the leather proper, as opposed to mostly merely treating the nap. Oiling suede with regular leather oils like mink or neatsfoot oil is likely not an option since spreading it evenly and without overconditioning seems nigh-impossible, and it would also darken the leather a ton. Using a leather cream with oils and waxes does work, although it will obviously create a "waxed flesh" finish - a rough, shiny surface where the nap only re-emerges with time and wear and only in limited areas. While this can be a great look and is something I've done with footwear before, it's not what I'm looking for.
The only idea I've come up with is conditioning the suede from the inside out, meaning applying the oil from the inside of the jacket where the leather is usually smoother and allows for better, more even application, as well as for the oil to really penetrate into the leather and hopefully do so without changing the color too noticeably as it won't absorb into the nap as much or at all. However if the jacket is not unlined, this would of course require opening up the lining to be able to access the leather.
So I want to ask whether anyone here has experience with trying to condition suede, or any other ideas. Thank you!
Now there's light spray-on conditioners specifically for suede like Saphir Renovateur, although I doubt this will really suffice in getting oil into the leather proper, as opposed to mostly merely treating the nap. Oiling suede with regular leather oils like mink or neatsfoot oil is likely not an option since spreading it evenly and without overconditioning seems nigh-impossible, and it would also darken the leather a ton. Using a leather cream with oils and waxes does work, although it will obviously create a "waxed flesh" finish - a rough, shiny surface where the nap only re-emerges with time and wear and only in limited areas. While this can be a great look and is something I've done with footwear before, it's not what I'm looking for.
The only idea I've come up with is conditioning the suede from the inside out, meaning applying the oil from the inside of the jacket where the leather is usually smoother and allows for better, more even application, as well as for the oil to really penetrate into the leather and hopefully do so without changing the color too noticeably as it won't absorb into the nap as much or at all. However if the jacket is not unlined, this would of course require opening up the lining to be able to access the leather.
So I want to ask whether anyone here has experience with trying to condition suede, or any other ideas. Thank you!
