Elegant and practical, road-ready but refined, Troubadour bags are the perfect travel companions for daily excursions or epic adventures. Samuel Bail and Abel Samet's line of leather goods is a passion project that sprung from a noticeable gap in the luggage market for overnight bags suitable for a weekend with friends or a business trip. Their sleek styles bridge destinations and occupations. World-class artisans help the founders create the enduring designs in their collection. And every aspect of a Troubadour bag is carefully considered, from the zippers and buckles to the vegetable-tanned leathers crafted in Tuscany.

We spoke with the two jet setters, who were at the Pitti Uomo trade show at the time, about how to select and care for leather, and about the material's enduring appeal. Read on to the end to learn how you should be caring for your leather goods at every stage in its life cycle.

What is your favorite thing about leather?

Samuel Bail: We love the way leather wears-its character, patina, uniqueness and ability to age beautifully.

Do you have a memory of discovering how smitten you were by quality leather products?

Abel Samet: An old leather wallet my grandfather always had on him. It literally looked like it had been to hell and back, which is absolutely what made it so cool to me as a little kid.

Where are the best leathers in the world from, in your opinion? And what makes them so special?

SB: There are many people and places in the world creating wonderful leather. That said, we have a definite affinity for leather made in the Santa Croce di Magliano region of Italy. It is the birthplace of natural-vegetable tanning, and the village of Santa Croce di Magliano has served as a leather-making hub since the Middle Ages.

SHOP: Troubadour bags Should you check a leather bag on a flight? How can you be sure it won't get damaged?

AS: Exceptional leather will last decades and can sustain many different usage scenarios. If it's a quality leather bag, you should feel comfortable checking it in your travels. That said, every Troubadour piece is designed with function in mind-and carry-on sizing means our products fit snugly inside an airplane's overhead compartment.

You say that vegetable-tanned leather will "sing" when you rub it. What do you mean by leather "singing"?

SB: Great leather appeals to the senses, including sound. Next time you have the chance to run your hands over a wonderful leather piece, notice the look, smell and-crazy as it seems-the sound. The surface characteristics of vegetable-tanned leather create a definite sound when rubbed.

How should you use leather cream?

AS: It depends on the type of leather. Vegetable-tanned leather, which we feature exclusively in all Troubadour pieces, allows for the natural oils in the hide to remain, and therefore very little care is needed. As the leather ages, these oils rise to the surface, and it requires minimal maintenance. We suggest applying a light moisturizing cream every six months for best care.

A few simple steps to keep in mind:

1. A clean surface is ideal; brush off any dust or dirt from the leather.
2. Using a clean cloth, dab material into the cream to score a small, coin-sized dollop.
3. Gently rub the cream all over the leather in a circular motion.
4. Only a small amount of cream is needed to achieve desired effect.

You're welcome to view our leather care guide on the Troubadour blog.

SHOP: Troubadour nylon & leather weekend bag Which Troubadour bag do you carry regularly?

SB: Honestly, it depends on where we're going. Though the Rucksack, Day Bag and Briefcase are regularly in our rotation.

Tell us about some of the finishes on your bags?

AS: The single most important thing to know about finishes on a Troubadour bag is that there are none! We choose to present the leather as it is, allowing the natural oils in the vegetable-tanned leather to rise to the surface, helping scratches disappear. We select the most perfect, naturally unblemished hides available, and these wear beautifully over time, thanks to the hard work of our incredible leather craftsmen.

What's your best argument for carrying a briefcase? Seems like they've fallen out of fashion.

SB: When all is said and done, briefcases are functional, and function never goes out of style. What we've done is evolve the traditional design-large, hard, boxy-into something better suited to today's lifestyle. Softer, more subtle, taking into account the needs of modern technology.

Is there something you can do to treat natural leather so that the dye won't rub off on light-colored clothes?

AS: Troubadour leather is barrel dyed, which means the dye permeates the entire hide as opposed to just spraying the dye on the top, as is the case with synthetic finishes. While it is possible that color may transfer from the leather to a light piece of apparel on a humid day, the mark should always come out in the wash. As with anything handcrafted, it's worth just being mildly conscious of that in your first few months or so of wear.

What's the secret behind the quality of natural, vegetable-tanned leather?

SB: Troubadour vegetable-tanned hides are immersed in a blend of ingredients, including natural oils, water, bark powders-such as quebracho from Argentina, mimosa from Australia and Brazil, and chestnut powder from southern Europe.

AS: The small, family-run tanneries we work with create their own unique tanning recipes, which are jealously guarded secrets! We're delighted that the result is soft, smooth, durable leather that looks and feels better with age.

SHOP: Troubadour leather briefcase

The care life cycle of leather, courtesy of the Troubadour team:

Let it wear with you. As your items travel with you, the leather will assume a warmer, softer look and feel. Over time the bags take on beautifully different characteristics, which is perhaps our favorite thing about vegetable-tanned leather. Good leather does not need to be obsessed over-the aging properties of vegetable-tanned leather make it so special and produce a bag that will never be repeated.

Natural dyes permeate the leather consistently while ensuring it remains supple. The color will not scratch off. This makes caring for the leather easier and allows you to live with a bag.

A little care and attention every now and then will go a long way.

Ongoing care

Strong sunlight will dry leather more quickly and fade the color. We recommend protecting leather from prolonged exposure to strong sunlight.

Vegetable-tanned leather should not get wet. Avoid contact with water, oil and grease-this will cause wrinkling and discoloration. If it should get wet, gently dab with a soft neutral cloth to absorb the moisture.

To clean your product, wipe it using a clean, soft cloth.

Every 6 to 12 months, depending on usage, the leather can be treated with a neutral, natural leather-care product using a soft cloth. This adds moisture to the leather, keeping it supple and preventing cracking. A couple times a year is enough-too much oil can damage the fibers of the leather.

Repair any damage as it happens. Each product embarks on a unique journey specific to your travels. As with anything in life, it's important to catch any issues early so you can treat it before it becomes a larger issue. It's important to find a skilled individual you trust to handle any repairs and mending needs.

Troubadour has created Troubadour Cares to help customers with their Troubadour products in any way we can, be it repairs, reconditioning or anything else. We follow up 12 months after each purchase to check if we can be helpful. If repairs are required, a postage-paid box is sent to the customer to ship the product to Troubadour.

SHOP: Troubadour leather portfolio case In case of disaster

Water damage: If leather gets wet, take a soft cloth and pat dry. If the bag gets soaked, first allow the leather to dry naturally in airy surroundings. DO NOT use artificial heat to speed up the process; that can end up drying out the leather too much. Fret not: a little water will not ruin your bag; it will just change its appearance. Use oil only if the leather starts to dry or stiffen.

Rips and tears: Quality, dense leather should be strong and not rip. When leather rips, unlike fabric, it actually rips. This would mean either the item is at the end of a very long road, or it was not good quality leather to begin with. Mending will be at the discretion of the repair shop.

How to store leather

Simple: store the product in its protective bag in a cool, dry place. However, be sure to take it out of the cool, dry place and have it by your side when you embark on an adventure!

SHOP: Troubadour