How To: Care for Eel Skin

Eel Skin, known affectionately as the 'leather of the sea' is not actually made from eel. It is made from the Pacific Hagfish. Similar in shape this long slender fish yields a great skin for making purses, shoes and other accessories. It is very durable and is stronger than leather. Although it is strong it is very soft and softens even more over time. No two skins are alike making each piece totally unique. Eel skin was huge in the 80s and if you've come across one of these vintage gems there are a few things you can do to keep your items looking fresh. 


If you happen to get a marking on it from a ball point pen or something else that is fairly topical, the best thing to do is grab an eraser. Any eraser will do, but make sure it is still soft and not stiff from age. Gently rub the eraser on the spot and it should disappear. The sooner you do this the better but even set in stains should lighten. 


Liquids. I don't know how many times I've reached in my bag for a sip of bottled water, soda, juice, etc, and found that it has leaked. Luckily with eel skin water does no damage. The color will darken but should resume it's original hue after it dries thoroughly. If it is juice or soda or something similar rinse it out with water as soon as possible. Splashing it does the trick and is better than running it under the faucet. Do not attempt to rub out the liquid, just let the water rinse it out and let it dry over night. 


Probably the coolest fix is for anything greasy. Hand lotion or sunblock type products leave a greasy film that can easily be lifted with rubber cement. Apply a thing layer of rubber cement to the effected area, let it dry and then peel it off. Again, do this as soon as possible but even set in stains can be lifted if this process is repeated several times. Doing this will not damage the skin so even if the stain is really set in keep doing it, eventually it will release. 


To revive and preserve it's shine, cover the skin with clear shoe polish. Make the layer thick enough that it is shiny but not so thick that it becomes gummy or tacky. Wipe any excess with a cloth. Make sure to cover your item completely to ensure evenness of the shine. 

Always be gentle with your eel skin. Although durable it is vulnerable to rips and stretching while applying these processes. Don't rub too hard on the skin and keep it in a dry cool place while not in use.