About Manual do Couro

Manual do Couro was born out of a simple frustration. Whenever someone needed to rescue a mouldy jacket, choose their first pair of leather boots or work out what "vegan leather" really is, they found scattered, contradictory answers, or answers written only to sell a product. We wanted a place that explained the reasoning behind everything, calmly and in plain language.

What the name means

Manual do Couro is Portuguese for "the leather manual". The magazine started in Brazil and now has three editions: Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese and this international one in English. The flags at the top of every page switch between them.

The English edition is not a word-for-word copy of the others. Our guides are adapted to British English, to a damp northern climate and to UK and European labelling rules. It also has stories of its own, such as the history of Britain's shoemaking towns and saddlers.

What you will find here

• Style: how to wear leather jackets, trousers, boots and accessories, with combinations that work in real life.
• Care: cleaning, conditioning, stains, mould and repairs, always starting with the gentlest method.
• Buying guide: how to tell real leather, what labels mean and how to choose pieces that last.
• Culture: the history behind the pieces, the leather industry and the curiosities of the craft.

How we work

Every guide is researched in technical sources, regulations, industry data and the experience of people who work with leather: tanners, restorers, cobblers and craftspeople. We explain our reasoning and are honest about what you can and cannot do at home. The details are in our editorial policy.

Independence

Manual do Couro is an independent publication. We do not take money from brands to recommend products and we do not publish paid content dressed up as journalism. The site is funded by advertising served by Google, always labelled and kept separate from our content.

Get in touch

Story ideas, questions, corrections and partnership proposals are welcome. Write to contato@manualdocouro.com.br or visit our contact page. We read everything.