Okay. I have to share my scary experience with Madras. I must think I am the only one since all the reviews on Madras (limited) are all 'positive' about how durable madras is. I think otherwise. I bought the Miu miu madras bauletto doctor bag in Rosa (light pink) just last month. My first bag on the first night of bringing it out for night out, it had a small circle stain on the handle. I dont know what it was. Maybe alcohol (highly impossible given how careful I am) Maybe water (though it's treated right? it should evaporate)? IDK. But that wasn't the issue, it could have been my fault. So I used apple conditioner to clean it. Guess what? The colour pink came off! It just rubbed of! Not even 'lifted', but rubbed off. And underneath looks like beige, cream white. So I am like, isn't this bag dyed?? It looks like they just 'painted' dye over and didn't really dye it. So I went back and exchanged for another new one the same design. The next one had a leather torn off on the strap I didn't notice. Huh?? How is that possible right? Scratches I understand, leather part torn off?? I initially bought Madras because I thought it was more durable than Nappa lambskin, but the fact apple condtioner can remove the colour really scares me. I mean I use it on other leathers even lambskin with no problem whatsoever! Maybe its because my bag is in Rosa (light pink) hence lighter colours are more troublesome. I went back for a third time and I really gotta hand it to the Miu miu stuff in Singapore. They handled me like a VIP with grace and allowed for a final and third exchange (although their policy only states once). But still.... a little disappointed. On a positive note though, it smells lovely, looks lovely, feels lovely, just not as 'durable' as I thought. And I'm an OCD freak so I always take care of my bags. Though, if I had to choose again, I'd still buy madras as the smell is too hard to resist.
Now, as for wear and tear. This bag WILL sag, and WILL wrinkle in the long run if you don't take care of it. My advise is condition it 2-3 times using a light conditioner (apple) before you use it. That will make it flexible enough to bend so that it will prevent wrinkles. Keep it in the stuffing they provide to prevent wrinkles. That is if you want it to look beautiful even after 1-2 years.