Most damage we see on older pieces didn't happen while they were being carried. It happened in storage, from the wrong shelf, the wrong bag, or the wrong climate. Care between wears matters at least as much as care while you're using a piece.
Stuff the bag before you put it away, not with the plastic bags or tissue paper it may have come with, but with acid-free tissue or a soft cotton cloth. This keeps the bag holding its shape and prevents the base and sides from creasing or collapsing inward, which is one of the most common structural issues we see on bags that come to us for resale.
Store it in its dust bag, upright where possible, away from direct sunlight and away from vents or radiators. Heat and UV both dry leather out and can shift dye over time, which shows up as a faded panel that's hard to reverse. If you're stacking bags on a shelf, the heaviest structured pieces should sit on their own rather than under something else, since sustained weight will press marks into soft leather.
Let leather breathe. Sealed plastic bags trap moisture and can encourage mould on the interior lining, particularly in humid climates, which is a real consideration here in the UAE. A breathable dust bag or a plain cotton pillowcase is a better long-term home than anything airtight.
On cleaning, less is more. Avoid baby wipes, alcohol-based cleaners, and generic leather conditioners not made for fine leather goods; all three can strip finish or darken leather unevenly. A dry, soft microfibre cloth handles most surface dust. For anything beyond that, a professional leather specialist who works specifically with luxury goods will do less damage than a well-meaning DIY fix, and it's what we recommend before it's what we'd do ourselves.
Rotate what you carry. A bag that's used constantly wears at the same contact points every time; a bag that's rested occasionally distributes wear more evenly and keeps its corners and handles from breaking down early. This is the single easiest habit to adopt and the one that extends a bag's life the most.