Care of your Hayden Harnett

[pjrufus]

Hi Stormy, I hope it's ok to ask here, I remember you mentioning Rough Roses bags, did a search and couldn't find any recommendations. I have a Tan Jewel Hobo, and I'm hoping you can tell me something about the leather. The "glossiness" is wearing off in a lot of areas, showing bare leather. Not bad, but is there anything I can do to restore or keep it from getting worse. What are the best products to use for this bag? Thanks so much for your wise and wonderful help.

[Stormy Heart]

Originally Posted by pjrufus

Hi Stormy, I hope it's ok to ask here, I remember you mentioning Rough Roses bags, did a search and couldn't find any recommendations. I have a Tan Jewel Hobo, and I'm hoping you can tell me something about the leather. The "glossiness" is wearing off in a lot of areas, showing bare leather. Not bad, but is there anything I can do to restore or keep it from getting worse. What are the best products to use for this bag? Thanks so much for your wise and wonderful help.

Hi PJ ! This is a good general question because it covers ALL (insert fancy name here) leathers that have an inflexible finish on soft leather. Some (there are many more!) keywords to watch for are Vintage, Antique, Distressed & Crystal, Crackle, Crinkle, Glazed, Patent, Shine~ often in combination ! The degrees of flex of the acrylic topcoats vary from soft to hard, so you will see a lot of variety. The purpose of these are to make the bag look worn, broken in, aged, etc. when used. Old time shiny finishes were shellac and varnish, which crackled when it got old and dry. Smooth shines and patents, without crackly names, have flexible topcoats.
You have probably seen hh VCP in 'bad shape', which represents an improperly cared-for bag of this type. RR calls theirs "soft crinkled Italian" and that is exactly what you have. Bags that have been exposed to dry environments benefit from a conditioner the moment they arrive in your life. Some of mine felt very dry to the touch when new, because they had begun to 'crinkle', exposing the plain leather under the finish in natural folds (later evident in wear areas, also).
You'll see more cracks as time goes on and every one opens that finish, allows the leather to dry out, much as perforations expose more air to leather. So we need to protect it. TLC conditioner + buffing is great for these leathers types of any color because I find it has the right combination of moisture and emollient. It has the added advantage of slightly darkening the lighter appearance of color in the cracks, restoring the overall beauty of your bag. Lexol or Kiwi conditioner also would be fine on Tan, they are richer formulas that will impart a touch more color restoration.
I was a little shocked by my first experience with this leather, every slight movement created more texture! Seeing how conditioner kept the soft feel, I realized it was an interesting leather I could live with and even love. They are very forgiving, and disguise minor mishaps, making them very practical, and personal, too !
Careful storage with lots of acid-free tissue stuffing and flannel dustbags between uses is a priority.
*As a reminder, any time leather feels dry to the touch, it needs help, just like your own skin does.
To restore Glossiness, you can touch up with high shine acrylic finish in worn areas. These are available in your choice of flex and shine levels.
I use flexible Fiebing's on bottom corners of many of my shiny bags, (these types and metallics, which are often topcoated the same way) because I like to keep the leather protected in heavy wear areas. Always make sure leather is clean before applying additional conditioner or finishing products.
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[pjrufus]

Thank you so much. I took a screen shot of your post and printed it out. Must go shopping now for the right stuff. I now have an entire drawer for all my bag repair and maintenance products, and I'm just an amateur. I can only imagine what your storage shelf, closet, ROOM must look like. It's so very generous of you to share your knowledge with us and I know it's appreciated by all.

[pjrufus]

Oh, forgot to mention, I do love the "cracks" and the raw edges without sealer.

[lulu3955]

Stormy-

When you have the time could I get a run down of how to care for my new newman hobo.
It's in the Cognac leather. But I'm sure others would want to know about the black and grape as well.

This leather feels different than the other HH leather's I've had. It feels chewy, like it already has a "protective coating on it" and it feels like it has card board between the leather, KWIM.

Thanks Stormy your awesome!

[Sybaryte]

Originally Posted by Stormy Heart

Lockhearts smell like just the Angies. They use the same sweet linseed tanning oils. Love it so much, I had to pick up a second LH satchel in dark blush color. (Exact profile and dimensions as my Sammies) I am convinced that oil is the secret reason these leathers are so easy to care for. You can imagine reddish purple color in a different leather could become navy-black. I wish we could see the one Hokka's talking about. You need an aubergine tassel

Thanks for the tassel wishes Stormy! I'd stick it on my Angie a la Andre Agassi circa 1990!

P.S. IF-LH connection a la LP-RR?

[Stormy Heart]

Originally Posted by lulu3955

Stormy- When you have the time could I get a run down of how to care for my new newman hobo. It's in the Cognac leather. But I'm sure others would want to know about the black and grape as well. This leather feels different than the other HH leather's I've had. It feels chewy, like it already has a "protective coating on it" and it feels like it has card board between the leather, KWIM. Thanks Stormy your awesome!

Routine care, a Rain & Stain protector, light conditioners.
Lu, I don't know what you mean that it feels different than your other hh bags, unless you have mostly lambskin. hh webpage comments says it's pebbled cow, which I am sure you are familiar with. The description calls it super luxe rustic leather, which means absolutely nothing. You'd have to do a water drop test to see if they are top coated. It is possible that there is a light reinforced soft plastic layer between the skin and the lining (if the leather is soft as Inka), because Newman has structure (stands on its own).
Cheap bags do have actual cardboard, disaster when it rains, the bag is ruined, the cb turns to lumps under the lining.

[jwhitlock]

Stormy, wondering if you can help with what appears to be a metallic silver marker spot on my Black Trophy. I searched this thread and it didn't appear that there was anything previously covered that would pertain to my situation.

My bag arrived like this.... a very small (maybe 1mm sized) marker/pen dot. Somehow I didn't see it b/c they way the bag sits, it is mostly disguised, but I know it is there.

This is my second Trophy that has arrived like this. UGH. I believe it is the marker that the manufacturers use when marking the leathers prior to bag construction (shared by Nitza). They are supposed to cut this parts off, but obviously the attention to detail/quality is not happening.

I can either leave it like this or try to get it out, but I don't mind living with this, as this is a bag I will likely keep forever.

Many thanks in advance!

[Stormy Heart]

Originally Posted by jwhitlock

Stormy, wondering if you can help with what appears to be a metallic silver marker spot on my Black Trophy. I searched this thread and it didn't appear that there was anything previously covered that would pertain to my situation. My bag arrived like this.... a very small (maybe 1mm sized) marker/pen dot. Somehow I didn't see it b/c they way the bag sits, it is mostly disguised, but I know it is there. This is my second Trophy that has arrived like this. UGH. I believe it is the marker that the manufacturers use when marking the leathers prior to bag construction (shared by Nitza). They are supposed to cut this parts off, but obviously the attention to detail/quality is not happening. I can either leave it like this or try to get it out, but I don't mind living with this, as this is a bag I will likely keep forever. Many thanks in advance!

Hi Whitl,
those are tailor's marks. There are two kinds used on leather, a crayon type or metallic markers to identify flaws in a hide, and these parts are meant to be trimmed before pattern cuts.
I use gum erasers to remove crayon if the hide is nubuck or unfinished, and just rub the metallic off with my thumb if the leather is smooth or finished.
It's not that unusual to see a teeny bit of mark, where the cut was close, because maximum hide usage is cost-effective. What color/leather is your Trophy bag ? Smoothest, shiniest leathers give up the marker best.
Do not try to use an abrasive, a cleaner or solvent, just rub it hard, OK ?

[jwhitlock]

THANKS STORMY! You continue to rule the queendom in HH care. The mark came off very nicely.

Of course, now I see color transfer from the black leather, so I'm going to have to read up on that. I think I remember earlier posts about this.

[fleurdelis816]

Pardon my ignorance because I know *nothing* about leather care...but I don't quite understand why people that manufacture handbags don't "protect" the bags before selling them. Why can't they put the protective coating or whatever on the bags? Why is it up to the consumer to go out and buy leather protector and what not and try to determine how to protect $$$ bags? If we didn't have Stormy I would be so lost, seriously. Clueless. (my tone is totally not nasty at all -- I am extremely grateful to Stormy for all her wonderful knowledge -- I am just really confused why bags aren't protected before being sold)

[lulu3955]

Originally Posted by Stormy Heart

Routine care, a Rain & Stain protector, light conditioners. Lu, I don't know what you mean that it feels different than your other hh bags, unless you have mostly lambskin. hh webpage comments says it's pebbled cow, which I am sure you are familiar with. The description calls it super luxe rustic leather, which means absolutely nothing. You'd have to do a water drop test to see if they are top coated. It is possible that there is a light reinforced soft plastic layer between the skin and the lining (if the leather is soft as Inka), because Newman has structure (stands on its own). Cheap bags do have actual cardboard, disaster when it rains, the bag is ruined, the cb turns to lumps under the lining.

Thanks stormy! I guess I was thrown off by the structure of the bag mixed with the regularly pebbled cow leather.

I have been petting my lambskin bags a bit much lately LOL

[PiggyinManolos]

IDK if this is the appropriate place, but I think it is....

Has anyone used the bag cleaning/restoration services of Avelle/Bag Borrow or Steal? They say they can remove ink stains, and my Sao Paulo's lining is really bad. There was an ink stain, and in trying to remove it, I made it worse. It's just the lining, but I worry about the ink transferring to my wallet and whatnot... Or does HH offer repair/restoration? suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[Stormy Heart]

Originally Posted by PiggyinManolos

IDK if this is the appropriate place, but I think it is.... Has anyone used the bag cleaning/restoration services of Avelle/Bag Borrow or Steal? They say they can remove ink stains, and my Sao Paulo's lining is really bad. There was an ink stain, and in trying to remove it, I made it worse. It's just the lining, but I worry about the ink transferring to my wallet and whatnot... Or does HH offer repair/restoration? suggestions are greatly appreciated.

What did you try to remove the ink with, MissPiggy ?
Here are my works-every-time choices: Amodex, Denatured alcohol, or LeatherMagic ink and stain remover. The trick is blot, don't rub, and keep the solvent confined to the stain only. Blot some more.
I haven't tried Avelle because LeatherMagic's restoration service is so reasonably priced and they guarantee their work.
You are correct that the ink could transfer, and HH does not offer this kind of help. They will repair broken hardware within one year of direct purchase from them only, free of charge. Otherwise there is a charge, say if you needed that lining replaced, you could ask about it, see what they can do. If the stain is at the bottom, could you cut it out and patch in a solid color cloth to blend with the pattern ?

[enga4]

Oh, this is sooo apropo... Ink...

My bag came, Stormy, a finished pebbled leather... just divine and broken in and smooshy...

Ok... for dirty there's Lexol... for ink, Leather Magic...

But which do I do first?

The ink looks like blue/purple ball point ink... mostly on the bottom/undersides... but two dots right by the front gold plate... I can take pics and email you (since it's not HH I didn't want to post here, and your inbox is full...).

I think it'll clean up gorgeously! The lining is fine, no smells anywhere... such a great price... I've been using it even though it needs a bath, I looooove it so!

Then... after those two... which conditioner? Apple? Wilson's conditioner?

And then.... TLC spray?

I'm in this for the long-haul... no short-cuts!!!!

Thanks in advance, Stormy, my dear!!!!