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kdo · Jan 9th, 2009, 06:21 PM

I have not seen any stonewash leathers IRL so from what I've read in the various thread, my understanding of the stonewash leathers is that they feel more suede like and scratch easily. Is it a high maintenace leather or can you use AG protection and be pretty much worry free? Can you condition it with AG like the other leathers? Do you have to baby it? Are there any other unique traits to this leather? I'm trying to decide if it will ever be a practical leather for me. I'm not concerned about weather, but mainly with everyday wear and tear. I'm not hard on my bags but don't want to baby them too much either.

annaversary · Jan 9th, 2009, 06:57 PM

I have a Stonewash Blue Matinee and the leather is indeed SUPER sensitive! Scratches can be easily made with a touch of a finger nail! And the touch/feel is like suede but baby butt soft. Hard to explain in words. I don't use my SWBM much because of these reasons, I'd like to know what I should treat him with too.. I tried reviewing the thread on how to care for RM bags but it's so long.

Crazy4Handbags · Jan 9th, 2009, 07:17 PM

I used to have a Blue Stonewash MAM and I treated it with LovinMyBags Pro-Treatment for oil/ water protection. I thought it worked great without changing the color of the leather.

The great thing about Stonewash leathers is that once the scratch is made, you could buff it out just as easily. I wouldn't worry about babying this bag.

kdo · Jan 9th, 2009, 08:20 PM

The below statement by anna would be the exact reason I'd be hesitant about getting a stonewash.

C4H - Are you saying that this should not be a concern, and just wear it like any other RMs?

Originally Posted by annaversary

I have a Stonewash Blue Matinee and the leather is indeed SUPER sensitive! Scratches can be easily made with a touch of a finger nail! And the touch/feel is like suede but baby butt soft. Hard to explain in words. I don't use my SWBM much because of these reasons, I'd like to know what I should treat him with too.. I tried reviewing the thread on how to care for RM bags but it's so long.

annaversary · Jan 9th, 2009, 08:36 PM

Hrm... buffing? How may we do that?

Crazy4Handbags · Jan 9th, 2009, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by kdo

The below statement by anna would be the exact reason I'd be hesitant about getting a stonewash.

C4H - Are you saying that this should not be a concern, and just wear it like any other RMs?

Crazy4Handbags · Jan 9th, 2009, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by annaversary

Hrm... buffing? How may we do that?

To save you time on the reading in the care thread, I suggest taking a small amount of LMB to the heart-shaped sponge (LMB provides these tiny sponges in the shape of pink hearts, so cute!) and applying onto the affected area in tiny circular motions.
I've only used LMB on the Stonewash and my Bbag. I haven't tried Apple on these two bags as where I treat my other bags with Apple products and it works just great on them. AG is much less expensive.

HTH!

msterling · Jan 9th, 2009, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by Crazy4Handbags

I wouldn't worry about babying this bag.

I agree. I got my Blue Stonewash Nikki in early April 2008. For the next six months, it was my primary bag. I used a few other bags during that time, but probably used my Nikki about 80% of the time. I don't think it scratches easily, but when I did get scratches, they came right out when I used conditioner.

lilyshaw · Jan 9th, 2009, 10:28 PM

I have a stonewash black MAM from 2007, and I don't think scratches are a problem. The only thing is that it doesn't age well; after carrying it for a year, it ended up looking really worn out and like one of Hayden P's MAM bags (she has a stonewash, right?). The leather became a little thin for my taste. For that reason, I prefer my thick and luscious noir MAM.

kdo · Jan 10th, 2009, 12:57 AM

Do the stonewash leathers darken with use? If so, how have they faired, especially the lighter colored ones? Do they develop a patina evenly or is it limited to places like the handles/strap?

Lynnia · Jan 10th, 2009, 01:38 PM

I took my sage MAB (similar to stonewash leathers, apparently) to the LA SS, and when I asked Rebecca if she thought I should send it off for cleaning (for a little darkness on the front zipper flap) she said it's supposed to "get darker and darker and oilier and oilier". I appreciated that because I didn't know how pristine that bag was meant to look.

I'm very careful not to touch it with very dirty or lotion-y hands -- if needed I slip it onto my forearm w/o touching the handles, even though I got the whole bag treated at the cobbler's before using it. I suppose someday I'll send it to LMB for refreshing, but I like that it's supposed to wear in.

Mine hasn't darkened too much but again, I got it treated and am careful. But I can tell it will darken and I love that. These thin, soft leathers hang like nothing else and show off the MA style perfectly. And the smell, omg. I huff the sage constantly.

I can't recommend them highly enough! My black stonewash is on it's way back from LMB for water damage repair and I will show pix.

kdo · Jan 10th, 2009, 03:09 PM

Thanks, lynnia, for sharing about the darkening. Tha puts my mind to ease a bit.

I cannot wait to see LMB's magic on your poor black stonewash.

gina2328 · Jan 10th, 2009, 04:51 PM

Would it be ok to buff out a couple of scratches with Apple Garde conditioner? Thanks.

xmelissax · Jan 10th, 2009, 05:44 PM

Yes they do. My stonewash blue mam has darkened a lot. And like Rebecca said, it has gotten much darker and oilier, which I love! I got it when it very first came out, so I have had it for quite some time now. Here are some pics for comparison. The second pic where it's darker does make it look a little darker than it is in real life, but you can see it has definitely darkened and gotten more oily!

Originally Posted by kdo

Do the stonewash leathers darken with use? If so, how have they faired, especially the lighter colored ones? Do they develop a patina evenly or is it limited to places like the handles/strap?

Lynnia · Jan 10th, 2009, 08:52 PM

Wow! That's pretty striking! Even accounting for lighting.

How long did it take for it to darken that way?

Jan 9th, 2009, 06:21 PM	#1
kdo OP Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,091	Stonewash leathers - High Maintenance?? I have not seen any stonewash leathers IRL so from what I've read in the various thread, my understanding of the stonewash leathers is that they feel more suede like and scratch easily. Is it a high maintenace leather or can you use AG protection and be pretty much worry free? Can you condition it with AG like the other leathers? Do you have to baby it? Are there any other unique traits to this leather? I'm trying to decide if it will ever be a practical leather for me. I'm not concerned about weather, but mainly with everyday wear and tear. I'm not hard on my bags but don't want to baby them too much either.
kdo OP Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,091	__________________ Dreaming of: RM Black Resort MA, Glazed Sunshine & Emerald Chloe Shoes & Boots

Jan 9th, 2009, 06:57 PM	#2
annaversary in ♥ w/ COCO. Joined: Feb 2008 Location: US > CA > LA Posts: 7,833	I have a Stonewash Blue Matinee and the leather is indeed SUPER sensitive! Scratches can be easily made with a touch of a finger nail! And the touch/feel is like suede but baby butt soft. Hard to explain in words. I don't use my SWBM much because of these reasons, I'd like to know what I should treat him with too.. I tried reviewing the thread on how to care for RM bags but it's so long.
	__________________ WANTED♥ -RM Studded Fling -RM Cappuccino Nikki -RM Violet MAC -RM LIGHT GREY MATINEE(preferbly w/ dark grey suede flaps)

Jan 9th, 2009, 07:17 PM	#3
Crazy4Handbags Gizmo Sheltie! Joined: May 2008 Location: Burbs of Paris Posts: 4,089	I used to have a Blue Stonewash MAM and I treated it with LovinMyBags Pro-Treatment for oil/ water protection. I thought it worked great without changing the color of the leather. The great thing about Stonewash leathers is that once the scratch is made, you could buff it out just as easily. I wouldn't worry about babying this bag.
	__________________ In search of a Black with Blue Stamp MAB at an obscene price

Jan 9th, 2009, 08:36 PM	#5
annaversary in ♥ w/ COCO. Joined: Feb 2008 Location: US > CA > LA Posts: 7,833	Hrm... buffing? How may we do that?
	__________________ WANTED♥ -RM Studded Fling -RM Cappuccino Nikki -RM Violet MAC -RM LIGHT GREY MATINEE(preferbly w/ dark grey suede flaps)

Jan 9th, 2009, 10:28 PM	#9
lilyshaw Member Joined: May 2008 Posts: 72	I have a stonewash black MAM from 2007, and I don't think scratches are a problem. The only thing is that it doesn't age well; after carrying it for a year, it ended up looking really worn out and like one of Hayden P's MAM bags (she has a stonewash, right?). The leather became a little thin for my taste. For that reason, I prefer my thick and luscious noir MAM.
lilyshaw Member Joined: May 2008 Posts: 72

Jan 10th, 2009, 12:57 AM	#10
kdo OP Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,091	Do the stonewash leathers darken with use? If so, how have they faired, especially the lighter colored ones? Do they develop a patina evenly or is it limited to places like the handles/strap?
kdo OP Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,091	__________________ Dreaming of: RM Black Resort MA, Glazed Sunshine & Emerald Chloe Shoes & Boots

Jan 10th, 2009, 01:38 PM	#11
Lynnia Stop me Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,035	I took my sage MAB (similar to stonewash leathers, apparently) to the LA SS, and when I asked Rebecca if she thought I should send it off for cleaning (for a little darkness on the front zipper flap) she said it's supposed to "get darker and darker and oilier and oilier". I appreciated that because I didn't know how pristine that bag was meant to look. I'm very careful not to touch it with very dirty or lotion-y hands -- if needed I slip it onto my forearm w/o touching the handles, even though I got the whole bag treated at the cobbler's before using it. I suppose someday I'll send it to LMB for refreshing, but I like that it's supposed to wear in. Mine hasn't darkened too much but again, I got it treated and am careful. But I can tell it will darken and I love that. These thin, soft leathers hang like nothing else and show off the MA style perfectly. And the smell, omg. I huff the sage constantly. I can't recommend them highly enough! My black stonewash is on it's way back from LMB for water damage repair and I will show pix.
Lynnia Stop me Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,035

Jan 10th, 2009, 03:09 PM	#12
kdo OP Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,091	Thanks, lynnia, for sharing about the darkening. Tha puts my mind to ease a bit. I cannot wait to see LMB's magic on your poor black stonewash.
kdo OP Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,091	__________________ Dreaming of: RM Black Resort MA, Glazed Sunshine & Emerald Chloe Shoes & Boots

Jan 10th, 2009, 04:51 PM	#13
gina2328 Member Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 625	Would it be ok to buff out a couple of scratches with Apple Garde conditioner? Thanks.
	__________________ Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman -- Coco Chanel

Jan 10th, 2009, 08:52 PM	#15
Lynnia Stop me Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,035	Wow! That's pretty striking! Even accounting for lighting. How long did it take for it to darken that way?
Lynnia Stop me Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,035

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