Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[ConnieinSeattle]

I finished up my Elle chain tote! I love this bag so much!! It was one of the filthiest, most decrepit bags that I've worked on. She's pretty now. Here are two before photos, how she arrived and what she looks like now. Biggest challenge was the peeling and missing pieces of trim. There were incredible amounts of animal hair in this bag!! I think they used it as a cat carrier.

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

Ambitious new project! Large Courier in really rough condition. Multiple rips and tears.

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

Ambitious new project! Large Courier in really rough condition. Multiple rips and tears.

I'm excited to get started. I have the black saddle soap (I think the bag is black...though I do see touches of brown peeking through) and I have the leather filler repair stuff to try.

 

[DL Harper]

I'm excited to get started. I have the black saddle soap (I think the bag is black...though I do see touches of brown peeking through) and I have the leather filler repair stuff to try.

I agree - an ambitious project! Will you be using the black saddle soap instead of a dunk?
Looking forward to seeing the outcome of this challenge. Good luck!

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

I agree - an ambitious project! Will you be using the black saddle soap instead of a dunk?
Looking forward to seeing the outcome of this challenge. Good luck!

I'm still debating. I'm not sure the bag is black. Did they make the courier in dark green? The interior of the bag is giving me "green" vibes.

 

[DL Harper]

I'm still debating. I'm not sure the bag is black.

It looks (faded) black on my device - particularly the suede side.

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

I'm still debating. I'm not sure the bag is black. Did they make the courier in dark green? The interior of the bag is giving me "green" vibes.

Another picture with a flashlight. When I compare the black suede of the strap sitting in the purse to the color of the walls next to it....very different. Also, the blue ink stains seem too vivid to be against a black background.

 

[DL Harper]

Sure does look green in that photo. So maybe Bleen or Breen???

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

Sure does look green in that photo. So maybe Bleen or Breen???

Just in case it's not black, I don't want to apply black saddle soap to it. So, dunk it is.

 

[KiltyR45]

I finished up my Elle chain tote! I love this bag so much!! It was one of the filthiest, most decrepit bags that I've worked on. She's pretty now. Here are two before photos, how she arrived and what she looks like now. Biggest challenge was the peeling and missing pieces of trim. There were incredible amounts of animal hair in this bag!! I think they used it as a cat carrier.

Hey! I got the Val duffel in, the bag is in perfect shape, just some stains on it, and missing the hangtag - but no big deal. I was looking around some more, and this bag is refined pebble leather, like the bag you just finished. Did you dunk that bag? I’m debating how to start.

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

Hey! I got the Val duffel in, the bag is in perfect shape, just some stains on it, and missing the hangtag - but no big deal. I was looking around some more, and this bag is refined pebble leather, like the bag you just finished. Did you dunk that bag? I’m debating how to start.

Yes! Dunking is good.

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

Speaking of dunking, here's my new baby after the bath. I think it's black. And going to be beautiful. The bath water was very much the same color as other black vintage bags I've dunked. This is my new test for bag color, what color does the bath water turn? Really, all the little rips on this bag are very superficial. Leather glue and puff paint and good as new. I'll probably refresh the color overall with black kiwi leather dye (and cover up the blue ink stains on the the side of the bag). The more I give love and attention and work to a bag, the more likely I want to keep it for me. I can already tell, this bag is for me.

 

[Belicious]

Speaking of dunking, here's my new baby after the bath. I think it's black. And going to be beautiful. The bath water was very much the same color as other black vintage bags I've dunked. This is my new test for bag color, what color does the bath water turn? Really, all the little rips on this bag are very superficial. Leather glue and puff paint and good as new. I'll probably refresh the color overall with black kiwi leather dye (and cover up the blue ink stains on the the side of the bag). The more I give love and attention and work to a bag, the more likely I want to keep it for me. I can already tell, this bag is for me.

Couriers are always worth rehabbing! I have some in terrible shape that I still love. About the bath water, one of the first ever black NYC Coach bags I washed more than 10 years ago ran deep dark red in the bath. It was so weird! Years later I washed it again and still more red. So weird bc I don't see any signs it was dyed ever. A mystery! I have had a few black bags fade to brown/green though (Breen?) And black bags that look deep greenish inside too like yours.

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

Couriers are always worth rehabbing! I have some in terrible shape that I still love. About the bath water, one of the first ever black NYC Coach bags I washed more than 10 years ago ran deep dark red in the bath. It was so weird! Years later I washed it again and still more red. So weird bc I don't see any signs it was dyed ever. A mystery! I have had a few black bags fade to brown/green though (Breen?) And black bags that look deep greenish inside too like yours.

That's very interesting. I have a binocular bag that I wasn't sure if it was mahogany or burgundy. Seller wasn't sure, either! When I dunked it the water turned red. So I decided it must be burgundy.

 

[KiltyR45]

I finished the Val duffel I purchased from shopgoodwill. She was really dirty, and cleaned up so nicely! According to the serial number it’s from 2021, and was sold at the boutique. It looks like these are sold at the outlet now. This is my first Coach (new/modern) bag. 😀

Before:
https://www.shopgoodwill.com/Item/193675769

After: