BEFORE & AFTER treatment/ restoration/ repair (pics ONLY)

[Addy]

Please post any "before" and "after" pics with a quick explanation of what was done and who did it

The thread for comments about the transformations is here:

Rejuventating, Repairing or Restoring Your Balenciaga

found a small rip in my new shrug. what should I do? should i try to exchange for a new one (though I'm sure shirise is totally sold out). Should I try to get more discount? HELP! :cry:

forum.purseblog.com

 

[iluvmybags]

Back in December, one of my HGs appeared on VC - an 04 Dark Turquoise City — but boy oh boy was it in bad shape
I reached out to the seller for clarification of the wear & then contacted Barbara at Lovin my Bags to see (1) if repairs were possible and (2) how much they might cost

After much back & forth, the seller accepted my offer which, along with a discount code from the website, made the final cost of the bag after LMB repairs, lower than the seller’s original asking price

The bag arrived in early January and it sure was a sad site
The leather at the base of the handles was broke all the way through at all 4 bases
The laces & leather were nearly shredded at the top of the handles
The corners & piping were heavily worn
Overall, the color was severely faded & discolored

 

[iluvmybags]

After 2+ long months, I finally got the call that the bag was done and ready to be shipped back
I paid my invoice & waited patiently, but after more than a week, it still hadn’t arrived
I reached out to Barbara who said she noticed a few last minute issues that she wanted to fix
After another week, she finally arrived & it sure was worth the wait!!
My original request (& her quote) was for handle replacement & corner repairs.
She had said she would get new leather for the handles & use that same leather for the corners/edging
I knew she’d probably clean it up, moisturize it, but I figured there wouldn’t be much change in the color & I was OK with that. I was wrong! In addition to the handle & corner repairs, Barbara did a full color restoration
It honestly looks and feels like a brand new bag!
You probably notice that the rivets are different. While the originals weren’t damaged (as far as I could tell), I suppose once you remove them, they can no longer be re-used. At least we now know where to do if anyone ever needs a replacement of their rivets!
I’m so impressed with the work she did on this bag!!

 

[purseaddict0789]

Before and after of ggh chevre brief (probably French blue) used leather honey and crème surfine to recolor

 

[iluvmybags]

Can you share the price of this restoration?

$372 (the original estimate was $350, so not far off)

 

[protein_]

Totally respect that LMB has a positive following on here, so this is just my hot take...

Purchased an S/S 04 Seafoam City in July 2024 (one of those whacky odd Bals with brown edge paint!) and sent it off to LMB in the beginning of August 2024.

I just got it back at the beginning of March 2025.

What I asked for:
1- Handle restoration: While not broken or torn, the handles were pretty gross and on their way to tearing at the bases. I still wanted to keep the original handles.
2- Corner work: Two were totally bald to the piping, and the other two were very rubbed/almost balding.
3- Redo the edgepaint: Because I’m delulu, I thought this was an easy ask. Three months in, I asked to cancel that because I realized it would be close to impossible, and I wanted the bag back sooner, lol...

I also repeatedly and specifically asked for the body of the bag not to be recoloured.

Before:




After:





The handles are impressive and, despite the paint on the laces, I am happy with how they came out.

However, the body of this bag has now seemingly/likely been painted (I understand how perhaps the corners and handles made the body of the bag look weird, but it would've been preferable to have the option to say "yes" or "no" to this, since I repeatedly asked for the body not to be touched) and the corners and all the edges/piping are coated in something that cracks/isn't leather.

On the whole, this S/S 04 Seafoam City feels more like a pair of wax coated jeans and not like leather, let alone that sumptuous S/S 04 chèvre leather... but unlike my favourite pair of wax coated jeans, this bag leaves an unpleasant residue on my hands after touching it.

After 7 months, I do not feel like going back/forth with fixes, or sending the bag back for even more work, as those two issues cannot be reversed.

For $318, this bag is now like a full-on Monet — from far away, it’s ok, but up close, it’s a big old mess.

If anyone is looking to purchase a semi-destroyed bag in hopes that magic can be worked to make it look like-new again, just keep in mind that even if your repair person is super talented, I don't believe it's fully possible to fully restore a bag to its full former glory.

 

[Natinha]

Totally respect that LMB has a positive following on here, so this is just my hot take...

Purchased an S/S 04 Seafoam City in July 2024 (one of those whacky odd Bals with brown edge paint!) and sent it off to LMB in the beginning of August 2024.

I just got it back at the beginning of March 2025.

What I asked for:
1- Handle restoration: While not broken or torn, the handles were pretty gross and on their way to tearing at the bases. I still wanted to keep the original handles.
2- Corner work: Two were totally bald to the piping, and the other two were very rubbed/almost balding.
3- Redo the edgepaint: Because I’m delulu, I thought this was an easy ask. Three months in, I asked to cancel that because I realized it would be close to impossible, and I wanted the bag back sooner, lol...

I also repeatedly and specifically asked for the body of the bag not to be recoloured.

Before:
View attachment 6147354

View attachment 6147355

After:

View attachment 6147356

View attachment 6147357

The handles are impressive and, despite the paint on the laces, I am happy with how they came out.

However, the body of this bag has now seemingly/likely been painted (I understand how perhaps the corners and handles made the body of the bag look weird, but it would've been preferable to have the option to say "yes" or "no" to this, since I repeatedly asked for the body not to be touched) and the corners and all the edges/piping are coated in something that cracks/isn't leather.

On the whole, this S/S 04 Seafoam City feels more like a pair of wax coated jeans and not like leather, let alone that sumptuous S/S 04 chèvre leather... but unlike my favourite pair of wax coated jeans, this bag leaves an unpleasant residue on my hands after touching it.

After 7 months, I do not feel like going back/forth with fixes, or sending the bag back for even more work, as those two issues cannot be reversed.

For $318, this bag is now like a full-on Monet — from far away, it’s ok, but up close, it’s a big old mess.

If anyone is looking to purchase a semi-destroyed bag in hopes that magic can be worked to make it look like-new again, just keep in mind that even if your repair person is super talented, I don't believe it's fully possible to fully restore a bag to its full former glory.

You're not alone! I sent my pommier City G21 to LBM in January for handles/corner repair and odor removal ONLY but they REPAINTED my bag without asking me first. This bag achieved glory when it faded and the leather was smooth and supple but it's a flat veinless textureless boring green bag now. Barbara looked at my bag when it arrived and said the color looked pretty good so it never occurred to me that she would repaint it, let alone without asking me first.
Not only that. Look at the photos. The handles are a mess. The laces? They are of two different shades of green. The strap was not repainted and retains the original color. And one of the rivets got a coat of paint too! All for $319.
The odor is gone. I'm surprised!
I suspect Barbara hired help and that inexperienced person handled our repairs.

Totally respect that LMB has a positive following on here, so this is just my hot take...

Purchased an S/S 04 Seafoam City in July 2024 (one of those whacky odd Bals with brown edge paint!) and sent it off to LMB in the beginning of August 2024.

I just got it back at the beginning of March 2025.

What I asked for:
1- Handle restoration: While not broken or torn, the handles were pretty gross and on their way to tearing at the bases. I still wanted to keep the original handles.
2- Corner work: Two were totally bald to the piping, and the other two were very rubbed/almost balding.
3- Redo the edgepaint: Because I’m delulu, I thought this was an easy ask. Three months in, I asked to cancel that because I realized it would be close to impossible, and I wanted the bag back sooner, lol...

I also repeatedly and specifically asked for the body of the bag not to be recoloured.

Before:
View attachment 6147354

View attachment 6147355

After:

View attachment 6147356

View attachment 6147357

The handles are impressive and, despite the paint on the laces, I am happy with how they came out.

However, the body of this bag has now seemingly/likely been painted (I understand how perhaps the corners and handles made the body of the bag look weird, but it would've been preferable to have the option to say "yes" or "no" to this, since I repeatedly asked for the body not to be touched) and the corners and all the edges/piping are coated in something that cracks/isn't leather.

On the whole, this S/S 04 Seafoam City feels more like a pair of wax coated jeans and not like leather, let alone that sumptuous S/S 04 chèvre leather... but unlike my favourite pair of wax coated jeans, this bag leaves an unpleasant residue on my hands after touching it.

After 7 months, I do not feel like going back/forth with fixes, or sending the bag back for even more work, as those two issues cannot be reversed.

For $318, this bag is now like a full-on Monet — from far away, it’s ok, but up close, it’s a big old mess.

If anyone is looking to purchase a semi-destroyed bag in hopes that magic can be worked to make it look like-new again, just keep in mind that even if your repair person is super talented, I don't believe it's fully possible to fully restore a bag to its full former glory.

You're not alone! I sent my pommier City G21 to LMB in January for handles/corner repair and odor removal ONLY but they REPAINTED my bag without asking me first. This bag achieved glory when it faded and the leather was smooth and supple but it's a flat veinless textureless boring green bag now. Barbara looked at my bag when it arrived and said the color looked pretty good so it never occurred to me that she would repaint it, let alone without asking me first.
Not only that. Look at the photos. The handles are a mess. The laces? They are of two different shades of green. The strap was not repainted and retains the original color. And one of the rivets got a coat of paint too! All for $319.
The odor is gone. I'm surprised!

 

[Galittlewave]

You're not alone! I sent my pommier City G21 to LBM in January for handles/corner repair and odor removal ONLY but they REPAINTED my bag without asking me first. This bag achieved glory when it faded and the leather was smooth and supple but it's a flat veinless textureless boring green bag now. Barbara looked at my bag when it arrived and said the color looked pretty good so it never occurred to me that she would repaint it, let alone without asking me first.
Not only that. Look at the photos. The handles are a mess. The laces? They are of two different shades of green. The strap was not repainted and retains the original color. And one of the rivets got a coat of paint too! All for $319.
The odor is gone. I'm surprised!
I suspect Barbara hired help and that inexperienced person handled our repairs.View attachment 6149538View attachment 6149539View attachment 6149541View attachment 6149543View attachment 6149545View attachment 6149537


You're not alone! I sent my pommier City G21 to LMB in January for handles/corner repair and odor removal ONLY but they REPAINTED my bag without asking me first. This bag achieved glory when it faded and the leather was smooth and supple but it's a flat veinless textureless boring green bag now. Barbara looked at my bag when it arrived and said the color looked pretty good so it never occurred to me that she would repaint it, let alone without asking me first.
Not only that. Look at the photos. The handles are a mess. The laces? They are of two different shades of green. The strap was not repainted and retains the original color. And one of the rivets got a coat of paint too! All for $319.
The odor is gone. I'm surprised!View attachment 6149537View attachment 6149538View attachment 6149539View attachment 6149541View attachment 6149543View attachment 6149545View attachment 6149545

I am shocked that your bag came back like this! I think you should contact her and let her know so she can attempt to correct somehow. I am so nervous now - I sent her 3 bags this week for strictly HANDLE cleaning and sealing *one needs new laces* (which so many people recommend and rave about). I sent her a text right now stating that under no circumstance should she touch the body of any bags I sent in. Some of these bags are so hard to find that if they were ruined I would be so very very devastated.
Did she send you the after repair photos before you paid?