Hi ladies and gents, do you wrap your handles? I always wrap mine, but lately I notice the handle becomes dryer than the rest of the bag, and of course, it doesn’t have the same beautiful patina as the rest of the bag. However, the craft lady is quite adamant about having the handle wrapped. So my question is... do you wrap yours or leave it naked? If naked, how much darker would the bottom of the handle darken compared to the rest of the bag? Thanks in advance!
Calling Barenia owners: To wrap, or not to wrap?
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I prefer Barenia in its beautiful natural patina state. It is a saddle leather. It is like dressing up a saddle. I love my bags twilliless unless it is a light colored bag or special need for a twilly. I love to see the pure craftsmanship of a bag. Guess I am a purist at heart. I think there is already a thread about naked bags vs, wrapped in twillies.
Oh yes I remember that thread... thanks for the reminder! I am looking for specific inputs for barenia owner, since I am only interested how this particular leather ages with naked handles. I noticed with my barenia wallet, there are certain spots that gets more darkened than the others, so I wonder how badly it will get darkened without having the handle wrapped? I have yet to see one with really darkened handle, hence my curiosity, and want to weight the pros and cons, specifically for barenia.
I never wrap the handles of my barenia bags and they have not gotten dark.
It's all about what is on your hands and arms. Oils and lotions will darken the handles. I am a HUGE lotion person but so far, because I have been careful with my Barenia, no darkening at all.
I tried twillies but I really dislike them on bags and cringe when I carry them, so I keep black grosgrain ribbons (the ones that come with Net-a-Porter boxes) to wrap my Barenia handles if needed. It's a bit cleaner look. The bag is still waaaay nicer "in the nude".
I don't mind if the handles darken a bit, I just don't want them to actually look dirty/worn.
Now, DH's Barenia HAC is fairly new and does have some darkening on the handle underside, but he wants that to happen and if anything is encouraging all forms of patina. You've met my DH lol, he has a very specific style!
I tried twillies but I really dislike them on bags and cringe when I carry them, so I keep black grosgrain ribbons (the ones that come with Net-a-Porter boxes) to wrap my Barenia handles if needed. It's a bit cleaner look. The bag is still waaaay nicer "in the nude".
I don't mind if the handles darken a bit, I just don't want them to actually look dirty/worn.
Now, DH's Barenia HAC is fairly new and does have some darkening on the handle underside, but he wants that to happen and if anything is encouraging all forms of patina. You've met my DH lol, he has a very specific style!
I have an old barenia HaC. The handles are only slightly darker than the body and you have to study to see the difference. Very slight.
I wrap when I see slight color change and it to me.,,,it seems the twillies absorb some oil. I leave on for a couple days. I do not store bag with them when out of rotation.
I wrap when I see slight color change and it to me.,,,it seems the twillies absorb some oil. I leave on for a couple days. I do not store bag with them when out of rotation.
Three years ago, I bought a fully-patina’d 1999 Barenia Kelly 35. I don’t know how the bag’s previous owner(s?) handled it, but it seems to me the bag got a lot of use before wrapping handles became a thing.
The handles are essentially the same color as the bag. I have to believe this is part of the “magic” of barenia and how it ages and absorbs oils.
Occasionally I’ll wrap the handle for a different look, but usually I leave it bare. To me, it feels like barenia is meant to be worn bare so the leather does absorb the oils from your hands. It is truly a carefree bag for me!
The handles are essentially the same color as the bag. I have to believe this is part of the “magic” of barenia and how it ages and absorbs oils.
Occasionally I’ll wrap the handle for a different look, but usually I leave it bare. To me, it feels like barenia is meant to be worn bare so the leather does absorb the oils from your hands. It is truly a carefree bag for me!
I've always kept my handles wrapped because I don't like the idea of my sweaty palms carrying that bag lol. DH has a barenia wallet that has worn beautifully, but I don't want my handles to look dirty (I've seen that happen with LV for example).
about your DH. Mine is exactly the same, in terms of his barenia. He loves the fact that his barenia wallet is very, very, very worn, despite he’s only been using it for 5 or 6 years. That thing is completely darkened! While i also love that look, and the shine from patina, I want it to occur to my entire bag, not just the bottom of the handle. >_< However, having the handle wrapped has the opposite effect: while the bag of the bag has this beautiful patina on the way, the handle looks like in its original state, and it’s a bit dryer than the rest of the bag. Thanks so much for your input! I will take the twily off for the fall/ winter and see what happens in the spring. I do want the handle to have a bit of patina.
That’s interesting about the twilies absorbing some oil! I can def see that, as the handle is drier than the rest of the bag.
thank EH (and omg you are back!!!!)! I remember reading your posts almost 12 years ago. So glad you chimed in. 
Thank you @catsinthebag! I will also leave mine bare for a few months and see if the handle can reverse the dryness a bit. I cannot wait till the handle becomes the same color as the bag as well, and hope it will patina evenly, like the bag does.
Barenia is also my carefree bag as well! I love how it has become the bag to use while it’s raining.
That has been my concern as well! And yes, I know exactly what you were referring to re: LV. For now I’m going to have it bare and will let you know after a few months how it goes.
I don't like twillys on any bag, so I leave the handles naked. My only caution with Barenia is not to put on hand lotion when I'm going to carry my B bags.
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Ha! My DH has the exact same thing with his Barenia wallet. The thing is blackened with use and denim transfer. Funny thing is our local craftsman has the identical model to DH's, in the identical state. When we go into the store they sit around together and stare at their Barenia patina
it looks great for a rugged guy look, but not so much on a Birkin. My SA in London (yes I have one still) has a Barenia B she's had for close to 20 years. She knocks it around madly and it still looks great. The handles on hers seem fine.
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Ha! My DH has the exact same thing with his Barenia wallet. The thing is blackened with use and denim transfer. Funny thing is our local craftsman has the identical model to DH's, in the identical state. When we go into the store they sit around together and stare at their Barenia patina
My SA in London (yes I have one still) has a Barenia B she's had for close to 20 years. She knocks it around madly and it still looks great. The handles on hers seem fine.
Ha! That’s hilarious about men and their beat up barenia. He saw my barenia sgd and said something along the lines of how his was better because it’s more used.
I have to agree with him! (Although his doesn’t smell like new barenia anymore hahahahaha) Next time when you see your SA would you please ask to take a pix of hers? I haven’t really seen one used regularly for 10+ years and I am SO curious how it would look! And so glad to hear about the handle situation. I’ve been using mine today without twilies and immediate I feel the leather is not as dry already (I guess I have oily hands?), and thought how silly I was to have it always wrapped: the best part of barenia is the hand feel and I have been denied myself of exactly that!