I agree, conditioner would help, but it wouldn't restore the color or texture. There is a small hole in one corner of the piping (lower right in this picture):
If you get it, don't use alcohol or acetone to clean the inside lining.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
I agree, conditioner would help, but it wouldn't restore the color or texture. There is a small hole in one corner of the piping (lower right in this picture):
If you get it, don't use alcohol or acetone to clean the inside lining.
Quite a transformation! Nice!
Thanks, y’all. I went back over it with a lighter (yes, an actual lighter) after doing some more research and it seems to have really helped the shag/nap be less...obvious?
What a shame. I wouldn't fix it, I would give it a pass, but if I wanted to see it restored I would ask a professional cobbler if it would be possible to create and attach a new strap.
Last edited:
I am too lazy to attempt but I just had an idea. I am thinking leather pieces from another same color ruined bag can be cut to shape and restitched to replace the cut off pieces. Except I don't have another scrap bag in that color (taupe?) to use as a source of material. Lol.
It's really too bad about the strap mutilation. I don't think it would be worth the time and cost to try to rig up a replacement strap. Someone could buy it to practice their rehab skills on, if they didn't care about the long strap and were happy with it being just a hand-carry satchel. It would probably look pretty nice after a bath, reshaping and conditioning.
Just an FYI, I usually use Lexol and Leather Therapy on the Italian Coach Madison Bags and those products generally work well for me. If I use any creamy or thick products I have to be careful to apply very lightly and buff well, so that the gunk doesn't get stuck in the caviar leather surface.
Never got around to posting this! I didn't do much and there's not much change; I just wiped down with vinegar and moisturized with Blackrock (two coats) and Leather CPR (3 coats?). I think my biggest successes were lightening up the water stain on the bottom and getting the bag back to its original structure. I used a cotton round to saturate the whole bag with vinegar, and let it air dry. I worked with a panel at a time just to make sure it didn't get ruined. I tried to avoid wiping because I was scared of removing too much red dye. Getting rid of the water stain took a couple of tries with the vinegar. I got it to reshape by completely stuffing it while it got soaked and dried in vinegar and later conditioner, and I left the stuffing in for days even after it was dry from everything. After vinegar soaking, I realized there was not much more I could do about the darkened spots so I just moved onto conditioning. I still think it could use another coat or two - still feels a bit parched!
Anyway, here's a before picture of the loose structure (from the original Etsy listing), and of the water stain. And then pictures of the after, plus how I plan to style it (with my belt bag around the waist and tiny shopper in hand!)
It's weird how it looks intensely red in some lights, and more subdued in others! I love how you can see the natural striations in the shopper's leather. And you can really tell the shopper is a much older lady than my belt bag haha. If anyone has tips or comments, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Anyway, here's a before picture of the loose structure (from the original Etsy listing), and of the water stain. And then pictures of the after, plus how I plan to style it (with my belt bag around the waist and tiny shopper in hand!)
It's weird how it looks intensely red in some lights, and more subdued in others! I love how you can see the natural striations in the shopper's leather. And you can really tell the shopper is a much older lady than my belt bag haha. If anyone has tips or comments, I'd love to hear your thoughts!Attachments
Never got around to posting this! I didn't do much and there's not much change; I just wiped down with vinegar and moisturized with Blackrock (two coats) and Leather CPR (3 coats?). I think my biggest successes were lightening up the water stain on the bottom and getting the bag back to its original structure. I used a cotton round to saturate the whole bag with vinegar, and let it air dry. I worked with a panel at a time just to make sure it didn't get ruined. I tried to avoid wiping because I was scared of removing too much red dye. Getting rid of the water stain took a couple of tries with the vinegar. I got it to reshape by completely stuffing it while it got soaked and dried in vinegar and later conditioner, and I left the stuffing in for days even after it was dry from everything. After vinegar soaking, I realized there was not much more I could do about the darkened spots so I just moved onto conditioning. I still think it could use another coat or two - still feels a bit parched!
Anyway, here's a before picture of the loose structure (from the original Etsy listing), and of the water stain. And then pictures of the after, plus how I plan to style it (with my belt bag around the waist and tiny shopper in hand!)
It looks amazing, great work; what a beautiful classic bag. You might try Leather Therapy Restorer and Conditioner if it still seems parched, but it looks great just the way it is, good job! With special and delicate bags I usually try to test products first on areas that don't show, before applying to the entire bag.
I would use fabric paint to fix the small hole. I don't think it would be difficult. You could also use fabric paint to correct the color on the edges as it has a similar sheen to the original leather.
Great job! I would have been so afraid to use a lighter! I can't imagine how a bag this new could get in such terrible condition in such a short period of time.
It is beyond my skills too. The only way I would attempt it is if I had the identical pieces from another bag, even if they were the wrong color, as I could probably paint or dye them to match. Why would someone do that? If you don't want the strap, all you have to do is unclip it. At least leave the rings.