Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[tealocean]

Updat on the Manor flap. 48 hours and 2 coats of CPR later, and I think the flap seems fine. Light is bad so it looks black sorry
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This is gorgeous! It looks decadent!

 

[tealocean]

Hey, guess what? Our rehab work is considered good for the environment!

I watched an old episode of "What Not to Wear" the other day called "Tara: Going Green" (Season 6, Episode 18; 2008) about a young mother from Las Vegas who runs a recycling center and is very passionate about protecting the environment, but she dressed like a slump in old sweats and other Ill-fitting items that she found in the recycling center and thrift stores.

The whole show was about eco-friendly fashion and that often means wearing "animal-free" products, but I also learned that repurposing vintage clothing is also considered good for the environment - even if the vintage items are not animal-free - because it gives them a new life and keeps them out of landfills.

They demonstrated that shopping for vintage clothes that fit well can be both economical and stylish. I was sorry that they didn't showcase any re-purposed bags but it was still an interesting episode.

Cool! It's really neat to think about when enjoying a pre-loved bag. It could be sitting there in a closet or in the trash, but thankfully the previous owner was willing to take the time to make sure the bag got to live on.

 

[aerinha]

This is gorgeous! It looks decadent!

It is super nice leather and the color is fantastic. She didn’t feel dry so I did one coat yesterday but she sucked down the CPR today so I guess more will be needed.

 

[Morgan_Bellini]

I don't like buying things I can't get/order in a regular store, but the H is my one exception because for me it works better and is such a savings even over vinegar. It was such a happy surprise that it took years and years to go through 2 bottles. Now you've given me more ideas for it! I just love it for wiping down all the sinks and counters, mirrors & windows.

I love the stuff! I guess I'm just so used to using it for literally everything that I didn't think twice about squirting it all over the Manor. I'm glad it sorta worked on the ink. I wanted to apply it straight to the ink and let it set overnight but I was worried the ink would spread and I'd have a nasty surprise in the morning.

 

[katev]

Cool! It's really neat to think about when enjoying a pre-loved bag. It could be sitting there in a closet or in the trash, but thankfully the previous owner was willing to take the time to make sure the bag got to live on.

I often think that people would hang on to their quality bags longer if they only knew how easy it can be to rehab them, especially bags that were clearly loved and well-cared for, like my recent rehab of a Soho-laced flap bag in buckskin.

I found it in a charity resale shop and it came with the dust bag and the original coach box. You could tell that is was well-used but cherished and it had gotten rather dry, faded, and scratched and a bit tarnished and grubby. A bath, some conditioner, and a little TLC perked it right it up almost as good as new. I think that the original owner would have been sorry she let it go if she knew how easy it was to revive her!

 

[tealocean]

I often think that people would hang on to their quality bags longer if they only knew how easy it can be to rehab them, especially bags that were clearly loved and well-cared for, like my recent rehab of a Soho-laced flap bag in buckskin.

I found it in a charity resale shop and it came with the dust bag and the original coach box. You could tell that is was well-used but cherished and it had gotten rather dry, faded, and scratched and a bit tarnished and grubby. A bath, some conditioner, and a little TLC perked it right it up almost as good as new. I think that the original owner would have been sorry she let it go if she knew how easy it was to revive her!

View attachment 4403611

Wow! I wish I'd known and found a great one years ago, knowing how to care for the leather and make it last.

 

[whateve]

I often think that people would hang on to their quality bags longer if they only knew how easy it can be to rehab them, especially bags that were clearly loved and well-cared for, like my recent rehab of a Soho-laced flap bag in buckskin.

I found it in a charity resale shop and it came with the dust bag and the original coach box. You could tell that is was well-used but cherished and it had gotten rather dry, faded, and scratched and a bit tarnished and grubby. A bath, some conditioner, and a little TLC perked it right it up almost as good as new. I think that the original owner would have been sorry she let it go if she knew how easy it was to revive her!

View attachment 4403611

I'm still crying about the Coach bags I donated in the 80s.

 

[southernbelle43]

I often think that people would hang on to their quality bags longer if they only knew how easy it can be to rehab them, especially bags that were clearly loved and well-cared for, like my recent rehab of a Soho-laced flap bag in buckskin.

I found it in a charity resale shop and it came with the dust bag and the original coach box. You could tell that is was well-used but cherished and it had gotten rather dry, faded, and scratched and a bit tarnished and grubby. A bath, some conditioner, and a little TLC perked it right it up almost as good as new. I think that the original owner would have been sorry she let it go if she knew how easy it was to revive her!

View attachment 4403611

My goodness that is gorgeous.

 

[aerinha]

I have a couple rehabs in progress. The foot Court bag is on hold while I wait for deliveries, but I wanted to share my success with her stain. I knew from the seller’s pics that she had a big mark on the interior bottom (I did not know whatever it was also got on the creed side wall in a couple places, making the leather hard).

Before I decided to dunk, I wiped her with Lexols and, I thought, that did little on the stain in spite of my vigorus swipes at it. So when I tried vinegar on her horrible brown brass d-ring, I tried giving the stain a couple wipes with my vinegar soaked paper towel and faded it (and the dye) a bit

After dunking and a couple coats of CPR, when she had dried enough that I was able to tell what was going on, I am pleased to report the stain is mostly gone and the dye returned to the pale spots. Whatever it was left some bumps in the leather, and the creed wall spots took a lot of CPR to soften

 

[Eugooglizer]

I just finished rehab on my first Court bag, made in Costa Rica in 2000, so not quite vintage. This is only my 2nd rehab, and even though I knew it was possible from seeing all the pictures here, I'm still in awe of how well the old Coach leather responds to being bathed and conditioned. This bag seems to have been VERY heavily used, as evidenced by the wear marks on the D-rings that the strap snaps onto, and by the copious amounts of dirt and grime that came off during the bath. I wasn't able to get rid of the wrinkled leather on the handle, and there's a few pen marks near the top and on one side that I didn't want to mess with, but I don't think they're very noticeable now that the dark color of the leather has been restored.

Bag was washed in very warm water with Ivory liquid and scrubbed lightly with a soft washcloth and rinsed thoroughly. Stuffed with paper towels and hand towels to dry. I used 2 coats of Apple conditioner, 2 coats of Blackrock, 2 coats of Obenauf's LP, and 1 coat of Blackrock, waiting at least 18-24 hrs between coats and buffing with a soft cloth and horsehair brush in between the last few coats as well. Hardware was cleaned using Brasso and q-tips.

Before pics are from the original ebay listing.

 

[aerinha]

I just finished rehab on my first Court bag, made in Costa Rica in 2000, so not quite vintage. This is only my 2nd rehab, and even though I knew it was possible from seeing all the pictures here, I'm still in awe of how well the old Coach leather responds to being bathed and conditioned. This bag seems to have been VERY heavily used, as evidenced by the wear marks on the D-rings that the strap snaps onto, and by the copious amounts of dirt and grime that came off during the bath. I wasn't able to get rid of the wrinkled leather on the handle, and there's a few pen marks near the top and on one side that I didn't want to mess with, but I don't think they're very noticeable now that the dark color of the leather has been restored.

Bag was washed in very warm water with Ivory liquid and scrubbed lightly with a soft washcloth and rinsed thoroughly. Stuffed with paper towels and hand towels to dry. I used 2 coats of Apple conditioner, 2 coats of Blackrock, 2 coats of Obenauf's LP, and 1 coat of Blackrock, waiting at least 18-24 hrs between coats and buffing with a soft cloth and horsehair brush in between the last few coats as well. Hardware was cleaned using Brasso and q-tips.

Before pics are from the original ebay listing.

Wow! I did not expect mahogany or such a transformation. Great job!

 

[Eugooglizer]

I have a couple rehabs in progress. The foot Court bag is on hold while I wait for deliveries, but I wanted to share my success with her stain. I knew from the seller’s pics that she had a big mark on the interior bottom (I did not know whatever it was also got on the creed side wall in a couple places, making the leather hard).
View attachment 4403848
Before I decided to dunk, I wiped her with Lexols and, I thought, that did little on the stain in spite of my vigorus swipes at it. So when I tried vinegar on her horrible brown brass d-ring, I tried giving the stain a couple wipes with my vinegar soaked paper towel and faded it (and the dye) a bit
View attachment 4403851
After dunking and a couple coats of CPR, when she had dried enough that I was able to tell what was going on, I am pleased to report the stain is mostly gone and the dye returned to the pale spots. Whatever it was left some bumps in the leather, and the creed wall spots took a lot of CPR to soften
View attachment 4403849

Wow, the stains are practically gone--great job!

 

[Eugooglizer]

Wow! I did not expect mahogany or such a transformation. Great job!

Thanks! I wasn't sure what color to expect either lol. I'm still amazed at how much color was restored just from washing and conditioning the leather!

 

[Morgan_Bellini]

I just finished rehab on my first Court bag, made in Costa Rica in 2000, so not quite vintage. This is only my 2nd rehab, and even though I knew it was possible from seeing all the pictures here, I'm still in awe of how well the old Coach leather responds to being bathed and conditioned. This bag seems to have been VERY heavily used, as evidenced by the wear marks on the D-rings that the strap snaps onto, and by the copious amounts of dirt and grime that came off during the bath. I wasn't able to get rid of the wrinkled leather on the handle, and there's a few pen marks near the top and on one side that I didn't want to mess with, but I don't think they're very noticeable now that the dark color of the leather has been restored.

Bag was washed in very warm water with Ivory liquid and scrubbed lightly with a soft washcloth and rinsed thoroughly. Stuffed with paper towels and hand towels to dry. I used 2 coats of Apple conditioner, 2 coats of Blackrock, 2 coats of Obenauf's LP, and 1 coat of Blackrock, waiting at least 18-24 hrs between coats and buffing with a soft cloth and horsehair brush in between the last few coats as well. Hardware was cleaned using Brasso and q-tips.

Before pics are from the original ebay listing.

Well if that's not a breathtaking rehab I don't know what is. Absolutely beautiful! Well done!!

Aaaaaaand I just ordered some Brasso. Thanks for the help! I am having trouble with the hardware on a bag.

 

[Catbird9]

I just finished rehab on my first Court bag, made in Costa Rica in 2000, so not quite vintage. This is only my 2nd rehab, and even though I knew it was possible from seeing all the pictures here, I'm still in awe of how well the old Coach leather responds to being bathed and conditioned. This bag seems to have been VERY heavily used, as evidenced by the wear marks on the D-rings that the strap snaps onto, and by the copious amounts of dirt and grime that came off during the bath. I wasn't able to get rid of the wrinkled leather on the handle, and there's a few pen marks near the top and on one side that I didn't want to mess with, but I don't think they're very noticeable now that the dark color of the leather has been restored.

Bag was washed in very warm water with Ivory liquid and scrubbed lightly with a soft washcloth and rinsed thoroughly. Stuffed with paper towels and hand towels to dry. I used 2 coats of Apple conditioner, 2 coats of Blackrock, 2 coats of Obenauf's LP, and 1 coat of Blackrock, waiting at least 18-24 hrs between coats and buffing with a soft cloth and horsehair brush in between the last few coats as well. Hardware was cleaned using Brasso and q-tips.

Before pics are from the original ebay listing.

Beautiful job! Yes, it's so rewarding when you see how these bags respond.