I didn't read the description, just scrolled through the photos. This bag is beyond "distressed", it's just plain rotted. True about the cost - $90.00 plus shipping is pricey hardware and there's no hangtag to help justify the cost. Poor bag - sadly, a landfill item. If someone does buy it, the dunk will have to be all CPR and hope it doesn't become dust in the bottom of the sink.
Coach Rehab and Rescue Club
- Thread starter greenpixie
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
One of the professional rehabbers I know told me it would probably crumble in her hands and it was too much for even her skills. And she works magic.
I was thinking the same thing myself
I'm sure that is what would happen.
Hi, I would like to seek some advice on vintage Coach bag restoration. Is color restoration possible? As I had been inform by the shop that unfortunately the bag is non-pigmented leather and color restoration is not possible. It is only possible with pigmented color dye.
As I don't have much knowledge on leather goods, so I would like to confirm if Coach vintage bag are made by non-pigmented leather so that I can provide better details of the bag condition when asking for quotation on the restoration? Here are some photos of the bags...thanks in advance
As I don't have much knowledge on leather goods, so I would like to confirm if Coach vintage bag are made by non-pigmented leather so that I can provide better details of the bag condition when asking for quotation on the restoration? Here are some photos of the bags...thanks in advance
If this was my Regina bag, I would wash and condition it to see how much of the colour could be restored. I doubt it will help much, but it is still a good start. If I wasn't satisfied with the result I would dye it to the original colour which I believe is lime green in your case.
Here is an example of a non-faded lime green bag which I borrowed from the internet:
So pretty!
I dyed this vintage Small Shopper 9993 with Leather Touch-up Dye because it was covered in spots. I had sent the original hangtag to the company so they could mix the perfect match for me at an additional cost. Although it was an expensive investment the bag looks fabulous now.
The dye lasts for 5 years in the tube and I have 5 aqua bags to use it on if need be. 
LEATHER REPAIR KITS|Leather Colour chart, Bycast leather repair Canada|Leather furniture scratch repair
Leather Dye Repair Kit, Leather Repair Products Canada, how to fix leather furniture. leather repair kit. Best leather furniture cleaner. Leather furniture scratch repair.
Good luck! Let us know what you decide!
If this was my Regina bag, I would wash and condition it to see how much of the colour could be restored. I doubt it will help much, but it is still a good start. If I wasn't satisfied with the result I would dye it to the original colour which I believe is lime green in your case.
Here is an example of a non-faded lime green bag which I borrowed from the internet:
So pretty!
View attachment 5598947
I dyed this vintage Small Shopper 9993 with Leather Touch-up Dye because it was covered in spots. I had sent the original hangtag to the company so they could mix the perfect match for me at an additional cost. Although it was an expensive investment the bag looks fabulous now.
View attachment 5598939
LEATHER REPAIR KITS|Leather Colour chart, Bycast leather repair Canada|Leather furniture scratch repair
Leather Dye Repair Kit, Leather Repair Products Canada, how to fix leather furniture. leather repair kit. Best leather furniture cleaner. Leather furniture scratch repair.www.leathertouchupdye.com
Good luck! Let us know what you decide!
Thanks LadaZuri for your advice. Would you know if Coach bag leather is considered non-pigmented leather and if it is re-dye with pigmented dye, will it affect the bag as I sent photos to some of the leather repair shop, their reply is only possible to re-dye with pigmented dye.If this was my Regina bag, I would wash and condition it to see how much of the colour could be restored. I doubt it will help much, but it is still a good start. If I wasn't satisfied with the result I would dye it to the original colour which I believe is lime green in your case.
Here is an example of a non-faded lime green bag which I borrowed from the internet:
So pretty!
View attachment 5598947
I dyed this vintage Small Shopper 9993 with Leather Touch-up Dye because it was covered in spots. I had sent the original hangtag to the company so they could mix the perfect match for me at an additional cost. Although it was an expensive investment the bag looks fabulous now.
View attachment 5598939
LEATHER REPAIR KITS|Leather Colour chart, Bycast leather repair Canada|Leather furniture scratch repair
Leather Dye Repair Kit, Leather Repair Products Canada, how to fix leather furniture. leather repair kit. Best leather furniture cleaner. Leather furniture scratch repair.
Good luck! Let us know what you decide!
I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that. The dye I used is for aniline leather and the sealer is built in. Perhaps @LunaSilver, @Coachaddict4020 or @Hoku44 could chime in. They are more experienced and have had beautiful some successes.
I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that. The dye I used is for aniline leather and the sealer is built in. Perhaps @LunaSilver, @Coachaddict4020 or @Hoku44 could chime in. They are more experienced and have had beautiful some successes.
One of my bag friends has a lime green Regina. Her’s remained the same post dunk but she didn’t mind the colour so she never dyed it. Colours like aqua, lime, periwinkle etc. seem to be painted on. You would have to buy the kind of dye @LadaZuri got & applied on her aqua shopper- in thin layers to cover any wear & provide an even colour refresh.
I highly recommend leathertouchupdye.com as well because that’s what I’ve used on past dye projects. It’s expensive but it works.
Super liquidy dyes like Fiebing's won’t work on your bag, they won’t absorb properly on your bag’s surface.
You can also search “CPR acrylic refresh” in the forum’s search bar if you wanna see a very affordable way some people have colour refreshed their bags. I personally don’t use that method because I can never get it to look right.
More opinions welcome.
Hi @vintagecoachcollector ! From my research, this is what I understand about vintage Coach pure aniline leather- the leather is dyed with soluble dyes in vats so that the color goes all the way through giving it a rich color. In order to maintain that natural feel, no protective coating or surface pigmentation is applied. Due to the lack of pigmentation applied, it's prone to scratching, staining and fading.
The leather dye that Ladzuri mentioned - Leather Touch Up Dye (fabulous product by the way!) is a pigmented dye with a sealer built in. LTUD, when applied correctly leaves the leather just as soft and supple as before. I think that's what you are asking - if a pigmented dye will affect the feel of the leather - the answer is yes and no. Yes, the leather can feel different depending on the quality of the product applied as well as the application method. If you go to Amazon and do a search for leather restorers, a plethora of cheap dyes will pop up.
Translucent liquidy dyes like Fiebings and Saphir do not have a sealer in the dye and unless you apply Resolene, you will encounter dye transfer or worse, if the bag gets wet, it will streak and run. Resolene definitely affects the feel of the leather. It feels stiffer and fake - a painted feel. Because these dyes are translucent, all imperfections on the leather will show through and I think that's another reason why the leather shop recommended using a pigmented dye. The leather is no longer "fresh and new" as it was when it was originally dyed in the vat. The color will not be consistent.
**EDIT**
Totally agree with CA and Ladazuri that Leather Touch Up Dye is incredible! I've used it on a few bags with great success!
Last edited:
This is a coincidence as I rehabbing a Waverly in the same color this weekend. Mine is less faded but very dirty. The first bag I have found in this color! I had to work hard at it in the bath and really couldn't get the dirt from under the handles. I was wandering if anyone had any ideas for a safe soap to do that beyond dish soap and castille soap that I have tried so far. I am considering using obenaufs oil on the bag when it's done to see if the color might darken a shade but I'm nervous about that.
Before
After got some color loss on the corners I may have to touch up with acrylic
I would personally recommend these two leather cleaners:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C42M54G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
If you choose to buy this product, it needs to be foamy to work best. I poured the product into one of those foaming hand soap dispensers.
The other is by Leather Touch Up Dye - again their products are just outstanding - expensive but outstanding.
https://www.leathertouchupdye.com/p...ng/small-leather-cleaning-and-protection-kit/
I had a similar problem with body oil build up on the underside of handles on a Sea and a Parchment pebbled bag even after the dunk. Try applying a dab of undiluted blue (has grease dissolving properties) Dawn detergent directly to a soft damp toothbrush & gently scrubbing the underside, a section at a time. My concern was that the blue detergent color might transfer to the light leather (which it did not), so make sure the toothbrush is not completely dry. And don't scrub too hard, as the stitching will be wet and more likely to fray or break. It was a tedious process and even though all of the embedded body oil was not completely removed, I felt enough of it was to continue the rehab process. At some point I may go back and make another attempt. But thanks to previous users who must not have cleaned the bags, the body oil has probably been there far too long to ever disappear completely.
If anyone else has a fix, I'd love to hear about it!