Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[Tilis]

Coach never had a policy as far as I know that returns couldn't be resold, but if they were returned damaged I can see that they would do this.

This makes sense, but what the seller says makes 0 sense. If they were slashed because they were damaged, this implies that damaged bags were resold by the store, but could not be returned once more...lol trying to wrap my head around what the seller said

The seller tells this story: "My mother managed to coach leather store in the 90s and early 2000 One returns were made. It was required to put a slash through the leather indicating it’s already been returned and can’t be returned again." He had no buyer and he's listed them again: https://www.ebay.com/itm/185703759260

 

[SJAllison]

Hi and thanks for the reply! I went on both Coach sites and right now they have nothing. I also looked on several re-seller sites looking and have had little luck. I agree, the straps with the clips more than likely not provide a pleasing aesthetic. I looked at some mens Vintage Coach belts. The canvas/wool belts with the leather ends could work providing I could find a shoe repair person who knew what they were doing. I hope someone out there has a solution that I'm overlooking. When the arts and crafts shows start up again this summer, I will pay special attention to the Leather Crafters out there! Maybe someone can custom make something I want.

Beautiful bag! Ok, probably a dumb question but, are there any vintage coach crossbody bags with a buckle strap that could be swapped?

 

[SJAllison]

Any ideas are welcome for what to do here with this Madison Sutton satchel. It had something that spilled on it at one time and ate away the surface. I tried leather CPR it had no effect. So it's not something sitting on the surface. How do I minimize this appearance? Or do I pull out my black dye?

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Do you think some recoloring balm would work? I know a little about glove tanned leather (I’m learning) but I know absolutely nothing about pebbled leather.

 

[SJAllison]

Hello all! I have a Sheridan Wendell tote that I'd like to fix up before I pass it along to a new owner. I've attached pics showing main areas of concern. My rehab experience is pretty limited and my go-to product (Apple Conditioner) didn't have much of an effect. I would greatly appreciate any advice and/ or product recommendations! View attachment 5677968View attachment 5677969

You’d have to be careful around the stitching but otherwise, you might be able to get the color back with some recoloring balm.

 

[Chanelleno7]

I would love advice on what I think will be my first major rehab bag - it is a red Station bag, made in USA in 1995 (already had it authenticated here and am so grateful!) I've read this thread off and on and have admired everyone's work, but I've been too scared to try it on my other two vintage Coach bags (navy Metropolis and mahogany Willis). This one is unfortunately in worse shape than I was expecting. Was it a bad deal for $50? There is no strap but I'm planning on painting another strap to match - I'm well versed in color matching and painting leather, but not in washing and restoring vintage Coach! I have read that red bags are harder to rehab, so I'm wondering if I should avoid washing this one? It has a pretty significant water mark on the front and I don't know if washing would make it worse. There's also a small pen mark near the clasp and I've read posts about washing making pen marks worse. I'm so nervous! I also don't want the color any more dull because I feel like it must have already faded with age - it's brighter under the flap. All I've done so far is stuff and condition it. When I conditioned it a few darker spots developed - I'm assuming that is just where the purse was more worn and the leather under was showing through, but I wanted to make sure it didn't look like mold to anyone. The hardware is extremely scratched and worn - I have brasso but I think it's worn through the brass so will brasso do any good? Any and all advice is very appreciated!

 

[whateve]

I would love advice on what I think will be my first major rehab bag - it is a red Station bag, made in USA in 1995 (already had it authenticated here and am so grateful!) I've read this thread off and on and have admired everyone's work, but I've been too scared to try it on my other two vintage Coach bags (navy Metropolis and mahogany Willis). This one is unfortunately in worse shape than I was expecting. Was it a bad deal for $50? There is no strap but I'm planning on painting another strap to match - I'm well versed in color matching and painting leather, but not in washing and restoring vintage Coach! I have read that red bags are harder to rehab, so I'm wondering if I should avoid washing this one? It has a pretty significant water mark on the front and I don't know if washing would make it worse. There's also a small pen mark near the clasp and I've read posts about washing making pen marks worse. I'm so nervous! I also don't want the color any more dull because I feel like it must have already faded with age - it's brighter under the flap. All I've done so far is stuff and condition it. When I conditioned it a few darker spots developed - I'm assuming that is just where the purse was more worn and the leather under was showing through, but I wanted to make sure it didn't look like mold to anyone. The hardware is extremely scratched and worn - I have brasso but I think it's worn through the brass so will brasso do any good? Any and all advice is very appreciated!

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I would definitely dunk. I don't see any evidence of mold. Dunking won't make the ink worse. That only happens when it is a large quantity of ink, like a spill that will spread when it gets wet. Washing could potentially lessen the water mark. It won't make it worse. The bath won't fade the bag; it is more likely it will help deepen and brighten the color. There are better brass polishes than Brasso, like Mothers. You could always replace the turnlock with a new one if you want. Since you are good at color matching, you could probably paint over any remaining stains in the leather after you are done rehabbing.

 

[shrnirons]

Beautiful bag! Ok, probably a dumb question but, are there any vintage coach crossbody bags with a buckle strap that could be swapped?

Likely. I tried the strap from my lula's legacy and the grommets were too small for the tang( don't know if its called this) to fit. Thanks for commenting on its condition. I found it last year and posted the before and after photos here. It was a hot mess. Still not perfect, but at 50+ years old, who doesn't have a wrinkle or two.

 

[SJAllison]

Likely. I tried the strap from my lula's legacy and the grommets were too small for the tang( don't know if its called this) to fit. Thanks for commenting on its condition. I found it last year and posted the before and after photos here. It was a hot mess. Still not perfect, but at 50+ years old, who doesn't have a wrinkle or two.

Personally, I don’t want my vintage bags to look perfect. More perfectly imperfect is my goal. I love the patina they get from being used and loved! Like the lines on my 50+ year old face, they tell a story

 

[vintagecoachuk]

Hi, it has been a while since I'v been here. I rehabbed this Courier almost a year ago. I am looking for some advice. I don't carry it much because it is a shoulder bag. I have had shoulder surgery on both sides, and its difficult for me to carry such a heavy bag. I would like a genuine Coach replacement strap, it can be canvas, or anything that would co-ordinate, but most come with clasps and not the brass or nickel holes for the buckle. Is there a way without destroying the integrity of the bag to use a clasp style strap on the buckles safely? Anyone have photos of how they remedied this? Thanks

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If you go on Etsy someone might be able to make you a strap which is longer?

 

[samfalstaff]

Beautiful bag! Ok, probably a dumb question but, are there any vintage coach crossbody bags with a buckle strap that could be swapped?

I use the strap from an old Patricia on my courier. ETA: But I use the buckles. Just noticed you didn’t want to use the buckles.

 

[kaokite]

Hi, it has been a while since I'v been here. I rehabbed this Courier almost a year ago. I am looking for some advice. I don't carry it much because it is a shoulder bag. I have had shoulder surgery on both sides, and its difficult for me to carry such a heavy bag. I would like a genuine Coach replacement strap, it can be canvas, or anything that would co-ordinate, but most come with clasps and not the brass or nickel holes for the buckle. Is there a way without destroying the integrity of the bag to use a clasp style strap on the buckles safely? Anyone have photos of how they remedied this? Thanks

so I have a similar dilemma with a Crescent bag-I love it as a crossbody, not so much as a shoulder bag. Like @samfalstaff suggested, I have been using it with a Patricia strap, but it's got chrome grommets that don't match the brass buckles. (I think it's a mismatched strap 'cause that bag also has brass buckles?! It's in my 'to be restored' pile and I haven't studied it thoroughly yet)

I did some searching and found someone on ebay selling wide leather replacement straps, but not with a stitched on leather edge. I was hoping someone here might have a source for replacement crossbody straps w/brass grommets, but it sounds like it might be easier to order a custom strap from etsy or harvest one from a wrecked bag..

 

[shrnirons]

If you go on Etsy someone might be able to make you a strap which is longer?

I think this will be the best option. I measured the original strap, it is around 35 inches. My favorite crossbody strap is about 45 inches. I'm going to check often. I wish these sites had better keyword/filters because you put in Coach replacement strap and you get shown a bunch of junk!

 

[shrnirons]

so I have a similar dilemma with a Crescent bag-I love it as a crossbody, not so much as a shoulder bag. Like @samfalstaff suggested, I have been using it with a Patricia strap, but it's got chrome grommets that don't match the brass buckles. (I think it's a mismatched strap 'cause that bag also has brass buckles?! It's in my 'to be restored' pile and I haven't studied it thoroughly yet)

I did some searching and found someone on ebay selling wide leather replacement straps, but not with a stitched on leather edge. I was hoping someone here might have a source for replacement crossbody straps w/brass grommets, but it sounds like it might be easier to order a custom strap from etsy or harvest one from a wrecked bag..

I'm going to keep looking! If you can remember the name of the seller who has wide leather replacement straps would you please post? Thanks

 

[Spilledink]

I've been recently reading a lot about the Cassie / Court / LV's Pochette Métis. I've been considering getting a black or a brown Court for a while--in fact, the Court is the reason I got into vintage Coach bags, but I never found one while thrifting so I just looked at them. I wanted to find one in the wild, but I never got lucky.

So I bought this 1996 Court on eBay last week, authenticated by BeenBurned. It's missing a hangtag and a strap, but that doesn't bother me. Got it for $43 base (plus $12 shipping), I think it was a fair price.



This is in natural light. I think the Court is British Tan with a lot of patina and likely a different dye than my BT Scooter... but maybe it is a different brown?

I am looking forward to rehab it, except the polishing part. It seems like the hardware will also be annoying to put back due to the flap.

 

[ConnieinSeattle]

We're all sharing our dilemmas. I got this bag, and it is absolutely gorgeous and looks very fresh. EXCEPT...big line of ink on the front. (And a couple other places.) I tried to get the marks off. No go. Now, I'm thinking of making my one-of-a-kind add leather flowers to the front to hide it option. I ordered some really cute brown (various browns & golds) leather flowers from France. Here's the before, and I have not yet tackled the happily ever after.