Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[whateve]

Hello Everyone!

I have a bag that is filthy and really needs a bath, but one of the straps is weird. It's not quite cracked, more like flaking. However, it still feels stable and is very pliable; yet, it feels sorta gummy like one could just scrape off the filth. The other strap is fine, just kinda dirty. Would bathing this make the strap worse? Can I fill this in with something? Any advice? TIA

ETA: It's an NYC bag, from around 1979-1980.

I've found some handles that are covered with gunk that can be scraped off with a fingernail. Sometimes I'll lightly sand them. That is caused by handling. I don't think that is what's happening here. It looks like it is falling apart.

 

[StarBrown]

I've found some handles that are covered with gunk that can be scraped off with a fingernail. Sometimes I'll lightly sand them. That is caused by handling. I don't think that is what's happening here. It looks like it is falling apart.

It's very strange. It's like the color is peeling off. I don't want to get rid of the bag, but I really don't know what is going on with it. It's not dry; I tried to tear it with my hands, and it's still rather sturdy. Do you think a stabilizer, like Klucel, would work? Maybe I should find a cobbler...

 

[whateve]

It's very strange. It's like the color is peeling off. I don't want to get rid of the bag, but I really don't know what is going on with it. It's not dry; I tried to tear it with my hands, and it's still rather sturdy. Do you think a stabilizer, like Klucel, would work? Maybe I should find a cobbler...

I'd never heard of Klucel. I just googled it and it seems perfect for it. I would have tried leather cement but Klucel seems even better. I don't have access to top notch cobblers here so I'm pretty much on my own unless it is something simple.

 

[StarBrown]

I'd never heard of Klucel. I just googled it and it seems perfect for it. I would have tried leather cement but Klucel seems even better. I don't have access to top notch cobblers here so I'm pretty much on my own unless it is something simple.

Good cobblers are very scarce. If I decide to go the cobbler route, I'll have send it to New York.

 

[Zealous]

That's great to hear I look forward to seeing your final results!



I actually found a couple of tiny cracks on my handles as well, but my Blackrock came in today and it seemed to have helped "seal" the surface, so now the handles look shinier and stronger



The creed on this bag has faded quite a bit, I can no longer see everything clearly but it definitely looks like there's space underneath the COACH stamp for "leatherware". The hang tag I got is two sided and feels reaaally light. It's definitely not the original tag I think. Possibly not even authentic oh well as long as the bag is!



Attached is my before and after transformation I think it looks really great and I'm so thankful to everyone on this forum for their advice and suggestions, especially to whateve for authenticating my bag and helping me out!

You're welcome for any help I've provided.

The hangtag you received is likely authentic. The first hangtags were one-sided and included the word "Leatherware." The older hangtags were flimsier than more recent hangtags and had a different shape. The hangtag was changed to a double-sided version without the word Leatherware sometime in the early 90s.

What a pretty bag!

Mellopan- Your bag looks wonderful! Great work! Glad to hear Blackrock has helped you too. While it is nice to have original hangtags, I have many bags, vintage & newer, with replacements. It's also fun to take cues from the Poppy line with a variety of colored ones.

Whateve, again, a big thanks from me too!

Here's a photo of my rehabbed vintage large Madison Satchel with a borrowed crossbody strap & showing its age (& that's totally a good thing!).

 

[BeenBurned]

Now that Coach no longer sells leashes and collars, I needed a small collar. (I have a couple of leashes.)

I found a used collar and leash but they're pink. My dog is male and any other color would have worked except for pink.

I've never done bathing, rehab or dying. Am I getting into something more difficult than a total novice can do?

Where do I start and what kind of dye would I buy? (I know not to use shoe polish!)

I've had reasonably good results with RIT liquid fabric dye. I do it in my kitchen sink (stainless) or in a repurposed kitty litter bucket. Use warmest water you can stand and soak the items before adding the dye so that they are already thoroughly wet. I've found that even with prewetting the dye has a hard time getting into the seams so make sure they are really wet. Then stir periodically so that they don't float and end up uneven. Also remember that going over a color like pink you will end up with some kind of blend-- dark green may result in muddy brown, black may be deep magenta, dark navy could give you a deep purple, etc. Also if the items are made similar to shoulder straps (I haven't seen the collars or leashes) is there edge sealant and what color? You might need to paint that too or maybe it could make a cool two-tone effect.

I was thinking about suggesting RIT too. Red might be a good choice over the pink. Or you could use RIT color remover first and then any color would probably work.

A word of warning, I used RIT with very hot water on a Legacy duffle and it melted the edge sealant. So don't make the water too hot. If the edge sealant is black, it shouldn't be affected by the dye color.

I don't think there's sealant.

If red would cover and mask pink, that would work perfectly.

If it's signature, I probably wouldn't use the dye remover. It could remove the dyes that make the signature Cs.

Nope, not signature. Leather collar (and leash).

I assumed it was all leather!

Thank you both for replying.

It's all leather (with pink enameled heart rivet charms that I can live with) and the edges don't appear to have sealant.
The collar:

This is the leash (which I might not use):

 

[missbaltimore]

I wouldn't dunk it. I think this leather is very delicate and could get worse in a bath.

Thanks-- I was afraid that was the answer

 

[missy_g]

I assumed it was all leather!

I was thinking it was signature. I had a dog collar that was signature fabric with leather trim and backing.

I see its leather so that's a good sign.

I heard about this dye called tarrago that comes with the leather stripper and dye. Apparently it works rather well. It is like $10 on eBay. For a collar, you wouldn't need much.

Also it's not overly hard to work with and washes off well. I read about someone dying a tano bag with it.

 

[BeenBurned]

I assume when dying leather, I'm going to have to wear rubber gloves, right? Any other precautions?

I think I'm going with a red dye.

sorry to sound dumb but I've never done this. Do you dilute it according to the instructions or do you use less (or more) water?

 

[missy_g]

I'm not sure but I read on the tano forum (buried in contemporary designers) that someone dyed a bag with the tarrago leather dye kit and it washed off their hands and the hardware. I would probably take care with the zippers and such.

 

[missy_g]

Ok I did some more research (about a minutes worth) and it looks like the tarrago dye isn't penetrating, therefore if it cracks, it'll peel. I'm thinking that using it on a collar wouldn't work well because it'll constantly be rubbing against fur.

I'm hoping someone here will have more insight. I just purchased a white tano bag (I know, not coach) and I'm thinking about dying.

 

[whateve]

I don't think there's sealant.

If red would cover and mask pink, that would work perfectly.

Nope, not signature. Leather collar (and leash).

Thank you both for replying.

It's all leather (with pink enameled heart rivet charms that I can live with) and the edges don't appear to have sealant.
The collar:

This is the leash (which I might not use):

I was thinking it was signature. I had a dog collar that was signature fabric with leather trim and backing.

I see its leather so that's a good sign.

I heard about this dye called tarrago that comes with the leather stripper and dye. Apparently it works rather well. It is like $10 on eBay. For a collar, you wouldn't need much.

Also it's not overly hard to work with and washes off well. I read about someone dying a tano bag with it.

I assume when dying leather, I'm going to have to wear rubber gloves, right? Any other precautions?

I think I'm going with a red dye.

sorry to sound dumb but I've never done this. Do you dilute it according to the instructions or do you use less (or more) water?

I believe Ledobe has tried Tarrago and didn't like it. I've tried Fiebings and didn't like it. The stuff they sell at Tandy is too shiny. Leather Refinisher is an option but I think it could scratch off with use. I think the safest thing to use is RIT. You should wear rubber gloves. You should get the liquid dye, not the powder. You can either dip dye or you can paint it on. If you dip dye, you should get it completely wet before immersing. If I was doing it, I would paint it on. I have followed these instructions: https://www.ritstudio.com/techniques/the-basics/spot-dyeing/ but you might want to use it undiluted. Makeup sponges are the best applicators. Omit the ironing part, but it would probably be a good idea to wash it afterward to make sure no dye is going to rub off. I'd wait a day or two to give it a chance to set. The good thing about painting it on is that you can do multiple coats until you get it dark enough and even. RIT isn't designed for leather so you aren't going to find a lot of information about it. It will dry the leather so you should have some conditioner to use afterward.

It appears that there is pink edge coating. The dye might not cover that. In that case, if it bothers you, you can use acrylic paint to cover. You use metal enamel paint, like the kind used for models, to paint the heart charm.

 

[BeenBurned]

I believe Ledobe has tried Tarrago and didn't like it. I've tried Fiebings and didn't like it. The stuff they sell at Tandy is too shiny. Leather Refinisher is an option but I think it could scratch off with use. I think the safest thing to use is RIT. You should wear rubber gloves. You should get the liquid dye, not the powder. You can either dip dye or you can paint it on. If you dip dye, you should get it completely wet before immersing. If I was doing it, I would paint it on. I have followed these instructions: https://www.ritstudio.com/techniques/the-basics/spot-dyeing/ but you might want to use it undiluted. Makeup sponges are the best applicators. Omit the ironing part, but it would probably be a good idea to wash it afterward to make sure no dye is going to rub off. I'd wait a day or two to give it a chance to set. The good thing about painting it on is that you can do multiple coats until you get it dark enough and even. RIT isn't designed for leather so you aren't going to find a lot of information about it. It will dry the leather so you should have some conditioner to use afterward.

It appears that there is pink edge coating. The dye might not cover that. In that case, if it bothers you, you can use acrylic paint to cover. You use metal enamel paint, like the kind used for models, to paint the heart charm.

Thank you again for this information.

You guys are probably laughing because I'm thinking this all sounds like so much work! I think I'll go the Rit dye route and will condition it with leather CPR. (Is that okay?)

I might just take off the dangling heart charm and will replace it with a white dog bone charm that's on another collar. I'll leave the riveted heasts.

I admire you all for all the work you do on bags. Doing just this one collar and possibly the leash seems overwhelming to me!

I'll try to post pictures when I get it done.

 

[whateve]

Thank you again for this information.

You guys are probably laughing because I'm thinking this all sounds like so much work! I think I'll go the Rit dye route and will condition it with leather CPR. (Is that okay?)

I might just take off the dangling heart charm and will replace it with a white dog bone charm that's on another collar. I'll leave the riveted heasts.

I admire you all for all the work you do on bags. Doing just this one collar and possibly the leash seems overwhelming to me!

I'll try to post pictures when I get it done.

You're welcome! CPR is perfect.

Really, this is pretty complicated for a first attempt. Normal rehabs don't involve dyeing.

 

[BeenBurned]

You're welcome! CPR is perfect.

Really, this is pretty complicated for a first attempt. Normal rehabs don't involve dyeing.

Aw geez! So I'm picking a difficult job for my (probably) one and only attempt?!?!?