Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

#91
missy_g said:
I have 2 bags. The one I think just needs conditioned. The other is kind of a mess. It has a lot of color loss and the stitching came out where the strap meets the bag.
My question is, should I just do the acrylic mixed with conditioner trick?
Also for the straps the have come loose, I'm just wondering if I should glue them in place. I asked an experienced seamstress and she said its hard to sew leather.
Here is a pic of the bags
View attachment 2328516
Daypack with lots of wear
View attachment 2328517
Click to expand...
I have repaired leather with sewing. It is difficult but the holes are already punched for you so you can just push the needle through the same holes unless the leather is ripped. I have also glued but I prefer sewing if it is at all possible because that will restore it to the way it was originally.

For the color loss, the paint with conditioner might work. You can't use too much paint or it will change the texture of the leather so if a small amount doesn't work, you might have to use dye. Conditioner by itself will darken it some so the paint/conditioner mix might be enough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LolaCalifornia and MrsFord04
#93
Also when do you do a bath? In my situation I think it's unnecessary. The bags don't look dirty and they don't smell bad. The station bag smells a teensy bit musty but I think with use it'll go away. It just needs aired out.
 
#94
missy_g said:
Also when do you do a bath? In my situation I think it's unnecessary. The bags don't look dirty and they don't smell bad. The station bag smells a teensy bit musty but I think with use it'll go away. It just needs aired out.
Click to expand...
A bath helps plump up the leather. It restores the color a bit as well - don't ask me why. All I know is I dunked an orange bag and after the bath, even after it dried, it was red. Even if a bag isn't dirty, if it is all leather, I find dunking improves it.
 
  • Love
Reactions: MrsFord04
#95
missy_g said:
I have 2 bags. The one I think just needs conditioned. The other is kind of a mess. It has a lot of color loss and the stitching came out where the strap meets the bag.
My question is, should I just do the acrylic mixed with conditioner trick?
Also for the straps the have come loose, I'm just wondering if I should glue them in place. I asked an experienced seamstress and she said its hard to sew leather.
Here is a pic of the bags
View attachment 2328516
Daypack with lots of wear
View attachment 2328517
Click to expand...

You may not need to use paint. I've had a couple black bags that were very beat up that came back to life after a bath and then reconditioning and lots of brushing.
 
#96
whateve said:
A bath helps plump up the leather. It restores the color a bit as well - don't ask me why. All I know is I dunked an orange bag and after the bath, even after it dried, it was red. Even if a bag isn't dirty, if it is all leather, I find dunking improves it.
Click to expand...

I agree with whateve. I would definitely give them a bath. It will help bring the leather back to life. I had a brown station bag that was in good shape that I gave a couple coats of conditioner to, but wasn't happy with so I decided to give it a bath. It made a huge difference. I also think using a conditioner like Lexol or Leather CPR helps black bags get their shine back, followed by Blackrocks. I really don't think you'll need acrylic for either of those bags if you give them a bath and recondition.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LolaCalifornia
#97
netlawyer said:
Hi Rehabbers! Wanted to share my current project - the Ocelot Haircalf Candace makeover. It isn't a rehab because she was just fine but I wanted to make her perfect for me.

I revealed her a couple of days ago - with her yellow tassels, zipper and tag. She was kind of slouchy and since her base is mahogany and she does't have feet scratches started showing up after carrying her for just a few days. :-(
So, I am going to add some feet but I need nice ones in silver so that will be part 2.

Part one is her new liner and her new look. I made the liner out of Peltex interfacing and corset boning. It isn't very pretty (none of my purse liners look as good as the ones you can buy but they are lots cheaper and they work!) but it does match her lining and works great to keep her standing tall. I put a strip of balsa wood in the bottom to keep it flat - which will keep her bottom up once she has feet.

The yellow had to go. I don't wear yellow and I am not sure what it is with Coach having to add random colors to bags that would probably be best left alone - but I plan on carrying this bag when I am dressed up. The Madison clutch - which has black leather trim and a small cream colored tag is perfect - sophisticated and subdued. So now Ms Candace is much more sophisticated. I swapped out her tassels for matching mahogany, gave her a silver tag and dyed the zipper to match.

I also touched up the scratches on the bottom and she is ready to go. I'll report back once I do the feet.
Click to expand...
Wow! That is one classy bag now. So much better without the yellow.
 
#98
Shan2 said:
Dear leather experts... Does the Anna Sui FDL need Apple conditioner and Apple garde, or should I leave her alone? TIA!
Click to expand...

I don't know if it *needs* it, but I put some Apple Conditioner on mine, mostly because I had a bottle I need to use up before I move. I'm kind of looking forward to my FDL getting a more worn in/lived in look, so I am not going crazy with conditioning it. I think it all depends on whether you want yours to look pristine and new like the day you got it, or if you want it to look more lived in.

I don't have any Apple Garde, and I've never used it, so I can't comment on that.
 
#99
Has anyone successfully fixed places where the leather has gotten rubbed on patent leather? I have this deep red patent tote that I like to carry when the weather is bad in the winter. There are a couple spots where I think I've dinged it or nicked it on something. I tried to take a picture of the places, but they won't come out. The leather is too glossy and it's too dark not to use the flash right now. Two of them are only about the width of your fingernail and maybe an 1/8" to 1/4" long, and the third is a just a tiny bit larger. They are white. I'm not sure what happened, but I'd like to try to fix them. Any ideas?
 

Attachments

  • P1.jpg
    P1.jpg
    51.2 KB · Views: 1,319
Last edited:
#100
coach943 said:
Has anyone successfully fixed places where the leather has gotten rubbed on patent leather? I have this deep red patent tote that I like to carry when the weather is bad in the winter. There are a couple spots where I think I've dinged it or nicked it on something. I tried to take a picture of the places, but they won't come out. The leather is too glossy and it's too dark not to use the flash right now. Two of them are only about the width of your fingernail and maybe an 1/8" to 1/4" long, and the third is a just a tiny bit larger. They are white. I'm not sure what happened, but I'd like to try to fix them. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Don't use fingernail polish. It doesn't work. Did you already try cleaning them off?
 
#101
whateve said:
Don't use fingernail polish. It doesn't work. Did you already try cleaning them off?
Click to expand...

I was able to successfully clean off a couple places that were funny, but I still have these three places left that I don't know what to do with. For the ones that are left, it is almost like the finish on the leather was dinged with something. There is a little bit of an impression in the leather's finish, which makes me think I hit it on something. I tend to carry this bag when the weather is bad, so I'm rougher on it than I am on my other bags. I also had it sitting on a shelf in my closet without a dust bag for longer than I should have. (Lesson learned.) Who knows what could have happened to it. This is the only smooth and glossy patent bag I have. I have a couple crinkle patent bags - they seem more durable and easier to clean up.
 
#102
coach943 said:
I was able to successfully clean off a couple places that were funny, but I still have these three places left that I don't know what to do with. For the ones that are left, it is almost like the finish on the leather was dinged with something. There is a little bit of an impression in the leather's finish, which makes me think I hit it on something. I tend to carry this bag when the weather is bad, so I'm rougher on it than I am on my other bags. I also had it sitting on a shelf in my closet without a dust bag for longer than I should have. (Lesson learned.) Who knows what could have happened to it. This is the only smooth and glossy patent bag I have. I have a couple crinkle patent bags - they seem more durable and easier to clean up.
Click to expand...
I have patched a spot on a crinkle patent bag but I have no idea what you could do to smooth patent that wouldn't be just as noticeable as the spots.
 
#104
Arizabif said:
I don't know if it *needs* it, but I put some Apple Conditioner on mine, mostly because I had a bottle I need to use up before I move. I'm kind of looking forward to my FDL getting a more worn in/lived in look, so I am not going crazy with conditioning it. I think it all depends on whether you want yours to look pristine and new like the day you got it, or if you want it to look more lived in.

I don't have any Apple Garde, and I've never used it, so I can't comment on that.
Click to expand...

Thanks! That helps a LOT! None of my other bags looks, feels or smells like the FDL and I was afraid to ruin her.
 
#105
Shan2 said:
Thanks! That helps a LOT! None of my other bags looks, feels or smells like the FDL and I was afraid to ruin her.
Click to expand...

If you live somewhere that you might get caught in the rain, I'd recommend treating with some kind of rain protectant. Apple Guarde would work. I don't have an FDL, but I think Apple Guarde would be fine. Coach didn't properly wrap a bag they shipped to me and it got wet in transit and made a mess of the leather -- it totally showed how important it is to treat your bags.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top