Docride's Hermes Lazarus Thread (can this Hermes be Saved? )

[nicole0612]

Thought someone might have encountered the same sort of issue and might be able to easily suggest a remedy that wouldn’t involve me sending it to Paris for several months. 🤷‍♀️

I’ll just see myself out I guess. 🤣

I think that is reasonable. I personally do not know, but I have seen some other people post here that white marks have shown up on their bag not due to any damage but because of natural fats rising to the surface. This is what I wondered about when I saw your post since your bag is new. Maybe do a search for those terms in the forum and see if you can find out if your issue looks similar, and if so, if any solutions are suggested.

 

[laura229]

I think that is reasonable. I personally do not know, but I have seen some other people post here that white marks have shown up on their bag not due to any damage but because of natural fats rising to the surface. This is what I wondered about when I saw your post since your bag is new. Maybe do a search for those terms in the forum and see if you can find out if your issue looks similar, and if so, if any solutions are suggested.

That’s interesting! Thanks for the lead!

 

[ettarcadia]

Thanks @docride for your advice to this community. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched your youtube videos!

I recently acquired a box b35, which has collapsed in shape. It must have been stored without internal support - when viewed in profile, the front and back panels form an Eiffel Tower shape.

Attaching a photo with stuffing in the bag, but you can see some of the bending.

What can I do to help restore the shape? I plan on using a felt bag organiser inside to help maintain some structure. Would love your advice!

 

[docride]

Hello, do you think this could be improved at home or by the spa? It's on a Barenia bag. Thank you!!
View attachment 6170268

Hi There
If it’s conditioned the worn areas will look darker ; they will absorb the conditioners like a sponge .
Spa will not bring back the missing top skin of the worm away corners .
You have a fabulous bag there ! You will find the balance between corns that are too dark and those that are too light . Embrace the bags continued story with you and its beautiful use marks if you can. 💕
Enjoy your rare and fabulous Barenia !
Doc

 

[docride]

Hi - I purchased this bag from one of the Hermes boutiques in Madrid a few weeks ago. I pulled it out to use for the first time today and saw these white spots on the back. I gently wiped them with water and they temporarily disappeared. However, they reappeared once the area dried.

Any thoughts on what this might be and how to best address? I may take it to my local store but honestly don’t care enough to have them send it off to Paris or anything like that. It’s on the back of the bag and isn’t super noticeable in person. I think the bag was a display bag before I got it because it didn’t come with plastic on the hardware.

Hi there ,
Do the spots smell musty ?
Are the spots just in one area ?
Best
Regards
Doc

 

[docride]

Thanks @docride for your advice to this community. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched your youtube videos!

I recently acquired a box b35, which has collapsed in shape. It must have been stored without internal support - when viewed in profile, the front and back panels form an Eiffel Tower shape.

Attaching a photo with stuffing in the bag, but you can see some of the bending.

What can I do to help restore the shape? I plan on using a felt bag organiser inside to help maintain some structure. Would love your advice!

View attachment 6181921

Hi there
What a fabulous and rare bag !
Usually when a bag has relaxed you will need to use a stiff sided insert if you’d like the bag to straighten up as best as possible.
Some shops will open the top seam and add a stiff material between the exterior and interior leathers then Restitch the bag.
But gee whiz , I think you’ll lose something special if you do that ( Frankenbirkin anyone?) . Love your bag as is and use the insert is my advice.
It’s a superb color in box calf ! Hard to find and so classic H . Enjoy 💕
Doc

 

[880]

Hi - I purchased this bag from one of the Hermes boutiques in Madrid a few weeks ago. I pulled it out to use for the first time today and saw these white spots on the back. I gently wiped them with water and they temporarily disappeared. However, they reappeared once the area dried.

Any thoughts on what this might be and how to best address? I may take it to my local store but honestly don’t care enough to have them send it off to Paris or anything like that. It’s on the back of the bag and isn’t super noticeable in person. I think the bag was a display bag before I got it because it didn’t come with plastic on the hardware.

I would take a brand new bag back. I don’t think they would require it to be sent to Paris, but perhaps they can tell you what it is. If you do a search, I thought someone said the oils in the natural leather can rise up resulting in spots, but as a layperson, I would be worried about mold. Also, every bag that I’ve gotten from the boutique has had plastic covered HW (which annoys me bc hard to remove, but I’ve never heard of a boutique bag without)

Just scrolled back and realized others have mentioned this like @docride and @nicole0612

 

[lala_888]

Hi @docride,

I would like to seek your advice on this. Do you know if there is anything that I can apply to make these surface scratches appear less visible? They are on the "rubber" part (sorry I do not exactly know what is the material). Thank you for your help.

 

[Charm]

Thanks @docride for your advice to this community. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched your youtube videos!

I recently acquired a box b35, which has collapsed in shape. It must have been stored without internal support - when viewed in profile, the front and back panels form an Eiffel Tower shape.

Attaching a photo with stuffing in the bag, but you can see some of the bending.

What can I do to help restore the shape? I plan on using a felt bag organiser inside to help maintain some structure. Would love your advice!

View attachment 6181921

I always think a well loved bag is far cooler than the immaculate bags so often seen on SM, I think she's fine as she is, enjoy!

 

[Planningtobehappy17]

Hi @docride I am sharing this bag that is currently breaking my heart. I feel so defeated thinking that this may not have a fix. Leather Surgeons already said that they won't be able to repair the cracked leather/paint and the stitching. I am not that worried about the box leather but cannot make myself use the bag knowing that it would continue breaking every time I open it. Do you have any recommendations or another cobbler name in the US that I could reach out to? Also, adding that this is a bag from 1977 that was already "serviced" as you can see from the very wrong handle, so Hermes Spa is not an option. Thank you!

 

[ettarcadia]

I always think a well loved bag is far cooler than the immaculate bags so often seen on SM, I think she's fine as she is, enjoy!

You’re 100% right! Thank you! She is beautiful just as she is ❤️.

 

[docride]

Hi @docride,

I would like to seek your advice on this. Do you know if there is anything that I can apply to make these surface scratches appear less visible? They are on the "rubber" part (sorry I do not exactly know what is the material). Thank you for

 

[docride]

Hi @docride,

I would like to seek your advice on this. Do you know if there is anything that I can apply to make these surface scratches appear less visible? They are on the "rubber" part (sorry I do not exactly know what is the material). Thank you for

Hi there Hermes Spa can fix this for you or a trusted professional can rub a tiny amount of a waxy bees wax type of conditioner just to the area of concern and buff like mad with a special tool. Or using a special heated leather edger iron and reapply the resin.
I suggest you have a professional do it for you
But good news yes it’s fixable
All the best
Doc

 

[docride]

Hi @docride I am sharing this bag that is currently breaking my heart. I feel so defeated thinking that this may not have a fix. Leather Surgeons already said that they won't be able to repair the cracked leather/paint and the stitching. I am not that worried about the box leather but cannot make myself use the bag knowing that it would continue breaking every time I open it. Do you have any recommendations or another cobbler name in the US that I could reach out to? Also, adding that this is a bag from 1977 that was already "serviced" as you can see from the very wrong handle, so Hermes Spa is not an option. Thank you!

Hi there,
Ok so let me understand what are you hoping for ? you were told that the leather that has cracked deeply and has dried out can not be fixed. (When the leather is overly dry it will not hold repair stitches) . Is that what you were told ?
And now you are hoping for second opinion?
If so I would say stop 🛑 now , more work will be futile and may give you a less than satisfactory results. I say either enjoy your bag as is until it can’t be used anymore or sell now and recoup some funds to save toward a more serviceable bag .
Probably not what you wanted to hear . You are welcome to PM me for additional information.
Hugs doc

 

[Planningtobehappy17]

Hi there,
Ok so let me understand what are you hoping for ? you were told that the leather that has cracked deeply and has dried out can not be fixed. (When the leather is overly dry it will not hold repair stitches) . Is that what you were told ?
And now you are hoping for second opinion?
If so I would say stop 🛑 now , more work will be futile and may give you a less than satisfactory results. I say either enjoy your bag as is until it can’t be used anymore or sell now and recoup some funds to save toward a more serviceable bag .
Probably not what you wanted to hear . You are welcome to PM me for additional information.
Hugs doc

Thank you for your response @docride. Yes. I was told that it won't hold stitches and to not bother with sending it to LS since it is not worth much trying to replace the leather. I was hoping for a second opinion. Thank you, again!