Docride's Hermes vintage bag nightmares & Hermes leather care

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

Status
Not open for further replies.
#886
sweilun said:
Hi docride, am a big fan of your extensive knowledge and generosity to share it with everyone.

I would like to seek your opinion regards to my Togo Birkin 40. I've realize my Birkin 40 is losing its shape as the leather has soften quite abit. Am worried as the handles seem to be pulling the leather and is stretching it quite abit when carried. Was wondering if there is any solution to help restore the Birkin to its more rigid and stiff form. I was wondering if the Hermes spa would be able to do so too. I've heard that they are able to restore the Birkin back to its original shape.

Thanks for taking time to read this, your opinion would mean a lot to me. Have a good day!
Click to expand...
Hello,
I have not heard that Hermes will restore a stretched out bag to a none stretched out shape....
Generally the leathers like togo,swift and clememance do stretch more noticeably than some of the other leather types...
I would just use a stiff sided bag insert when using and when storing which would help some ... Additionally store you bag closed up with a bag shaper or insert inside and on its back to help prevent further slouching...
There are more drastic measures/fixes but I would not recommend them to be used on a 13K investment handbag....
The slouchy floopy look is part of the relaxed casual chic look of the carefree upholstery leathers (togo,clemance etc...) .... perhaps try a stiffer leather type ? Stiffer leathers would include (but not limited to) Fjord, Epsom, Box Calf, or Veau Courchevel.
All the best,doc
 
#887
lamsis said:
thanks so much for the advice. @docride No, it wasn't you suggested using saddle soup, but I read in some other blogs. I bought it, but never used it. I did use renovator for my kelly boxcalf. So, as a treatment conditioner for togo and clemence leather (as a general use), if not renovator, which one you will suggest? pls...
Click to expand...

Hello, Clemence and togo really should not require much in the way of conditioners they are upholstery leathers.... A wipe down with a light cleaning/conditioning wipe is all I would recommend.... Youll want a light lotion type product not a waxy or oily one... try a leather lotion product ...
All the best,doc
 
#888
thecatmelon said:
Hi doc! I figure you're an expert here, so would like your opinion. I have a vintage box leather Kelly that's got some small cracks. If the bag is open the cracks kind of "even out". I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do to stop the cracks from getting worse and potentially repairing it (does Hermes spa deal with this kind of thing?)

View attachment 3448560 View attachment 3448561
Click to expand...

Hermes spa does not repair cracks... in fact you wont repair cracks... adding in a polymer into a cracked area spreads the crack wider ad doe not tend to hold on areas of bend and or use stress.. the key is why do you have cracks? The bag should be conditioned to help prevent things getting worse...try a restoring vintage bag spa kit which has a crack stabilizer in it. Google...or just send it into H and see if they'll condition your bag for you... ask the craftsman what they think..
Good luck,doc
 
#889
docride said:
Hello,
I have not heard that Hermes will restore a stretched out bag to a none stretched out shape....
Generally the leathers like togo,swift and clememance do stretch more noticeably than some of the other leather types...
I would just use a stiff sided bag insert when using and when storing which would help some ... Additionally store you bag closed up with a bag shaper or insert inside and on its back to help prevent further slouching...
There are more drastic measures/fixes but I would not recommend them to be used on a 13K investment handbag....
The slouchy floopy look is part of the relaxed casual chic look of the carefree upholstery leathers (togo,clemance etc...) .... perhaps try a stiffer leather type ? Stiffer leathers would include (but not limited to) Fjord, Epsom, Box Calf, or Veau Courchevel.
All the best,doc
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for your advice, have already gotten a very good stuff bag insert, am storing it according to what you said too!
 
#890
kat99 said:
Hi Doc!! I hope you are well!

I'm looking at a vintage bag and was hoping you could give me your opinion on this wrinkling? I know I can't get rid of it entirely but do you think it looks superficial? The bag is from 1992.

Thank you!
Click to expand...
Hello, it looks like the bag has gotten very dry... and this has weakened it to some degree but I can not say how much... is the bag showing tears or cracks on bend areas? Is the bag a super price? Tell me more or show me more....
A good conditioning might help... but when I look on close up at the needle holes I see cracks emanating from them outward and that to me is worrisome. check the rest of the bag out carefully.. even a cheap vintage Hermes isn't cheap (if you know what I mean) its only worth while if the bag can at least hold its purchased / market value....after a years use and some TLC .. Anyhow its a just a good way to look calculate you risk...bags which break cant do this.
Good luck, doc
 
#891
Hi Docride,
How are you? Thanking you for any help you can give me. I bought a consigned black Evelyne bag. Some of the leather looks as if it has been worn down. The texture in this area if very flat if that makes sense. I am guessing because it's worn crossbody, it occurred from rubbing against the person that wore it. Is there anything I can do to help this? Should I try Blackrock? Also, some of the leather on the rolled edges of the bag has worn off.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you so much!
 
#892
docride said:
Hi there,
A color touch up on the corners would be the Fix. You can send the bag to Hermes spa and they'll apply some color touch up for you. Or if you are handy you can buy a color touch up kit and fix it your self...
I hope this helps?
All the best,doc
Click to expand...

Thanks, I am handy but don't trust myself to do this so I will send it out to H for a spa treatment.
Many thanks for responding! :hugs:
 
#894
Hi Doc, I have a Birkin in Gulliver leather and have a quick question please. The back of the bag has a lovely sheen to it - as I think Gulliver should have, however the front is quite matt. Is there anything I can use to bring back the shimmer to the rest of the bag. Thank you.
 
#896
image.png Hi Doc,

I've a quick question for you. I've acquired a vintage Bolide in what I thought was box calf leather, but when I compare it to my vintage Kelly in what I also thought was box calf, they feel different to the touch. The Bolide, to the naked eye, looks smooth and similar to the Kelly, but it feels a bit rougher to the touch, almost like it has a bit of a "tooth", if you know what I mean. The Kelly is buttery soft and shinier. Any thoughts on what these to leathers are?

Thank you so much for your help!
❤️
 
#897
Young1987 said:
View attachment 3473827 Hi Doc,

I've a quick question for you. I've acquired a vintage Bolide in what I thought was box calf leather, but when I compare it to my vintage Kelly in what I also thought was box calf, they feel different to the touch. The Bolide, to the naked eye, looks smooth and similar to the Kelly, but it feels a bit rougher to the touch, almost like it has a bit of a "tooth", if you know what I mean. The Kelly is buttery soft and shinier. Any thoughts on what these to leathers are?

Thank you so much for your help!
[emoji173]️
Click to expand...

Do you have close up photos of both bags? I believe the Kelly is of box leather and the bolide is in swift. Would need more photos to confirm it [emoji3].
 
#898
image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg
sweilun said:
Do you have close up photos of both bags? I believe the Kelly is of box leather and the bolide is in swift. Would need more photos to confirm it [emoji3].
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for your reply, Doc. Here are close-ups of the Bolide. I've got a Gulliver Kelly that is very soft to the touch and kind of slouchy. The Bolide bag is very structured, which I love about it. I hope this helps! ❤️
 
#900
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top