Inside of handle broken

[Naomisully]

I scored a lovely old Botkier Venice bag on Poshmark for quite a good deal. The only issue I’m seeing with it (aside from needing a conditioner treatment) is a broken part of the bottom of one handle in the inside. Does anyone have experience fixing one via a leather shop or do you just live with it? I’m worried since all that’s really supporting the weight of the large bag is the leather since it’s broken all the way through!

 

[Oliver11]

Hey Naomisully, the inlay inside part which has broken is most likely a plastic tube of some kind or a compressed paper roll (what does it feel like if you squish it?). The filler is not actually there to strengthen the handle - but to make it round and comfortable to hold. The leather by itself should be plenty strong. Repairing (replacing) the core depends on whether the metal fitting near the end of the handle can be opened or not. I wouldn't be too worried about the handle being weakened if you are ok with how it looks!

I scored a lovely old Botkier Venice bag on Poshmark for quite a good deal. The only issue I’m seeing with it (aside from needing a conditioner treatment) is a broken part of the bottom of one handle in the inside. Does anyone have experience fixing one via a leather shop or do you just live with it? I’m worried since all that’s really supporting the weight of the large bag is the leather since it’s broken all the way through!

 

[Naomisully]

Hey Naomisully, the inlay inside part which has broken is most likely a plastic tube of some kind or a compressed paper roll (what does it feel like if you squish it?). The filler is not actually there to strengthen the handle - but to make it round and comfortable to hold. The leather by itself should be plenty strong. Repairing (replacing) the core depends on whether the metal fitting near the end of the handle can be opened or not. I wouldn't be too worried about the handle being weakened if you are ok with how it looks!

Thank you so much for responding!
It does feel kind of like a very dense roll of paper. It’s sort of squishy but still firm. Squishier than plastic would be though. Anyway, It’s not very noticeable aesthetically, I was more worried about it ripping and then having the whole lovely bag be useless. I think the metal fitting could be removed with the right tool. I could bring it to a repair place and see what they think. I only paid $40 for the bag so I feel ok investing more money into it because it really is in great shape otherwise. I can’t wait to see how it looks and feels after I give it a good conditioning! It needs that TLC, it feels dry.

Anyway, thanks again! I feel much better about it. It also has a strap to turn it into a hobo so I’ve just been carrying it by that, but I’ll feel more comfortable holding it by the satchel handles now too

 

[Oliver11]

Thank you so much for responding!
It does feel kind of like a very dense roll of paper. It’s sort of squishy but still firm. Squishier than plastic would be though. Anyway, It’s not very noticeable aesthetically, I was more worried about it ripping and then having the whole lovely bag be useless. I think the metal fitting could be removed with the right tool. I could bring it to a repair place and see what they think. I only paid $40 for the bag so I feel ok investing more money into it because it really is in great shape otherwise. I can’t wait to see how it looks and feels after I give it a good conditioning! It needs that TLC, it feels dry.

Anyway, thanks again! I feel much better about it. It also has a strap to turn it into a hobo so I’ve just been carrying it by that, but I’ll feel more comfortable holding it by the satchel handles now too

My pleasure! If you do end up getting the handle core replaced, let us know how it turns out!

 

[Dooneysta]

Totally take it to a repair place. If there are no handbag-specialist shops near you, save it for your next trip to a big city, or if you do have a shoe repair shop, take it to ask them. There’s a shoe guy in my town that can do ‘some’ repairs on bags, like he can clean/fix scratches/ stitch things up, etc. If you had something you could stick in there as a replacement if you had the handle open, maybe a cobbler could at least open it for you, let you insert your new core of choice, and then reattach the handle for you...?
Good luck, it’s really pretty!!!

 

[Shelby33]

Botkiers are pretty sturdy, I think it should be fine.
I have the Venice hobo and I love it! Good score!

 

[Naomisully]

Totally take it to a repair place. If there are no handbag-specialist shops near you, save it for your next trip to a big city, or if you do have a shoe repair shop, take it to ask them. There’s a shoe guy in my town that can do ‘some’ repairs on bags, like he can clean/fix scratches/ stitch things up, etc. If you had something you could stick in there as a replacement if you had the handle open, maybe a cobbler could at least open it for you, let you insert your new core of choice, and then reattach the handle for you...?
Good luck, it’s really pretty!!!

Thanks! It is a pretty bag, I love the color. It can be hard to find a good green-yellow color. Looking at other bags I see what you mean. Some are sewn at the bottom of the handles but on this bag it’s a metal fixture. It looks like it’s totally possible to just pop them open (with whatever tool they use), fix the inside and close them back up again.

 

[Naomisully]

Botkiers are pretty sturdy, I think it should be fine.
I have the Venice hobo and I love it! Good score!

Awesome! I feel way better about it. No paranoia when I pick it up by the handles now! I bought a nice brown Venice satchel on Poshmark because I love this green one so much. I’d love the hobo version someday! I’m really digging finding nice Botkier deals, they’re really well made and seem like they’ll last forever with proper care.

 

[sdkitty]

from the advice I've seen here and since you didn't pay much for it, I think I'd use as-is.
congrats on getting and OS Botkier. I've looked online recently and most of what's for sale are the newer ones - not as nice leather

 

[Naomisully]

from the advice I've seen here and since you didn't pay much for it, I think I'd use as-is.
congrats on getting and OS Botkier. I've looked online recently and most of what's for sale are the newer ones - not as nice leather

That’s good advice! Also you’re totally right. I got a newer Trigger (it had an ink stain I painted over, I got it for crazy cheap!) and I could tell right away that it wasn’t as nice of leather. There are a few nice old Triggers on Poshmark right now!

 

[Shelby33]

Awesome! I feel way better about it. No paranoia when I pick it up by the handles now! I bought a nice brown Venice satchel on Poshmark because I love this green one so much. I’d love the hobo version someday! I’m really digging finding nice Botkier deals, they’re really well made and seem like they’ll last forever with proper care.

Mine is 10 years old, leather is holding up great!

 

[sdkitty]

That’s good advice! Also you’re totally right. I got a newer Trigger (it had an ink stain I painted over, I got it for crazy cheap!) and I could tell right away that it wasn’t as nice of leather. There are a few nice old Triggers on Poshmark right now!

thanks
I've been toying with the idea of an OS Trigger....never got one back in the day.....but as with a lot of us, I really have more than enough bags

 

[whateve]

Thanks! It is a pretty bag, I love the color. It can be hard to find a good green-yellow color. Looking at other bags I see what you mean. Some are sewn at the bottom of the handles but on this bag it’s a metal fixture. It looks like it’s totally possible to just pop them open (with whatever tool they use), fix the inside and close them back up again.

If there is any gap at all, you can push small pieces of paper inside until it fills up. I've done that.

 

[Naomisully]

thanks
I've been toying with the idea of an OS Trigger....never got one back in the day.....but as with a lot of us, I really have more than enough bags

Ha!! I could see that! I’m new at this and really, I have 4 kids so for now I’m having a lot of fun learning about certain brands (at this point mainly Botkier and Rebecca Minkoff) and finding steals on Poshmark. One day maybe I’ll go buy myself a brand spanking new bag. But it’s also interesting that brands older stuff can actually be better quality. I’ve had a blast finding old MABs!

 

[Naomisully]

If there is any gap at all, you can push small pieces of paper inside until it fills up. I've done that.

OHHHHH interesting!! There is a small gap I could try that with... Thanks!