PM Empreinte Noir “leather”?

[Bonosbabe]

Hello everyone:
After stalking and dreaming of the PM in empreinte noir, I finally got my hands on one (thanks to our very own
BooYah). It came on Friday and I was, well, underwhelmed. It was the “leather”. I put that in quotation marks because it certainly didn’t smell or feel like leather; in fact, it looks and feels like plastic.

Now when I’ve seen other people review this bag on YouTube, or even looked at pictures on here, everyone else’s bags look almost “shiny” and supple, the way leather is supposed to look. The one I got certainly doesn’t feel supple or look it.

Can those of you who own this purse comment on how yours was brand new? Did it look kind of dull and feel stiff? Maybe it’s just the newer versions as this one was just made about a month ago, in France.

Should I return if and try for another (even though this one was hard to get)?

Any thoughts would be most welcome as I’m kinda bummed.

 

[LuxuryLvr]

I purchased mine in September 2019 and “delicious” was the best way to describe it when I got it and would say the exact same of it today. I have heard of those saying there was no new leather smell to theirs when purchasing but mine still has a new leather smell almost exactly 18 months after purchasing. I also have zero wear and tear so far and it’s the bag I gravitate towards the most due to its size, color and overall functionality.

If you don’t love it, either exchange or return because you deserve to absolutely love whatever you purchase!

 

[Bonosbabe]

I purchased mine in September 2019 and “delicious” was the best way to describe it when I got it and would say the exact same of it today. I have heard of those saying there was no new leather smell to theirs when purchasing but mine still has a new leather smell almost exactly 18 months after purchasing. I also have zero wear and tear so far and it’s the bag I gravitate towards the most due to its size, color and overall functionality.

If you don’t love it, either exchange or return because you deserve to absolutely love whatever you purchase!

Now I’m even more bummed and a bit jealous to hear how wonderful yours is. Maybe I got a dud?

I will have to think about exchanging it as this was a difficult one to get. They’re always sold out online and I was lucky.

 

[BULL]

This is my main concern with Empreinte. Feels like Michael Kors. Originally, when it came out in 2010, it was a very soft, Taurillon-like leather. Soft, supple, dyed but not treated, and then embossed with the Monogram as a finishing touch.
It was truly luxurious, but easy to damage. Those bags lost shape easily, the embossing faded over time.
And the glazing paint was also problematic during the first years, batches and batches of those Empreinte bags were recalled.
Vuitton listened to the crisicism. And they 'adjusted' the leather. Now it is not just dyed, but receives a very heavy (almost plastic-like) coating. It is way stiffer like that than the original.
When the classic Vuitton embossed leathers get a pattern, they just simply emboss the Taïga or Épi pattern onto a cowhide. That's it. The pattern in itself provides the scratch resistant durability. But it maintans the leather values: if you look close enough, you can still see the pores, and of course, they heavily smells like cowhide.
Well, the new Empreinte is different. It does receive this very heavy coating layer. I even would say that now they emboss the leather-pattern into the coating as well, since the pattern doesn't feel as natural as Taurillon or the old Empreinte. It feels man-made. I don't see the pores (probably the heavy coating again), and whenever I did smell a new Empreinte piece in store, I haven't felt the cowhide smell that I usually do on practically anything else at Vuitton. This way they gain excellent durability, but at what cost?
I believe that there might be some batches that come out less coated and they might smell more like leather, but I haven't seen any of those in years. If any of you love it, don't get offended, but I don't consider Empreinte a luxury leather.

 

[Bonosbabe]

This is my main concern with Empreinte. Feels like Michael Kors. Originally, when it came out in 2010, it was a very soft, Taurillon-like leather. Soft, supple, dyed but not treated, and then embossed with the Monogram as a finishing touch.
It was truly luxurious, but easy to damage. Those bags lost shape easily, the embossing faded over time.
And the glazing paint was also problematic during the first years, batches and batches of those Empreinte bags were recalled.
Vuitton listened to the crisicism. And they 'adjusted' the leather. Now it is not just dyed, but receives a very heavy (almost plastic-like) coating. It is way stiffer like that than the original.
When the classic Vuitton embossed leathers get a pattern, they just simply emboss the Taïga or Épi pattern onto a cowhide. That's it. The pattern in itself provides the scratch resistant durability. But it maintans the leather values: if you look close enough, you can still see the pores, and of course, they heavily smells like cowhide.
Well, the new Empreinte is different. It does receive this very heavy coating layer. I even would say that now they emboss the leather-pattern into the coating as well, since the pattern doesn't feel as natural as Taurillon or the old Empreinte. It feels man-made. I don't see the pores (probably the heavy coating again), and whenever I did smell a new Empreinte piece in store, I haven't felt the cowhide smell that I usually do on practically anything else at Vuitton. This way they gain excellent durability, but at what cost?
I believe that there might be some batches that come out less coated and they might smell more like leather, but I haven't seen any of those in years. If any of you love it, don't get offended, but I don't consider Empreinte a luxury leather.

Thank you SO much for this response. I haven’t felt older versions of this bag so I have no point of reference, but reading your post really helped to show me that I’m not going crazy. Other people’s PMs in empreinte seem to look more supple and shiny, whereas the one I have is just flat. I even took a photo in the sun in case it was my indoor lighting, but it just doesn’t WOW me.

It appears that there is a different leather procedure for the empreinte and some sort of coating that perhaps is supposed to make the leather more durable.

I think I will exchange this one, hopefully in a local store now that the boutique is finally open again (that’s if they have one in store!) I’d like to compare it. However, if the other one is the same, I will have to pass on this bag...which is a shame because I really wanted it for a while now, and I think it’s gorgeous (well, other people’s bags, that is, as mine isn’t what I would call luxurious).

 

[BULL]

I feel the same way. The new Empreinte NeoNoé is to die for, the designs are amazing. But the leather...
Weirdly Vuitton made a Monogram-embossed line for the Men's Universe too, but they went in the opposite direction. The Monogram Shadow is absolutely stunning but feels way more delicate than the original Empreinte.

 

[Bonosbabe]

I feel the same way. The new Empreinte NeoNoé is to die for, the designs are amazing. But the leather...
Weirdly Vuitton made a Monogram-embossed line for the Men's Universe too, but they went in the opposite direction. The Monogram Shadow is absolutely stunning but feels way more delicate than the original Empreinte.

As usual, I’m late to the party, which means I may have to miss out on this awesome bag. I don’t own many LV bags, either, so I was really wanting this one in my collection.

 

[Bonosbabe]

So this is my bag. The embossing doesn’t look smooth, like I’ve seen in everyone else’s PM. It looks pebbled. Is this normal?

 

[BULL]

So this is my bag. The embossing doesn’t look smooth, like I’ve seen in everyone else’s PM. It looks pebbled. Is this normal?

It looks like typical Empreinte to me. I can feel it with my fingers just by looking at the photo. The bag is gorgeous though. I assume that what you see on other people's photos really depends on the lighting and the colour of the bag too. Although there might be some differences in the leather production. But the true judge of this leather is touch. I am sure that most other Empreinte these days feels like yours. I am very curious what will be your experience if you visit the store and check out a few other Empreinte items. Please keep us posted.

 

[Loriad]

So this is my bag. The embossing doesn’t look smooth, like I’ve seen in everyone else’s PM. It looks pebbled. Is this normal?

Looks like mine, although mine is Turtledove. Also looks pebbled. And then the strap which isn't embossed looks pebbled.

 

[Loriad]

Looks like mine, although mine is Turtledove. Also looks pebbled. And then the strap which isn't embossed looks pebbled.

I guess I should say my embossed areas are LESS pebbled and not smooth. But they are pebbled.

 

[daisy913]

I have several empreinte pieces. I prefer to buy empreinte pieces in person, so I can pick which leather I like more.

From what I've noticed, harder presses tend to come with less shiny and stiffer leathers. Softer presses are usually seen on more supple and shinier leathers. It's really up to the buyer to choose what they like. The item style tends to dictate the leather too imo. I've seen more structured empreinte pieces with stiffer leather, and non-structured pieces (like Montsouris MM) with softer leather. Most empreinte SLGs I've seen have supple leather. Most empreinte pochette metis pieces I've seen are on the stiffer and less shiny side.

I prefer a harder press with stiffer leather and less shine. It gives me a good starting point. From what I've noticed, my empreinte pieces get shinier over time, aka they've gotten "dirty" from oils and use, which is normal with leather. Think of how vachetta gets a sheen over time too. New Chanel leather bags always look like plastic when I compare them to my older Chanel leather bag, but eventually those new plasticky bags get a nice sheen too.

As for your press, your press doesn't look like it's that hard, which actually suggests to me you have a more supple leather there. I have a bag and some slgs with a press similar to yours, and while I'm disappointed by the shallower press, I can't deny that the leather feels really nice. The bag you got probably just needs to be used for you to start seeing what you want from it. Some of my newer and used empreinte pieces look a lot better than my never-been-used one that I've had longer.

 

[kkatie]

If you don’t love it might be worth returning.
Empreinte leather is treated leather and doesn’t smell 100% leather. Also if there is microfiber interior the plastic smell of the fiber surpasses whatever leather smell there is.
What Bull mentions I have seen it in person. A friend has an old (I believe 2010-2012) version of the empreinte PM which is like true leather, you can see the scratches and all, it seems really delicate while the nowadays one seems sturdy and coated.
Having said that, different bags have different empreinte leather. I had placed the On the Go MM in black empreinte next to the newly launched Neverfull black empreinte, and the Neverfull seemed “cheap” and not as sturdy as if the actual leather was much thinner. The epi version on the Neverfull is much nicer (even though well no Monogram).
But also the City Steamer is a full leather piece (not empreinte and no microfiber in, but still pebbled) and it didn’t smell much of leather either.

however as you see in the photos below the creases it’s very much leather (production week last week of February in France and since in the dustbag)

 

[Bonosbabe]

I have several empreinte pieces. I prefer to buy empreinte pieces in person, so I can pick which leather I like more.

From what I've noticed, harder presses tend to come with less shiny and stiffer leathers. Softer presses are usually seen on more supple and shinier leathers. It's really up to the buyer to choose what they like. The item style tends to dictate the leather too imo. I've seen more structured empreinte pieces with stiffer leather, and non-structured pieces (like Montsouris MM) with softer leather. Most empreinte SLGs I've seen have supple leather. Most empreinte pochette metis pieces I've seen are on the stiffer and less shiny side.

I prefer a harder press with stiffer leather and less shine. It gives me a good starting point. From what I've noticed, my empreinte pieces get shinier over time, aka they've gotten "dirty" from oils and use, which is normal with leather. Think of how vachetta gets a sheen over time too. New Chanel leather bags always look like plastic when I compare them to my older Chanel leather bag, but eventually those new plasticky bags get a nice sheen too.

As for your press, your press doesn't look like it's that hard, which actually suggests to me you have a more supple leather there. I have a bag and some slgs with a press similar to yours, and while I'm disappointed by the shallower press, I can't deny that the leather feels really nice. The bag you got probably just needs to be used for you to start seeing what you want from it. Some of my newer and used empreinte pieces look a lot better than my never-been-used one that I've had longer.

Thank you for your words of encouragement. After reading your post, it seems to be the leather just might be sturdier than older versions and that there’s nothing wrong. I do hope it gets nicer over time with use, but will try to see others in store to compare - good tip!

 

[Bonosbabe]

If you don’t love it might be worth returning.
Empreinte leather is treated leather and doesn’t smell 100% leather. Also if there is microfiber interior the plastic smell of the fiber surpasses whatever leather smell there is.
What Bull mentions I have seen it in person. A friend has an old (I believe 2010-2012) version of the empreinte PM which is like true leather, you can see the scratches and all, it seems really delicate while the nowadays one seems sturdy and coated.
Having said that, different bags have different empreinte leather. I had placed the On the Go MM in black empreinte next to the newly launched Neverfull black empreinte, and the Neverfull seemed “cheap” and not as sturdy as if the actual leather was much thinner. The epi version on the Neverfull is much nicer (even though well no Monogram).
But also the City Steamer is a full leather piece (not empreinte and no microfiber in, but still pebbled) and it didn’t smell much of leather either.

however as you see in the photos below the creases it’s very much leather (production week last week of February in France and since in the dustbag)

View attachment 5023063

Thanks for that photo - it’s a good point of comparison for mine. Looks like they were made around the same time.