Polène handbags

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#6,856
nyeredzi said:
Time for my own Polene wear story. Admittedly, I seem to be a lot harder on my bags than other people on this forum. Whatever the opposite of 'baby' your bags is, that's what I do. I grandpa my bags? Age my bags? Anyway, I have the Neuf regular size. I sometimes carry a lot, so it can be heavy. I carry by the handle or with the strap on the shoulder. I have worn it <20 times.

The two sides of the handle are sewn together and also maybe glued or something? Not sure about that last. I did notice previously that the stitching on the underside of the handle was not centered. I only noticed this because of this forum, as prior to this forum, it would have never occurred to me to scrutinize a bag in such a way. Though I noticed it, I really did not care. However, what is troubling is that the ... glue? ... or whatever is holding the two pieces of the handle together at the edge is coming undone. That is, the stitching does not go all the way from edge to edge. Where it is stitched, nothing is coming apart. But beyond the stitches, at the edges, it appears to be separating. In this picture you can see both that the stitching on the underside is not centered (meh) and that the edges are separating from one another (uh oh). This separation is not visible from the top, only when you turn the handle over. Maybe it's that the glazing from each half remains glued together, but then the leather is separating from the glazing? Hard for me to tell for sure what is happening.

View attachment 5700976

I'm thinking it's probably not the best design to have a top handle that is joined with two pieces right at the point of the greatest strain, where someone will hold it. But then if you're going to do that, wouldn't it be better to have the stitching go all the way from end to end, to strengthen that join? Seems like it's a natural weak point that has poor reinforcement.

View attachment 5700977

I will continue to use in the same way I've been using it and update if it gets worse, or actually comes apart. I won't be babying it, or putting less in it to avoid straining it, as I buy these things to serve me, not the other way around. If it gets worse or actually becomes unusable, then that is just what is going to happen. I'll post if it does.
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Interesting. I had to check on mine right away:rolleyes: so here's a photo for comparison because it looks a bit different. It's just the painted leather edges stiched together (also not completely centered, but it's just the underside, it looks perfect on top). Definitely no glue in this area. Might it be the case that yours has a thicker layer of edge painting and maybe this stuck together and is now separating from the leather?
IMG_20230126_123654.jpg
 
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#6,858
Mairaculi said:
Interesting. I had to check on mine right away:rolleyes: so here's a photo for comparison because it looks a bit different. It's just the painted leather edges stiched together (also not completely centered, but it's just the underside, it looks perfect on top). Definitely no glue in this area. Might it be the case that yours has a thicker layer of edge painting and maybe this stuck together and is now separating from the leather?
View attachment 5701261
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Thank you. I think that is what it is. It's at least a relief that it's just a bit unsightly and not going to come apart!
 
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#6,861
ChanellenahC said:
Has anyone chosen to select no signature required with DHL for delivery of your Polene bag? Did you have any issues with that? Might have to opt for that but wanted to see if anyone had any issues receiving their packages when they selected no signature. Thanks!
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I've never selected this option but they always leave it at my front without even ringing the doorbell. Luckily, I haven’t had any issues.
 
#6,865
ann23 said:
Hi Neuf mini owners, I’ve seen a blog post with pic that the bag does fit a water bottle. How hard can it be tho to put it in/out? Thanks!
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I have a mini Neuf and if you are talking a standard 500ml water bottle… that’s not happening lol. You have to really jam and crush it to get it in there. I was able to get it in if I really wanted to but I would not recommend. It will be impossible to get anything out without removing the bottle first, it makes tons of crinkling noise to get it out, and the bag will have to endure being stretched
 
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#6,866
RoyalChi said:
I have a mini Neuf and if you are talking a standard 500ml water bottle… that’s not happening lol. You have to really jam and crush it to get it in there. I was able to get it in if I really wanted to but I would not recommend. It will be impossible to get anything out without removing the bottle first, it makes tons of crinkling noise to get it out, and the bag will have to endure being stretched
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Oh thanks! I think the pic I saw was indeed a 16oz bottle, but mine is a 350ml tumbler. Maybe hard to tell unless I have the bag myself LOL.

Any kind of bottle you can fit? Or what’s the biggest item you can comfirtably fit/pull out so far?
 
#6,867
ann23 said:
Oh thanks! I think the pic I saw was indeed a 16oz bottle, but mine is a 350ml tumbler. Maybe hard to tell unless I have the bag myself LOL.

Any kind of bottle you can fit? Or what’s the biggest item you can comfirtably fit/pull out so far?
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350ml might not be too bad. I can get the 500ml in there, it just would be annoying to get in and out repeatedly.

Right now, what I carry in mine is a 4.25” x 3.5” wallet, an iPhone mini, keys, small bottle of hand sanitizer, eye drops, and AirPod case. Sometimes a granola bar or other snack. There is still quite a bit of room with those essentials, and my water bottle attempt was with those things in it. Hope that helps! Let me know if there’s anything else you have in mind. If I have it in my house, I don’t mind trying to shove it in there to test for you LOL!
 
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