Handbag Repairs

Types of Repairs done at Lovin My Bags

This lamb skin bag had warn corners and the leather had worn off on the back area. It also had darkened handles. Once repaired it looked like new.



Here is a Bottega Veneta that has faded and the wallet does not match: after restoration the handbag and wallet look like new and are a matching pair :-)

This is an example of the sort of damages we restore. There is wear and dye transfer on this unfinished Betsey Johnson bag. This bag weighs over 3lbs. empty.

I will update this page with more before and afters in the next few days!

Barbara

Lovin My Bags

What are you putting on your handbag?

What are the ladies putting on their handbags?

I would like to know...advice will follow ...

Unfinished Leather Handbags

Handbags that are made with unfinished leathers:
BULGA, Coach, Kooba, Gustto and other lamb skin bags:

Usually unfinished leather handbags have a natural color - such as this Coach bag. These bags are notorious for getting water stains just to name the most common!

Get caught in the rain and this bag becomes spotty!!

Not all protection sprays protect the leather and in some cases, the leather reacts to the chemicals and you get some discoloring.

We developed a product for this very delicate type of leather that goes on as a cream and protects from OIL and WATER without darkening -

Now - leather as I have mentioned in unpredictable due to the various tanning processes used - so always test the products first. If there is going to be some darkening - its usually very minimal - but you have to be ok with that doing the whole bag.

The other thing - some people love to "SLATHER" the cream on their bag -that is a no-no. A few thin layers is better than a thick layer any day!

The product is Lovin My Bags Pro-Treatment - no one who owns expensive leather bags should be without it!!


Barbara
Lovin My Bags

Patent Leather Handbags

Hi!

Some concerns regarding Patent leather handbags have come my way via your emails.

Patent leather is a very shiny leather that has been pigmented and then has several coats of thick oily varnish applied to it which gives it its high shine.

The stickiness that may occur with patent leather, is due to the oils migrating through to the surface. It is not advisable to try any products on this type of leather.

How we look after this issue professionally:

We seal the leather with special glossy top coats trapping the oils. This is usually enough to eliminate the stickiness.

The other problem we are hearing about regarding Patent Leather handbags is the dye transfer issue on the light colored bags. This is not something we have been able to remedy as of yet.

• The best way to avoid this, is to keep the bag away from extreme heat, which causes the surface to be more susceptable to absorbing dye from clothes it comes into contact with.


• Always try to keep your bag off of any garments that are black or blue (such as blue jeans) or red, as these are the colors that transfer the most often.

We will continuing to investigate ways to correct and/or prevent patent leather from these problems...I will keep you posted as to our breakthroughs!!

Barbara

Handbag Care

Handbag Care:

There are many leather "faux pas" out there and most of them cannot be ignored. Leather is not a consistent fabric - it is as unique as a persons skin. Tanning changes leather characteristics and creates even more differentiating qualities that must be addresses when taking about care. Car leather is different from furniture leather which is different from handbag leather and then there are many different types of handbag leathers used by the different Handbag Designer.


It was suggested on one site to rub saddle soap on unfinished leather....ok, for a saddle that's fine, but unfinished lamb or kid skin will totally disintegrate with that high a pH and soap content....

It must be understood that the pH of leather is very important in making sure that the leather remains strong. Soaps and detergents are very high on the pH scale, usually in the 9.0 - 10.5 range, compared to leather which is 4.5. When the alkaline products are absorbed by the leather pH damage occurs. This is recognizable by the change is consistency of the leather : it becomes spongy and loose and eventually the fibers loosen so much that the leather rips like paper - leather basically decomposes. Handbag leather is very delicate and this deterioration process can occur faster on handbags than on furniture or car leather.

We encountered a situation many years ago, when a very high end car Manufacturer had put perforated leather in their cars - with the application of certain cleaners with high soap content the seats started to rip. The perforations allowed the cleaner to be absorbed by the leather very quickly so the leather fibers softened and the leather ripped like paper towel. It was a disaster - if this can happen with very thick leather made for a car seat, just imagine the ramification on very thin handbag leather?

Handbag leather is available in a variety of skins and a variety of tanning processes and requires very special care to maintain its beauty. Yet, little knowledge exists regarding the care of leather after purchase. We have found that even the tanneries don't understand the concept of leather care after the tanning process is completed and the leather is in the market as a product.

As a Handbag and leather Designer with a background in Leather Restoration, I have made it my "calling" to help educate all owners of designer handbag regarding its care and restoration so that these handbags do not get neglected or thrown in the closet to collect dust!!

Let's get those beauties looking beautiful again and maintain their youthfulness with special handbag beauty products!!

Here are some products that are a must for beautiful bags. Lovin My Bags Handbag Beauty Care Products:

1. Luxury Leather Cleanser - Intensive cleansing that removes dye transfer and soiling
2. Daily Cleanser & Conditioner for every day gentle cleaning
3. Ultimate Moisturizer for bags with some sheen
4. Feel Soft Moisturizer for non-shiny bags
5. Pro-Treatment for all bags (protects from OIL and Liquids)
6. For Handles Only - Inhibits oil absorption in the handles keeping them from darkening.

For a number of tips regarding finished and unfinished leather handbags check my website -

www.lovinmybags.com/tips.html

Barbara