The Sustainability Series: Nurture Not New. How To Give Your Vintage Handbags A Longer Life With Handbag Clinic

The Sustainability Series is our latest Instagram Live series, where every episode we introduce you to a sustainability advocate or expert and talk about a topic under the umbrella of sustainability in fashion.

As a team, we are constantly striving to understand the everchanging issues of sustainability in fashion. We’re continually learning through listening to experts’ advice, and we wanted to share this knowledge with you too.  After much feedback from our audiences, we are aware that many of you are eager to learn more about your environmental impacts when shopping and want to come along on our journey to securing a sustainable fashion future. The Sustainability Series is here to help!

Every episode of The Sustainability Series focuses on a different topic, and our guest offers their leading opinion on the questions under that topic that you want to know.  

Here we have rounded up some main tips to take away from Episode 1: Nurture not new. How to give your vintage handbags a longer life. For this episode we were joined by handbag restoration service, Handbag Clinic, who we have recently partnered with.

Storing your handbag:

Store your handbags in a dust bag in a cool, dry place. The temperature of its surroundings can affect the leather, and if its too humid you may start to see difficulties – it can cause mould and the colour can be affected.

Make sure nothing has been left inside the handbag that could leak or cause damage whilst it’s in storage.

Stuff your handbags when storing. This makes sure the insides don’t develop damage, keeps the bags structure, and avoids creasing.

Protecting bag handles:

Oils are absorbed from your handbags into the handles of your bag. Keep on top of wiping down the handles regularly to remove these oils. Bag handles need wiping down more than the body of the bag.

The hand sanitisers you use can also impact the leather. Your bag handle can absorb sanitisers with a moisturising agent in, or a strong alcohol-based sanitiser can dry out the leather.

Why not protect bag handles by wrapping them with a decorative scarf?

Which Hermes leather is best?

Of course, whichever leather you choose when buying a vintage Hermes is down to your personal preference, but it’s good to note that:

The leathers that restore the best are pigmented leathers, e.g., Togo, Clemence, Epsom leathers.

Pigmented leather reduces the bags’ ability to absorb things – oils, water etc.

Pigmented leathers last the longest and are easiest to repair and maintain long term.

Stains:

Put anything that can leak or spill into a separate bag or pouch within your handbag to prevent leakage and damage to the lining.

If something has leaked or stained the lining, don’t try any crazy methods to try and fix it – no nail varnish remover or toothpaste hacks you’ve seen!

Only try light cleaning at home. If the damage is still there, get it professionally cleaned or the lining replaced.

Watch the full Live now via our IGTV on our Instagram to see the whole conversation. You can also catch up on any other episode.

Visit our handbag Repair and Restore Portal on site now to book in your handbag for a range of services.

Shop our collection of vintage designer handbags.