bag restoration: black wood polish to revive color on leather goods

shoe polish on leather bags is, obviously, a big no-no because it can rub off on clothing.  enter....black wood polish!  the color stays on the leather so you will be streak-free at the end of the day.  it can easily hide superficial scratches and scuff marks.  plus, it is fairly cheap at 150 pesos.  one container should last you a long time.  i tested it on a black vintage coach binocular bag with great result.

apply in circular motion.  less is more.

 buff lightly with soft cotton rag for subtle sheen.

it has a very strong shoe polish-like smell.  let the bag sit for a few hours before using.

check for color transfer.

verdict?  after a long day of thrift shopping, the color just got even better!

psssst, you may use this trick on your worn-out leather couch, too!

bag restoration: vintage christian dior tapestry boston bag

i used to love this vintage christian dior tapestry boston bag, but it developed molds on the leather trims due to improper storage.  also, the cream tapestry became too yellowed, dusty, and dirty.  this bag is in dire need of rehabbing.

vintage christian dior tapestry boston bag before.

soap and water bath.  i let it soaked for about 30 minutes.

rinse completely.

drip dry.

leather conditioner on trims.  apply when the bag is 90% dry.

dry completely under direct sunlight.  sun is a natural molds and mildew eliminator.  it can also lighten the fabric material.

vintage christian dior tapestry boston bag after.  clean and ready to use.

bag restoration: faux-electroplated strap buckles

this extremely rare vintage gucci hobo leather bag from the 70s is truly a diamond in the rough.  it's really amazing how a simple change on hardware can make such a huge difference on the appearance of a bag.  i wish i could easily buy gold-leafing pen in the local market as it would make this process a hundred times faster and easier.  they carry this product on amazon.com, but with tax and import duties, i would rather make do with my leftover bosny kt gold effekt in 100% gold.

faded metal buckles.

use tape to cover areas you don't want any paint on.  also, prepare canola oil to remove any excess paint on leather.  try to avoid acetone-based products as much as possible.

cover the remainder of the bag with old rags.

use bosny kt gold effekt no. 183 or 100% gold.

dry completely before inserting your strap.  it will take approximately an hour.

close up shots.

bag restoration: faux-electroplated chain strap

for this diy faux-electroplating, i used bosny kt gold effekt in brass gold.  you can purchase it at any ace hardware store for 280 pesos.  the result is not as shiny as real electroplated metal, but the effect is somewhat similar for a fraction of the price.

old antique-finished brass chain strap.  this color is quite difficult to match on the hardware of my existing bags.

hanging your chain strap as opposed to lying down would be the best option.

give it a double coat of spray paint.  allow to dry for approximately an hour.

prepare your materials.  vintage daks london bag with missing strap, pliers, and your "new" chain strap.

voila!

pretty close match, no?  i'm super delighted with the result.

bag restoration: stinky vintage gucci boston bag

i used up all the tricks i know for removing malodour on this bag, from all-natural homemade cleaners to chemical-filled solutions with no luck.  so, i decided to give this vintage gucci bag a deep wash as a last resort.  you can safely wash any coated canvas material.  however, i should warn you that the final result really depends on the quality and condition of the bag pre-wash.  i should also emphasize that the most important part is to apply leather conditioner while the bag is still wet, or at least damp.  this is to prevent any unsightly cracks from happening.

don't be deceived by the look because this one smells really, really bad.

i used a nylon mesh dipped in softened detergent bar to get rid of the remaining flaky lining.  this should also remove malodour without using bleach.

rinse, rinse, rinse.

stuff with towels.  rest the bag for a little while.

apply leather conditioner while the bag is still damp to touch.

hang to dry.  i then used a blow dryer to speed up the drying process.

vintage gucci bag after!  clean, refreshed, and most importantly, no more stink!