FASHIONPHILE sells pre-loved goods with the majority needing no restoration, but on occasion, we get those few that undergo careful restoration to extend their life and keep them out of landfills.
At FASHIONPHILE, we’re experts at breathing new life into ultra-luxury treasures, all while championing sustainability. Our commitment to the circular economy goes beyond merely buying and selling pre-owned bags and accessories — that’s been ingrained in our DNA since 1999. Beyond curating the finest selection of designer pieces from all around the world, we’re dedicated to restoring and revitalizing items to honor their heritage and craftsmanship and to keep ultra-luxury circular. Wondering how to restore an old bag or if there’s any hope that your leather bags can be revived? Our expert restoration team has the answers.
Restoring Pre-Owned Designer Handbags
Remember, pre-owned is, well, pre-owned. But the beauty of shopping at FASHIONPHILE is that our inventory spans various condition tiers. From items in pristine, gift-worthy condition to those that have been well-loved for many years that you can snag for a deal. But here’s the thing – we believe that every bag deserves a chance at a new life. That’s where our dedicated restoration team steps in.
Fun fact: a survey we did with Kantar a couple of years back revealed that those who invest in luxury handbags are 74% more inclined to take good care of them from the start. We’ve observed this with the bags we receive daily—they’re generally well-maintained. In fact, a whopping 97% of the pre-loved goods we sell at FASHIONPHILE require no restoration. However, for the few that do, we feel a responsibility to honor the history, heritage, and brand by offering careful restoration. This not only prolongs the lifespan of these pieces but also helps in reducing waste in landfills.
Before a designer bag makes its debut on our site, it undergoes a meticulous process. Cleaning is one of them. But that’s not all. Our in-house restoration services, provided at no cost to you, give worn treasures a fresh lease on life; even those newer pieces with small flaws.
Our in-house restoration team, currently led by FASHIONPHILE’s Restoration Supervisor, Christine Corcoran-Valente, is growing rapidly. She, herself, cleaned and restored over 10,000 items over the years. Naturally, with her expertise, we had to pick her brains! Here’s what we learned from her extensive experience restoring luxury handbags.
Restoring a Fendi Baguette: Before After
How was it done?
- I first gave it a very good vacuuming.
- Then I shampooed the front and back.
- I removed surface wear, and corner wear, and cleaned the leather strap and flap.
- I then cleaned and shined the hardware.
Are there any tricky bags to clean and restore?
The hardest bags to clean are bags with ink, gum and heavy food, and liquid stains. I would suggest telling our clients to keep pens, change (coins), gum, and candy out of their beautiful handbags. These small but very dangerous things can cause nothing but heartache and are not worth the damage they can create.
What is the hardest textile to clean and restore?
The toughest textile for me to clean is any Louis Vuitton with Vachetta because it is so porous and prone to liquid stains. I have discovered a number of ways to either clean or lighten liquid stains. Suede and exotics are also hard textiles to clean, but I have been able to find different ways to clean each issue (or at least get it to a better place than where it was).
Another tip (and we cannot stress this enough): Do not use hand lotion and then carry your LV. The lotion will transfer and over time darken the Vachetta. Do not wash your hands and then pick up your LV. Do not put your bags on the floor or plop them on a sinktop at a restaurant. If they do get wet or splashed, wipe them down fast and use a dryer to dry them.
If you own a Louis Vuitton bag, here are some more care tips and how to achieve the ideal patina.
Re(store) Your Accessories the Right Way
When storing your beautiful shoes and handbags, keep them away in dust bags, and don’t allow them to touch other bags or shoes. Especially patent leather. PL will pull the color of another bag off and become discolored; it’s called dye transfer. There is very little that can be done to fix this problem once it happens. It can even happen when they are not touching each other. My advice is to keep your bags in their original dust bag and away from other bags.
I would also like to add that leather bags need to be cleaned and conditioned on a regular basis or have it done professionally. It’s a small investment that will keep your Holy Grail clean, crisp, and looking beautiful year after year.
Read more about ultra-luxury designer handbag storage ideas and how to keep your bags organized and looking pristine for longer.
