As someone who has been working with handbags for almost half my life, I’ve had the pleasure of learning a lot about leather care. Recently I have been applying this knowledge towards restoring my own bags. I’ve always wanted a Bottega Hobo bag, and I happened to find one at the right price in an amazing color that I couldn’t resist. Though it looked a little rough initially, upon further inspection I deemed it salvageable. Here was my process:
Step 1: Moisturization
I started off with a soft old rag and a couple of pumps of Collonil Leather Gel. I put about a quarter sized amount onto the rag, then dabbed the rag onto itself to make sure the moisturizer wasn’t concentrated in one area. Since the bag is lambskin it’s more prone to stains, so I made sure to spot test a discreet area before applying the gel to the whole bag. I was also sure to make the gel as thin and even on the rag as I could to prevent any kind of staining. I moisturized the bag by moving the rag in a soft circular motion, being sure to not press too hard, as I would not want to cake in any dirt. Collonil is my favorite moisturizer, richer and less watery than Apple Guard, I find that I have more control when applying. I also find it very nourishing and the effects longer lasting than others I have tried in the past. Moisturizing keeps the bag’s color rich, the leather supple, and prevents dry rot further down the line.
Before & After
Step 2: Spot Removal
After allowing the moisturizer to dry, I got together the supplies I needed to remove some dark spots I found on the bag. A small bowl of rubbing alcohol and a few q-tips to lightly rub the surface of the stain. I let the alcohol on the Q-tip dry a little before applying, and did so gently as to not wipe off too much of the bag’s dye. To me this is the most nerve wracking part of the process, as it is very easy to mess up. I do not recommend you try this at home without lots of practice. Though I was able to get the small stains out and greatly improved the appearance of the large stain, it didn’t come out completely, as I didn’t want to remove too much dye. I’m confident with use and exposure the stain will continue to fade.
Before & After
Step 3: Clean the Liner
The inside of this bag was in decent shape for being a beige colored suede. It only had a single pen mark, some light orange splotches, and what appeared to be the remnants of spilled makeup at the bottom. I began to clean the lining with the Collonil gel, in a similar fashion to step one. That got rid of most of the stains, including the pen mark to my surprise. Then I took the wired side of my suede brush and began to gently brush in the direction of the grain. This loosens and brushes off dirt and re-fluffs the suede. If done from time to time it will prevent suede matting and extend the life of your bag.
Before & After
Step 4: Wear It
I enjoy this bag knowing where it came from and what I’ve done for it. There is something very rewarding about carrying a bag you know you made better. Restoring bags is something very personal to me, and watching the progress is extremely satisfying. All bags deserve love, and with all of my experience I am fortunate enough to have reached a skill level where I can confidently gauge the situation and act upon it accordingly myself. If you do attempt to try this at home be sure to practice plenty. When I first started I would even buy bags at a thrift store to practice on until I was comfortable enough to work on my own. If you have any questions feel free to comment, we are always happy to help!
Love these care articles, the before and after photos are satisfying, please do more in the future!
We will for sure keep thinking of other handbag care and maintenance and how to posts!
So insightful thank you so much for this article, love the way you styled it at the end.
I agree!
Thank you! Was excited for spring!
Wow you’re brave for doing this yourself! It looks beautiful! ??
Thank you so much!
This is really helpful, but do you have any recommendations to remove mothball or mold odors from bags?
I had a moldy bag once and I gave it a vinegar bath. You can use a toothbrush to scrub the spores and little bits from the hardware. After that I stuck that bag in the freezer to kill anything else. Make sure the bag hasn’t been re-dyed and obviously do so at your own risk because a lot could go wrong lol!
Where is that skirt from?
The top is by Ganni and the Skirt is Vintage from Shop Berriez
Hair spray can be used to remove stains and is safer that alcohol.
I’ve heard that too. But I’ve never tried anything on any of my bags… so scared to myself! Jess is really knowledge in restoring bags, love to have her share her process with us!
The thing with hairspray is its not as consistent and its hard to know the exact contents, so you don’t know exactly what is being applied to your bag and how much of it you are applying. It can also effect the way the bag patinas overtime because the chemicals in the hairspray can react to sunlight, this happened to a friend of mine. I personally like the control and know what to expect with alcohol 🙂
Love this. I wish you had linked all the tools you used though!
Here are some links for you:
Leather Gel and Suede Brush
Not my exact brush but similar to mine. Also a reminder to spot test before applying to the whole bag, same with he brush so you can get a better feel of the bristles, too much brushing can cause what looks like balding
Love this article ??? thanks for the tips!!!
No problem! We’ll be coming out with more soon 🙂
Love this article! Thanks for the tips. More article like this, please!
So glad! We have one in progress stay tuned!
Amazing job! Would love to see more of these articles
Thank you! We have another one coming up soon so keep your eyes peeled ??
Great article! Very refreshing! You gave life to this gorgeous bag! Kudos! The craftsmanship of BV is amazing! I’m taking the plunge and getting the new mini pouch in woven leather and the Padded cassette bag next week.
I LOVE my pouch it’s quickly become one of my most used bags, also dying for a cassette! Enjoy your beautiful new bags ??
Hi! Do you by any chance remember the name of this particular colour? Is it China Red or Vesuvio? I am so confused between the two. Much thanks!
Hi
wondering how this has held up. I have a BV find that needs similar TLC with some edges scuffed and dry. Am unsure about what product to use. I’m looking at the colonial gel you used but also considering the saphir medaille dor lotion. Did the leather do well with this gel?
I have a 1980s Bottega bag with a removable (tied at each side) handle. The woven part of the bag is okay but the handle is curled from use. Any suggestions on flattening the handle to bring back the crisp look?