Earlier this summer, I shared that I’m a big fan of Mon Monogrammed bags. I purchased my Mon Monogrammed Speedy 30 from my local Louis Vuitton boutique two and a half years ago, and from the moment I brought the bag home with me, I was worried about how well the painted screen-printed monogram would hold up with normal wear and tear. Speedies don’t have protective feet on the bottom, so I have been particularly worried about the print on the bottom of my bag. I have a personal rule against putting my bag on the floor, but it’s still subject to wear and tear, no matter how hard I try to baby it. After two and a half years of frequent use, I am happy to report that my bag looks almost as new today as it did the day I brought it home. The vachetta has darkened to a nice honey color, but otherwise, there is virtually no sign of use on my Speedy (phew!). I have gotten caught in a few unexpected rain drizzles, which resulted in a few unavoidable water spots on the vachetta, but that just comes with the LV ownership territory. It bothered me at first, but I have learned to get over it and just let it happen! It’s not super obvious to people not looking for it, and it’s just a bag, after all. At least that’s what I tell myself to sleep soundly at night.
My Mon Mono Speedy has two vertical stripes running down the front center of the bag (I chose Fuchsia and Vert Clair for the colors), with my initials “LP” featured on the front center of the bag. The interior of lining is a beautiful turquoise color that is a perfect match to the Vert Clair stripe, and the bright interior has to be my favorite feature of my Speedy 30. The stripes are cute and have held up nicely, but that interior really pops. The lighter interior makes it easier to find my belongings inside of the bag, which sounds like a small thing, but trust me, it makes a huge impact on the functionality of the bag, particularly since the Speedy can become a bottomless pit at times. I was wary of the printed stripes showing wear with chips or color fading, but I’m happy to report it looks the same today as the day I brought it home.
Storage has been the key to keeping my Mon Monogram Speedy in mint condition. If you have ever purchased a Speedy before, you know that it’s standard for the bag to be folded flat when you buy it from an LV boutique. While this is fine for your average Speedy bag, the Mon Monogram version will come stuffed with plastic stuffing, keeping it in its naturally intended shape. My sales associate explained that you should always keep a Mon Monogrammed piece stuffed, as the print can get warped and chipped if it gets folded flat. I still use the puffy plastic from the boutique to stuff my bag, and when this bag isn’t on my arm, it lives stored safely in its dust bag. I baby this bag more than the rest of the bags in my collection, but my Mon Mono Speedy sure is worth it!
If you want to learn more about the Mon Monogram process, check it out here.
Thanks for sharing! I’ve been eyeing a mon mono speedy for a long time, so it’s good to know that you’re having a positive experience with yours. About how long do you think it takes before the vachetta handles start darkening? I actually hate the look of the super-pale new vachetta, and wish I could fast forward to the darkened patina color from the get go.
I watched a youtube video from a gentleman that has several LV’s. He said to put the bag in a sunny window (rotate all sides) then wipe with baby wipes (Pure).
It’s printed, not painted.
The mon monogram line is actually hand painted instead of screen printed. You can see it on their website.
Nope. The website is very misleading. They mix pictures of handbags and trunks, but you’ll notice that the hand-painting is only on hard-sided items. The Mon Mono handbags and soft-luggage are “inspired” by that tradition, but the canvas is simply printed like the rest of their many print-on-canvas collections.
No I specifically asked before. They paint it onto the canvas by hands then they coat that piece of canvas. They assemble the bag using that piece of canvas. They do the same for all their mon monogram pieces.
Timothy: I received a reply from LV: “Louis Vuitton’s Mon Monogram/Damier service is a custom creation service where stripes and/or initials may be requested for Louis Vuitton’s iconic Speedy, Neverfull, Keepall, and Pegase creations, as well as some Small Leather Goods.
The personalization is a screen printing done on flat material prior to the cutting and stitching of the item, and for this reason is not offered on existing items”. Hope this helps!
OK… believe whatever you want to believe from uninformed SAs. I’m just telling you the truth.
It’s okay. I rather believe in my SA than some internet randos that tells the truth. Thanks for your opinion. I will take it into consideration.
Just FYI, many of us on PurseBlog are very knowledgeable members of PurseForum. 😉
I’m not disagreeing and that’s why I’m taking all the information into consideration. There are both knowledgeable and uninformed people on the internet as well.
its not hand painted. thats why you cant have it done on a pre existing speedy. if you were to look at hand painted hard sided pieces you could clearly tell the difference. not only in color, but also in structure. im shocked your SA would tell you something like this tbh
I remembered a tpf conversation about this topic from years ago. You might find this interesting. The thread title is “Is Mon Monogram truely handpainted?.”
I read that the trunks were painted, but that led me to wonder if the handbags were as well. So, I sent an email to the LV website and am awaiting a reply. I’m sure that many people have knowledge, but I want to find out directly from L.V.
Thanks for the info! Argh this is frustrating and why I don’t buy LV anymore. This is even more ridiculous. My mon monogram neverfull has this totally not symmetrical stripe and I was told it was because it was hand painted and variation happens.
I guess I was right… 😉
He feels badly enough that he was sent an inferior product. Can’t you be supportive vs. continuing to goad him and gloat? Geez…
Why do you qualify it as “inferior”? I am so confused by that comment.
Also, I am being very supportive toward our friend as I took the time to explain how the bags are really manufactured, instead of letting people believe lies. And that in spite of being constantly attacked and shot down by other members. Maybe you should stop harassing me and mind your own business?
Let me explain what I mean so that you are no longer “confused”. It is “inferior” because he explained that “mon monogram neverfull has this totally not symmetrical stripe and I was told it was because it was hand painted and variation happens”. The bag is advertised as having a symmetrical line, but he didn’t get what he paid for therefore it is an inferior product.
As far as you “being supportive” it doesn’t come off that way. It felt that he was going on the defensive in explaining his position re: what he was told by an SA vs. what you were telling him.
Also, re: me “harassing” you that is simply not true. When you say “I guess I was right” it isn’t something that anyone wants to hear since a person feels badly and doesn’t want to be reminded that they made a mistake. Lastly, this is an open forum and I’m free to respond to anyone so I am “minding my own business”. In the past you have responded to me and despite that we disagreed I didn’t feel that I was being attacked or harassed. We simply had a difference of opinion and I certainly didn’t take it personally, as you shouldn’t. I don’t know if you live in the U.S., Europe, Asia or wherever because there could simply be a cultural difference and we misunderstand one another, but IDK. Anyway, try not to be so defensive and take words so personally. No-one is doing anything wrong to you so relax and enjoy the blog. Have an incredibly fabulous day! I know that I will, too!
Oh, no! I feel that you could return it and have them make you a new one. Once I returned a bag, hot stamped with my initials, since the monogram was crooked. I was told that “it was meant to look like that”, but it looked awful. They shipped it back and the initials were removed, at their cost. Or, you could call LV and request to speak to “Stephen M.” since he responded to my inquiry and was very knowledgeable. Hopefully, they will make this right for you! Good luck!
I’ve used it once or twice and I bought it a year ish ago. They most likely won’t do anything about it. Sigh. I learned my lesson.
I’m sorry this happened to you. Despite that it was a year or more they might take it back and fix it. My philosophy is that if you are not satisfied then the brand needs to make it right. It is a lot of $ to spend and not be able to use your bag. I’m a strong advocate of righting wrongs and one phone call or visit to your LV could bring you the satisfaction that you so rightly deserve. I hope for the best and I’m sure that you’ll make the best decision for yourself! 🙂
It is pretty, thx for sharing!
Enjoyed article–thanks for sharing and congrats for keeping bag in such good shape, it does look brand new!
Ahh! So cute! I’m jealous!
I have a Speedy from years ago. Do you know if I took it into LV, if I could pay to have mine personalized like this? I might use it more.
This is not painted (unlike hardsided items), this is screen printed on the canvas before assembly. So the answer to your question regarding your Speedy is no.
Thank you. Wishing you a successful day.
Hi,
Some time bags can bring nice look to us….
thank you.