Just before I fall asleep at night or when I lay awake in the wee morning hours before my alarm goes off I think about the running to-do list that sits in the back of my notebook. On it is every task under the sun from picking up dog food or my dry-cleaning to ordering a new pair of running sneakers and everything in between. On the very bottom of that list remains tasks I’ve been putting off for a very long time like ordering a print for the empty frame that’s been on my dresser for the last 3 years and getting my Gucci Soho Disco Chain bag cleaned.
Three years ago I opened up my closet to change my bag, pulled out my nude Gucci Soho Disco Chain bag and noticed an odd stain on the front flap. I wracked my brain trying to figure out what it was but I kept coming up short. Ultimately I believe something got spilled on it without my knowledge or I unknowingly rubbed up against something. Regardless of how it happened, it happened and I was unable to remedy the problem on my own. I resorted to getting the bag professionally cleaned but after receiving a high quote from the retailer I decided I would take the bag elsewhere. Well, 3 years later I remain in possession of a stained bag.
The bag has been sitting in the back of my closet virtually untouched (aside from moving into not 1, but 3 different apartments). At this point I clearly haven’t been missing it all that much and it’s silly for me to keep the bag as is, so I’ve been thinking a lot about what to do with it. I could try to sell it as is, but my particular style doesn’t have much resale value as it is, so given the stain I doubt I’d get much of a return. Recently I’ve considered maybe getting it re-dyed or painted in order to give my bag new life and get me excited about using it again, but I’m unsure how successful this would be.
A short search yielded some promising results, like services offered by The Restory, but I’d love to know: have you ever gotten a bag re-dyed?
[featured image via @therestory_]
Sorry but is the wrong bag name. Yes its from the Soho Line but this is not a disco
Disco looks like a camera bag with a tassel. I have one but need to fix the zipper ugh
Never actually did a re-dye job (unless you consider coloring my Mom’s bag corner with a sharpie after I scratched it as re-dye) but I love to watch The Restory’s advertisements, they feel really ASMR. And looks very new too once they’re done, so I’d probably recommend it.
Hi Kaitlin,
I have had several bags re-dyed due to damage both of them Chanel. I highly recommend Artbag. They did a wonderful job on both of my bags. You can contact them at Artbag.com or call them at (212)744-2720. You send in pictures and they will give you an estimate before you ship them your bag. I was very happy with my experience with them. Hope this helps and good luck.
Thanks for the recco! I’ll check them out.
yes I have had touch-ups done. Chelsea cobbler does an AMAZING job, like, leather spa quality but for a normal person’s budget. he is amazing and I have schlepped from up and across town to bring bags to him for emergencies like this. i am ALWAYS impressed and my friends have been as well.
Amazing thank you for the recommendation!
I didn’t know that was a thing.
I re-dyed my Louis Vuitton Roxbury Drive!!! Dyeing vernis is honestly kind of fun but messy!
https://forum.purseblog.com/threads/my-new-roxbury-drive.1039104/#post-34299085
you did a great job
Wow great job! I don’t think I’d be brave enough to attempt it on my own!
That’s so cool – love the process!
I just dyed a used Loewe bag because it cost me 15% off full price new. The dye is streaky in someplace but I still don’t mind!
I had my Fuchsia LC LP Cuir re-dyed. It came back from LC repairs as partly purple, so they messed up. They never admitted to anything.
In the future, if I have to get anything re-dyed I will use the services of a cobbler. They seem to have some professional pride left.
10 years ago I bough a white Chanel single flap for nothing mostly because the white looked dingy as hell. But I never knew what to do with it until this year- when I got it painted red with Purse Rehab! It’s a new bag and it looks stunning, highly recommended!! Only comment I have is that they don’t do the inside so you can kinda see the white peak through
I used to work at Nordstrom in the designer handbag department down in Miami. Our Nordstrom worked with Rago Brothers that is located in Boonton NJ. They’re amazing! One customer brought a bag in that she clearly had spilled bleach on. Of course she told me it had something to do with the sea air where she was but a bleach stain is unmistakable. We sent it to Rago and when it came back it looked brand new. I highly recommend them as someone that has seen their work in person and on multiple bags. They can also fix hardware and other things like designer shoes. Check out their insta because they show some of the work that they have done. I plan on sending my royal blue Celine phantom there for a touch up.
I rescued a Balenciaga Town bag in taupe that I ruined w/ denim transfer on the back. I’d purchased pre-loved for a great price and had experimented a bit with dyeing on lower-stakes bags.
After a good cry, a lot of research, a glass of wine — with racing heart — I dyed it black. All that remains taupe is the Balenciaga tag inside and inside of the front pocket. You’d never know it was ever anything but black.
I used a dye sealer that I’d skip if i had it to do over again: sealer changed the texture a bit more than I’d hoped in ways the dyeing itself did not.
Still get TONS of use of of this bag – very happy with my decision and the results. It’s been 5-6 years since this adventure, so I’d have to dig a bit to remember what products I used. Did all the research here on TBF, though – and can vouch for the great advice to be found in this community! If you want to search my posts, i’m Rocket_Girl.
TPF!!!
i dye my own balenciaga bags from products i buy off ebay. I learnt from a girl on youtube and it became a fun hobby
ill do it for you if you want! i still have some dye and stripper left over i can restore it for you if you like ~
I re-dyed several a few years ago! I was inspired by someone’s white Balenciaga transformation on TPF and started with a Marc Jacobs Scooter bag. This was a progress shot—it was SO satisfying to see that initial layer of dye go on!