Like many people, I have taken the opportunity to learn new skills and try new things while stuck at home in quarantine. One thing that I have picked up in these past couple months as a result is restoring vintage Louis Vuitton bags! I love crafts and working with my hands, so the restoration projects that I have done so far have been really fun. Plus, restoring vintage bags is super sustainable (for both the environment and your finances!) Today, I will walk you through the steps that I followed for my most recent restoration project so that you can try your hand at it as well!
What you'll need
Apple Brand Leather Cleaner and Conditioner Set
Brasso Metal Polish
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
A handful of Q-Tips
A small washcloth (that you're okay with getting dirty)
Rubber gloves
A vintage Louis Bag of your choice
Before we get started
Throughout the course of this post, I will be referencing Vachetta leather and canvas, which you may not be completely familiar with. It is important that you know which is which because certain materials shouldn't be applied to certain parts of the bag. For example, leather conditioner should not be applied to canvas as it will cause over-hydration and eventual deterioration. Vachetta leather is light colored, treated leather that is found on the handles, straps, exterior lining, and sometimes the bottom of Louis Vuitton bags. The canvas is the darker part of the exterior bag, which displays the iconic Louis Vuitton logo.
The restoration process
1. Choose your bag/Compile your materials
I bought all of the cleaning products shown here on amazon, for less than $15 a piece. I grabbed my vintage Speedy 30 bag from Tradesy for around $300, and I have also had great luck with The Real Real. You will want to go with one of these websites because they verify the authenticity of everything that they sell, so you won't be paying an unnecessary amount for a fake. When choosing your vintage bag, look for items that need cosmetic changes as opposed to structural changes. I stay away from bags hat have broken zippers or full rips in the Vachetta because I do not have the tools or know-how to fix them.
2. Apply Brasso to metal accents
Brasso is hands-down the best brass polish that I tried, and I got a huge bottle of it for less than $20 from Amazon. I like to use a q-tip to apply it to the small buttons/clasps, handle attachments, and other brass accents so that I don't spread the polish onto the leather unnecessarily, and I always make sure to wear gloves during this step because metal polish can be very toxic if accidentally ingested. If the piece of brass that you are working with is especially tarnished, all you have to do is rub the fixture a little bit harder with the q-tip and it will eventually come off.
3. Clean and condition all Vachetta leather
In this step, you should always clean the leather before conditioning it. When you condition the leather, you are opening the pores of it by hydrating it. If you condition it before it has been cleaned, you are driving all of the dirt living on the exterior into the inside. When conditioning larger areas I like to use a washcloth, and I like to use q-tips for thinner sections. When applying make sure to rub softly, as rubbing too hard can actually have the effect of making the leather rough.
4. Clean canvas with the magic eraser
The final step is very simple - simply wet your magic eraser and use it to clean the canvas sections of the bag. I was skeptical during the first restoration that I did, but it really worked like a charm! This will put the finishing touch on the bag, and really leave it looking just like new.
So, there you have it! With a total investment of around $350 and a little bit of elbow grease, you will own a gorgeous, authentic Louis Vuitton that will continue to serve you for years. I have linked all of my supplies on LikeToKnow.It so that you can give it a try for yourself! If you do a restoration yourself, let me know - I would love to see how it turns out!