One upon a time, I had a faux leather biker jacket that I really loved. I wasn't using it much since the climate here doesn't permit it so I kept it in my closet. After 2 years, I remembered it existed and when I checked on it, the plastic was peeling off. Everything peeled off and it cannot be saved. I knew it was faux leather (plastic) and that it wouldn't last 20 years lol but I didn't expect it to be dead this quick. I only used it maybe thrice and I was so bummed.
Upon my research, faux leathers apparently just last 2 years and maybe 5 years max if you store it properly. That's when I realized I should just be buying real leathers instead of plastics.
Going down the rabbit hole, I found out this brand Coach have really good quality bags and they also fit my taste. I never really cared about luxury brands (in Coach's case is an accessible luxury) but when I learned about how long they last and still look good, I understood why people buy it.
Then I got very lucky and found this Coach bag at the thrift store for $40. I know that thrifted bags can have a lower price but Coach right now is trending hence the price.
Anyway, I wanted to clean and condition it myself so I got myself some tools for it.
I already have an idea on how to take care of leathers because of my Doc Martens so it wasn't hard for me to find the materials. I ordered some cheap but from reliable brands on the market.
The creed says it was released in 2013 which makes this bag 13-years-old. This is really impressive because the bag is in excellent condition. I also got it for $40 and when checking international marketplaces, some prices go up to $200.
The bag is so spacious and the leather is so soft. The zippers also feel high quality.
I cleaned the inside lining using a lint roller to remove any dust and stuff. There is only a little bit of stain which I didn't bother to remove because I didn't wanna risk ruining the canvas.
I used the all purpose foam leather cleaner and a horsehair brush at the bottom to test it first. I was worried initially since I saw a bit of stain on the towel when I wiped it but apparently it's normal as long as it's not a lot.
I continued using a towel instead of a brush since the brush removes the dye more than this. I only had to rub the foam in circular motion and immediately wipe it with a dry towel. There is no need to rinse and I think this is standard care for all leathers.
The way the moisture was being absorbed tells us it's real leather. A plastic leather would have the water sit on top of it. :D
Then I cleaned the brass with a metal polish and surprisingly, it removed the discoloration.
This twist lock was also very easy to turn and at a high quality. It feels firm and doesn't get stuck.
After letting the bag dry, I then used this leather conditioner to restore the moisture. This makes the bag softer as well and will prevent cracks in the future.
I can tell this was well-loved by the previous owner because it is well maintained and also had a bit of coating I guess. Probably beeswax for the conditioner or something. That shine went away after I rubbed the foam.
This conditioner has a lotion consistency compared to Doc Martens Wonder Balsam that I use for my shoes. This gets absorbed so quickly and wouldn't leave a sticky feeling.
I also cleaned and conditioned the tassel and hang tag. I don't have a leather glue unfortunately, but can just do so in the future. :P
I buffed it with a horsehair brush to remove conditioner residue and also to shine it a bit.
And it is now ready to be used! Can you see how shiny that brass is?
It's amazing how it looks and feels brand new. Now remembering all the bags I bought for 2x the price of this but are all faux leather... I wish I looked at thrift shops sooner. It is also environment-friendly and cheaper to do so and considering we have a lot of trash from fast fashion, thrifting is so much better.
I am confident this will last for 10 years and more if I take care of it properly. :D