Aparna Sharma gives advice on how you can thrift luxury bags and leather products, and restore them.

There has been an increase in second-hand couture items in the market, which I’ve personally seen in vintage and luxury thrift stores. While they may show slight signs of damage or use, they are still in a condition to be reused. Some of these thrift stores might offer to restore it for you, or you can negotiate a good price instead. If the store doesn’t offer to restore it for you, you can look for bag spas and luxury restoration stores in Bangkok which will do it for you, or do it yourself:

DIY Restoration of Thrifted Luxury Items

There are multiple ways to do this by yourself. My daughter recently picked up an old leather bag from the thrift store and she gave it new life. She took old necklaces from my wardrobe and added them as charms. She also crocheted some fun patches and charms to add to her bag. The art is in creating a new look while maintaining the original charm of the bag, whether it’s Chanel or otherwise – this not only gives the bag a sleek new look, it also adds uniqueness and your individual touch. The trick is to understand the aesthetic well enough to get the perfect blend of the original look and the restoration, while ensuring that you still retain the original value of the luxury item.

Dealing with Mould

I have an old Louis Vuitton bag which has attracted a lot of mould recently. Usually, when you store your leather bag in a cupboard where there is not enough sunlight, it has higher chances of developing mould – one of the issues with leather products. While my husband insisted I take it to a bag spa, I decided to do it myself. The musty smell that is frequently associated with mould and mildew can be eliminated with the use of baking soda, which is a natural absorbent and is safe to use on leather.

1. Identify the impacted area.

2. Mix baking soda and water in equal amounts in a small bowl.

3. Take an old cleaning cloth or an old toothbrush, and gently rub the affected area. Make sure that the cloth is only damp and not dripping wet.

4. Repeat this method multiple times if you don’t see the mould going away.

Other Types of Damage

Obviously, mould is not the only issue with leather bags. Other types of damage may include issues with the zipper, which can easily be fixed at a local shop. Some may have a slight tear, and the best way to cover this is through patches. You can buy patches from craft stores or DIY crochet or threadwork patches by yourself. There are so many scraps you will get for free in tailor shops, and you can cut them into a heart shape or any other shape you like, and glue them on to the damaged area. Some bags may not have any major damage, but may look worn out and dull. These can be easily fixed by polishing them with leather polish, which you can find in any shop which sells leather goods.

I live between India and Bangkok, and I personally feel that the leather restoration and repair industry is more accessible and affordable in India, but you can find many cobblers on the roadside in Bangkok too who can help in polishing and fixing mild damages. There are also many different blogs on the internet which show the usage of different methods. For example, some people use vinegar, mild detergent, or baby shampoo.

Basically, if we put on our creative hats, it’s easy to restore old luxury instead of sending them to landfills. You can also get these bags at a fraction of the original cost, and thrifting luxury and restoring it can become a more popular trend if we can understand that it is easy to maintain the original look while we try to creatively restore it.

Aparna Sharma (Instagram: @stylishsuitcase) is a non-conformist who believes that fashion must become a force for good and style must meet sustainability. She breaks down the nuances of slow fashion and how we can stay stylish without being trendy.