Restoring this Mulberry bag...

[bicyclesandbeyond]

I would love some advice if possible... I bought this Mulberry bag in 2010 and have used it a lot. The leather has become really worn and I'd really like to have it restored. I've been quoted £100 by Mulberry for their cleaning and polishing service. Is this the sort of thing I could do myself if I bought some leather cleaner/polish? I really don't want to mess it up so any advice is appreciated! Thank you!

Honestly, I’d send it to Mulberry if you love it. For £100 it’ll be good for another 10 years.

I think if you can afford the £100, i would just send it to Mulberry. I don't think I'd risk doing it myself incase I made it worse.

Thanks both of you. I suspect Mulberry might revise their quote when they've processed my request... I've just had quotes back from 'Bag Spa' for £279 and 'The Restory' for £340!!! I think the bag was only £325 new but that was 10 years ago...

Bag prices have gone up a ridiculous amount in the last 10 years or so, including Mulberry

Is there other wear & tear on the bag, or does it just need a polish? I am tight about paying for a polish etc, and I would say go for it DIY if this was black or dark brown, but I think you might get a much better result with Mulberry doing the restoration given that this is a light colour

I think you might be right, thanks

IMO those leather cleaners never really work
IF you were brave enough I'd wash it in the washing machine.
But as you really love it I'd spend the £100 and get it done professionally
I'd love to see some before & after pics

Handbag Doctor

Colonill cream in Mandel or mix it with some light brown if you want it slightly deeper (I have an oak Somerset but mine either isn’t as faded or you are using a bright flash and Mandel is fine for mine). It’s quite cheap so if it doesn’t work as well as you want it to then you haven’t lost anything by giving it a whirl. Once you are happy with the depth of colour give it a waterproofing spray like Colonill waterstop or their newer carbon pro. www.loveloloaccessories.com/collections/coloured-creams-dyes/products/collonil-shoe-cream-50ml Very good company to buy the full range from and will absolutely help you out with any cleaning and conditioning questions.

A cream colour polish doesn’t fill in the grain as an ordinary waxy shoe polish would.

Please do not put it in the washing machine (as suggested by a PP)! It's leather, and leather needs specialist cleaning.

The Handbag Spa restored a Chanel handbag of mine. It was expensive but worth it. However, if I would have had the option to send it to Chanel for restoration, I would have. If I was in your shoes, I would send it back to Mulberry rather than opt for Handbag Spa, Restory etc

You could use leather balsam if that's a natural colour as I suspect it is. It will go darker at first but lighten up again.

www.carrdaymartin.co.uk/product/belvoirleather-balsam/

If you do send it off please post a pic once you've got it back! Would love to see an update.

I have that bag too! Watching with interest

Have you tried saddle soap?

I had my bayswater repaired by mulberry, obviously not the same as having it cleaned but I was very pleased with the service and quality of repair if that helps? It gave my bag a new lease of life for just over £100, feels good value to me,

Thanks everyone! Just waiting on my official quote back from Mulberry. I think if it really is £100 I'll go with that. If it's much higher I might be brave and go with the DIY suggestions. I definitely won't be chucking it in the washing machine! Hopefully I'll be back in a few weeks with some 'after' photos!

@Brogues thanks for this useful link. That colour looks perfect if I do go down the DIY route. Thank you!

I got Mulberry to repair and polish my bag, I think I was closer to £150 from memory. I had a couple of scratches & also some water marks from the rain. My bag looked brand new after it so felt it was money very well spent.

Personally I would say it's worth it

Does anyone have the link to contact mulberry repairs please? This sounds just what I need!

@ButwhereisMYcoffee I took my bag into Fenwicks Mulberry concession and they dealt with it.

@MrsRockAndRoll was your bag in a similar condition to mine? It seems much better value than the premium bag restoration websites. Fingers crossed my final quote comes back similar!

@ButwhereisMYcoffee if you go to mulberry.com and scroll to the very bottom it's under 'services'. You just have to fill out a questionnaire and submit photos.

@ButwhereisMYcoffee

Does anyone have the link to contact mulberry repairs please? This sounds just what I need!

It’s on the website under ‘Services’

Crossed post

OP I have had bags repaired and they were excellent and worth the money . They even did 2 for free on my old ladies .

Oooh does anyone know if they repair scratches on the hard wear ? Otherwise I find renpur a really good neutral nourishing cream and have used that before.

😱 to the washing machine comment!!

@Scrunchies they can actually replace hardware so it looks like new, they keep stocks of old hardware.