Where best to get a bag repaired?

[EddieHoweisMYmanager]

Hoping this might be the best board for this type of query.

I have a Tommy Hilfiger cross body bag with webbed strap that attaches to the bag via folded leather pads that are stitched together.

Somehow, some oil from a Reed diffuser has got onto one of the leather pads. I have no idea what’s in that stuff but it is clearly lethal to leather as it has degraded it into a sticky mess.

The leather needs the stitching unpicked and completely replaced. Would a cobbler be able to do this do you think? I’ve got a quote from the handbag clinic of £85 however the bag only cost £110 so it seems a bit of a steep price as I could practically buy it again new.

Pics attached so you can see what I mean…

Yes go to a cobbler, my Michael Kors handbag strap broke and they repaired it and it looked as good as new. I can't remember the cost but definitely no where near what you've been quoted

Thank you! Would I need an independent cobbler or do Timpsons do it, I’ve had a look on their website but can’t see anything about bag repairs.

Just go in and ask. They probably won't advertise the service but they'll probably do it anyway!

Avoid handbag clinic at all costs. They completely ruined my Chloe handbag!

Oh no @Darthwazette I hope they compensated you!

Guess I need to find myself a cobbler then.

And throw out my Reed diffuser 🤦🏼‍♀️

Or treat yourself to a new strap eg Oliver Bonas

Oh they’re lovely, the strap isn’t detachable though.

There's a very good chance that the oil has destroyed / reacted with the coating on the bag. Many leather bags (including those at the top of the pricing brackets, thinking Chanel here) have coatings on their leather to get a unified look. Probably best to replace the whole strap as the disintegration is ongoing in many cases. Check out the instagram postings of https://www.instagram.com/tanner.leatherstein/?hl=en

Thankfully the bag itself isn’t leather, it’s only these leather pads that attach the strap to the bag.

I was contemplating them. What happened to your bag?

I’d asked for my bag to be re coloured in the bottom corners where it has been scuffed but they did the whole bag in a shade which wasn’t quite right and which removed the lovely glossy look the leather had before. The bag just looked dull and unfinished. I cried when I opened it but handbag clinic wouldn’t accept anything was wrong (perhaps more worrying if they deem the repair to be ok!)

Ooooo I read a review like this. Might have been you!! That's terrible.