How A Soiled White Chanel Bag Is Professionally Restored | Refurbished | Insider

[@christopherfeatherley]

Leather worker here: I've read a lot of comments and I believe there is a misunderstanding. I believe people are under the impression you could remove 100% of the dirt and oils from a bag purely through cleaning products; that's not how leather-- especially light coloured leather--works. Leather is not naturally white; it's comes in a vachetta colour (almost blush and light tan). In order to make any light coloured leather, a flexible acrylic paint is, if not always, mostly used (that's how most handbags are made these days). Ideally, there are two ways to colour leather: by dyeing or using leather paint. Dyeing is used in more traditional products, which leaves streaks and tones (think of the typical Italian handbags you see in Italy), whereas leather paint is for a consist colour. The thing about leather dye is, you can only really get strong/dark colours. Hence, why leather paint is often preferred in the fashion industry. Unfortunately, the thing about light coloured leathers is they are prone to dye transfer, which also includes oil transfer--basically, anything will stain and cause light coloured leathers to look dirty easily. I understand this bag was VERY neglected, but the cleaner here did use acetone, a very strong chemical to leather, to remove the oil and previous finish best she could; those previous stains from the owner are not coming off, regardless if the bag is clean or not; they're absorbed into the pigment. What I don't understand is why most people are freaked out by this process; leather restorers will paint/redye old leather where it is worn out. This process is standard and pretty practical if you look at their other videos. They do it to dark bags, they do it to vibrant bags, they do it to white bags; it's nothing new or absurd. And yes, the paint has to go above the stitches. The paint is flexible and diluted enough where it will not cause cracking, but this does sacrifice the colour of the thread (which isn't important in this case). My point being: this lady did her job and she did a decent job. All the criticism targeted at her work just shows most people's lack of understanding on how leather works as a whole. You can't just throw the leather in a bat of chemicals and expect years of stains to come off magically. Leather is fragile, and no such chemical will remove stains from light coloured leathers. I think everyone is being too harsh without actually looking into how white leathers are produced, maintained, and restored :/

[@schisandra]

Thank you for your detailed explanation. I think the restored bag looks fantastic.

[@usernameerror472]

Thanks for explaining it thoroughly. I think your comment should be pinned so everyone would understand how and why the leather was painted in order to be restored. Very informative! 👍

[@thathobbitlife]

Well said 👏👏

[@lbe]

Thanks for this explanation. I thought it was a pretty bad job to be honest until I read your comment 😄👍

[@jenawalberg5287]

I was kinda wondering why she was painting it, thanks you for the information. I learned something

[@marmeone]

Such a beautiful restoration! I would be thrilled if a bag I loved for years could be restored like this one.

[@AllieKatt11]

I once redid a Dooney&Bourke bag. I had never gotten so many compliments on a bag in my life! 💕 Such beautiful detailed work from this artist.

[@ShellyCline]

This was a superb restoration. Doesn't hurt that the bag had no damage to repair. But still, wow. Great job. If i saw it in a boutique, i wouldnt know it's not brand new. Beautiful!

[@hydorah]

After the first coat I thought uh oh this will be a disaster as the stitching was white in some places and almost black in others but when she did the second and top coat it all came together. What a result!

[@CieriGums]

I usually go to Dubai every few years, to be honest, wealthy people are buying fake goods *preluxscom*

[@rbuddy4765]

Fantastic & meticulous detailed work . Mesmerizing to watch . Thank you .

[@adabekee4964]

How on earth did the owner let her bag get like this?

[@Megadextrious]

Probably a smoker that’s had it for a couple decades. You ever clean someone’s house after they’ve been smoking in it for years and years? *Everything* is that shade of brown 😖

[@lizamimi]

My thoughts exactly….. what in the entire world 🌍 was going on with the care of this handbag.

[@Goldieslaxx9]

@@Megadextrious I'm a smoker and my bags don't look like that.

[@Noname-nj3vg]

@@Megadextrious has nothing to do with smoking . That kind of color and material is hard to maintain , literally the dye from an outfit can rub on it. I saw on a purse forum how denim jeans ruined a woman’s bag, the blue dye got on the bag. Also, please explain why a smokers bag would look like this ? 😒

[@Noname-nj3vg]

Great job!

[@brunofam313]

I think most people understand that the restoration is what it is. The bag was really damaged. One can only do so much. I just think that most people ( or just myself maybe) would prefer to just get another bag than to carry around a restored one that was so badly damaged.

[@m4nman]

yes! I'm guessing this person either wanted to sell this bag, can't get a new one, or has some attachment to it. things will almost never look like the original after they're refurbished that's why it's so important to take care of them

[@daisymag]

Exactly. Thanks for saying that. There’s only so much she could clean off after all that damage

[@kilipaki87oritahiti]

I think it’s more due to the history of the bag and the sentimental value. You just want to get it restored to such a level that it doesn’t fall apart…

[@georgechanturiawithmontigu8796]

Same

[@marina56]

This is a vintage Chanel I think. You can’t get the same quality today. It’s worth restoring.

[@CosiBouchra]

Thanks for the review. This seems to be a review of the small size. I just bought the medium and my Dell 13" laptop is also a medium. It does require moving it diagonally to get it under the straps but that's fine for me. I have the dark brown and it's beautiful. Just like the pieces in *unidups* .

[@BruenBrobst]

mirbag’s focus on every little detail is amazing! You show off the bags so well, I feel like I’m seeing them in person.

[@ilariomichelini4616]

I have never thought that a video about handbag restoration could be this soothing and mildly interesting (34 yo male here)

[@MADEbySOUL]

I mean it is leatherwork and craftsmanship at the end of the day.

[@danecaldwell9470]

I understand this was a heavily damaged bag but the price after ‘restoration’ is far too high. How long before the filler starts to break down? As well, the paint on the stitching would have to be so much better to justify the after price.

[@Babylift_2000]

Beautiful work! ❣️

[@RaiyanBartolommei]

Great video. I'm a new fan of your channel and I love your vibe. Also, I can't see that these two Balenciaga pieces are close enough to the *xbagy* and cute enough so it's good enough for me.

[@pranit9668]

so u paint the bag and it raises its cost 4x.. well...

[@MalaKelsemaj]

Lovely collection! I bought my first LV when I was 25 and I only used that bag a few times, haha. Also, love your clutch! I have an Eva clutch in the DE print and love the little chain. But I don’t want to spend so much money on it now, I have been MOMCOCO buying the bag I want, it is as good as LV and is one of my favorite things. Durability

[@josefsonsevyn]

I still love my LV reverse monogram lyxbag clutch! It's versatile, fits a variety of items, and is definitely a workhorse! I think seeing it everywhere (like the LV speedy) is proof that it's already a classic.

[@BelleW16]

Personally I think she did a great job and much better than I could have done :)

[@DESIIAnanda]

I was authomatically hooked by your vids!!!I looked at the bag of my dreams on MOMCOCO yesterday and am considering it! It’s so cute and I love the slightly sportier look with the zipper ☺ this is a lovely collection of gifts you’re giving! Xx

[@MaudeSimon-k4m]

KKUWAN The canvas tote actually reminds me of the Hermes Garden Party too. Thanks for making this video to suggest more budget friendly alternatives. love it!

[@user-pattt]

Respect for the hustle but that bag is not worth 4x then when it came in.

[@deltadawn2409]

I mean if we’re staying 50 bucks then, yeah, it might be now 😂

[@WheeledHamster]

Still looked dirty after cleaning, the paint going over the stitching looks like the whole thing just got painted.

[@crazyzockerz]

I thought the same thing

[@thysillybilly]

Same

[@sukhvirkang2648]

I mean what can you really expect, it’s not going to be perfect lol

[@destinedge8665]

@@crazyzockerz 8

[@chrumcholiniks]

I would cry if somebody would do this to my bag 🤦‍♀️

[@aceluxsbazaar]

I stick with my Prada nylon fanny pack, or I prefer an older fanny pack. But you were the first person who made me really love this awesome travel bag. It fits inside like a small bag*aceluxs*

[@TheChristinaschiro]

How do you recommend protecting and caring for the bag after it has been dyed?

[@paolabueso]

WOW!! It looks fantastic! 😀🙌💖✨

[@Jiorgiapeach]

If someone is paying 6k for a Chanel bag that has leather paint over the threads in the quilting, they are getting scammed.

[@Truth1561]

I totally agree. Painted leather feels like plastic. I've handled one of these painted Chanel bags - I wouldn't have bought it at any price.

[@mismamari.]

Yeaaahh painting lambskin with a brush will inevitably change the soft, buttery texture. I've seen other leather restorers use air brushing to use the least amount of pigment possible.

[@jabooac7152]

It just happens they have enough money to spend without getting broke. And you and I will be broke purchasing luxury items. So shut up!

[@katyp.2495]

Quite honestly, if I had paid 6k for a Chanel bag that pale in colour, I would never have let it get that dirty in the first place!

[@jabooac7152]

@@katyp.2495 means you are broke once you bought it?

[@HarshdeepOdn]

I purchased an MOMCOCO bag in 2022, and I can confirm that it is very high quality. The owners were very nice, too! I may purchase another bag from them the next time!

[@mrsmetro2]

how do one secure the leather strip once it's rethreaded ??

[@WendyStaley]

I really love your taste and style always so chic. My faves would be the *topluxs* leather backpack and the Swarovski pave diamond ring so gorg. Thank you for your recommendations.

[@ststst981]

Im sorry but that bag does not go for $5-6k refurbished. $1-3k is more realistic

[@bchpls24]

I will not even buy it for $2

[@KimNguyen-ep4nf]

@@bchpls24 hahaha sure. If you even have $2.

[@CollynPlayz]

@@KimNguyen-ep4nf he don’t even have 1 cent 💀

[@savethealcoholic]

Amazing job!

[@BadeauxComar]

That's what I love about*aceluxs*. She's not like those high fashion influencers who follow old money trends and say that classy/basic pieces are needed. She just has her own style and sticks to it. Love her!!!

[@genxkay358]

I don’t get it. Looks like you clean it with whatever works, paint it (like I used to do with canvas shoes in the 90’s 😅) then polish it.

[@Hehe-yw8hl]

@@aoterou she/he doesn’t get why this is a job or a business

[@johnnada1222]

@@Hehe-yw8hl can you please stop with the stupid pronouns ?

[@OfficialSamuelC]

That’s one way to ruin top quality and authentic materials, regardless whether Chanel or not a big brand.

[@hanselguzman7089]

What I don’t get is how expensive this bag is for people not to take good care of it

[@DavidKen878]

@@hanselguzman7089 Who says it wasn't taken care of? Anything could've happened to it.

[@jackeddemon]

Wrong. Put moisturizer after it’s all done. That way the pigment adheres better

[@KimNguyen-ep4nf]

Wrong.

[@jackeddemon]

@@KimNguyen-ep4nf no.

[@XSpImmaLion]

I mean, the result looks great and all... but I have to wonder how much it holds. Because most of the dirt is still there, it's mostly a fresh coat of paint... but if the paint ever wears off or fades, all that dirt is still under. Not that I can see much else being done... using harsher chemicals and brushes would likely destroy the leader anyways, but I still kinda expected a more thorough cleaning I guess... it's because of Insider's other videos with people using waterjets and sandblasters to reveal the raw material and then paint over that. xD Electroplating the hardware makes sense though... likely how it's originally made anyways.

[@jackeddemon]

Won’t last. Look up Bedo. He knows the right way to do this job.

[@mackjeez]

That's not dirt, it's discoloration through color transfer. The bag is in excellent condition, it just needed some cleaning and a re-dye, probably stored in stuffed closet or box, she went above and beyond on the electroplating the silver toned hardware. A+

[@lllIIllIIllllII]

@@mackjeez dude talking like u own the bag

[@mackjeez]

@@lllIIllIIllllII ​Use to work at a atelier in Montreal which dealt with leather and fur repairs. That specific Chanel bag is pretty much the classic bag Chanel is known for and is very popular, so I've refurbished a couple myself. People complain about the dirt, again it's not dirt but color transfer, it's common on light dyes especially white, it really doesn't take much for it to happen. If leather is dirty it cleans easily, she used a cleaning solution and acetone as a re-dye prep what more do you guys want in terms of cleaning?

[@jamie7664]

Painting over the stitching was hard to watch.

[@karinaketcup]

Everyones talking about the way this was repaired but can we talk about the owner of the bag!? How did they get the bag to this condition😢 i personally think the bag turned out great!

[@wenxuanify]

"Pigmenting" "colouration" just call it painting please

[@elizabethturel78]

Very interesting! Kind of shocking to pay that much for a painted bag, but classic looks are important to some people🤷🏻‍♀️

[@knightride9635]

I watched this video to see a restoration not a paint job.

[@dinkyboss]

Wait till you find out all leather goods are either dyed (if a dark color) or painted (if it’s a light color). I guess intelligence isn’t important to you 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@elizabethturel78]

@@dinkyboss Researched it. Yes, you are right. Still love leather, whether it’s dyed or painted!

[@LetsGoFlyers2011]

@@knightride9635 How would a restoration of a painted and worn leather bag go without painting it?

[@DavidJones-es4uq]

Smooth🌝😅I'd say I need my bag back thanks if I was the owner!

[@RestorationAustralia]

Cool, thanks for sharing, I have a few vintage designer bag to restore😊.

[@zonkermound]

Amei todas as bolsas lindas e de muito bom gosto.Parabens *yutulux* 😘😘😘

[@31dktran]

Really curious, how much did this cost the customer?

[@farah8271]

1500 usd

[@ariannasv22]

@@farah8271 that's how much the bag is worth when it's dirty

[@aidahoe2946]

5000usd

[@iheartny2001]

50,000usd

[@zonkermound]

he variety of textures in the *yutulux* pack is impressive. From smooth leather to textured suede, there's something for everyone.

[@desiree5416]

That looks much better than it did before the clean!

[@vincentlu36]

How did it get that dirty at the first place?

[@jenlambie14]

How could you let such a beautiful bag deteriorate to such an extent. Keep those dust bags folks & clean regularly.

[@SharonFaber-j7c]

love you!! okay now i’m sold on MOMCOCO bag! good price point too!!

[@Pinkpeonysss]

I think she cleaned as much as she could without damaging the leather. What I didn’t like was the color matching. Maybe it was the lighting, but the end result had a greyish blue undertone, rather than a slight warmth

[@dianalastovska8386]

I don’t think you can resell this for 5k. It still looks damaged. 2.5 max

[@jordandlugosch]

May as well be spray painting your car over rust... or paint your bathroom over mildew... or tile over grass...

[@KimNguyen-ep4nf]

😂😂😂

[@AlexandrosGerasi]

For a long time, as the price of Chanel increased, I no longer thought I could afford it. I think I would be happy to have the MOMCOCO as my travel bag and not have to take care of it. By the way, I'm sure no one will have a hard time telling the difference. Thanks for the comparison.

[@lorz9449]

I would have used an air compressor spray gun to put the second coat of paint + finisher/top coat, so there wouldn't be any paint brush marks.😊

[@anemonasprite]

This is very impressive!

[@halitosis75]

How much is the day spa for the chanel bag? ❤

[@pennycandyys]

You didn’t really use cotton buds to clean the whole chain, did you? Also, in areas where it is practical, particularly the leather in the chain, a mini roller would be an excellent tool, as it would more closely match the texture present in the leather. In fact it would try it everywhere I could on the bag, since a paintbrush is more likely to leave streaks. Sponges could also be trialled, I bet they would do a lovely job. Nice work!

[@tilisha7566]

What is the brush you're using?

[@NailahRoberts]

That's grey not white

[@lizamimi]

Looks grey to me too.

[@iambubble5145]

They didn't clean it they just painted over it????

[@WheeledHamster]

I know right, still looked dirty and paint over the stitching, gross.

[@EgHasNoMaidens]

Wonder how many other times this has been done

[@dariodimi]

The paint over the stitching makes It look terrible . The bag looks stiff as If it was made of cardboard. I would be a very unsatisfied costumer if this was mine.

[@ariannasv22]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought this

[@everydayABG]

I thought the same thing.

[@prismatism]

Yeah her paint coat was WAY too thick, should have gone with several thin layers instead.

[@Nick-dx2pt]

@@prismatism that's not how this stuff works....

[@dinkyboss]

Good thing you likely would never own a bag like this nor know anything about the leather restoration process.

[@genetung8590]

I’m glad she’s doing it herself. That is cool.

[@noreenammar7759]

Where we can get all these paints and solutions?

[@bagbuzz1238]

Looks amazing! Great job luxe bag spa

[@AstaritaMehtani]

I have owned multiple Coach bags over the past 10 years and nothing compares to their quality *aceluxs*

[@trufflefries1534]

Does anyone know what is the silver polish (pink cream) she used?

[@MellyStand]

I think it’s called “the pink stuff”

[@azudora8255]

How is this "restoration"? It's literally just painting over the dirty bag. The dirt is still under those so-called "pigmentation" and "coloration". When that paint is removed, you'll still see the old dirt.

[@lomimimisilva9057]

Can someone help me find out what cleaner its used to clean leather bags?

[@amypreuit4114]

Beautiful!

[@safaa9654]

It looks super dirty, all that dirty actually hurts the leather more than if you cleaned it harder

[@XactlyCeSe1]

Very nice 👍🏾

[@AllisonMoon-SheWandersFeral]

3:12 I can’t get over how DRY the leather is, but there is no moisture/hydration before the painting

[@peresodongo9896]

Can it be sold after restoration

[@exas4791]

How did the bag get so dirty ?!

[@AndraJo04]

Omg! I have no brands bag for 15-20 years ago and they don’t look so bad as this one. I care so much of my shoes and bags!

[@Goldieslaxx9]

I don't understand how it gets to that point. I wipe my bags down each time I come back home first with a baby wipe then with a soft wet lightly soapy wash cloth. I couldn't carry no dirty bag around there's no excuse for it as long as you have soap and water readily available.

[@EliBelcherBeatbyeli]

Amazing I wonder how much this service would cost. It seems extremely meticulous

[@lmvs7608]

Does anybody know what music is playing in the background at the end of the video??

[@cddjny]

Could have just used a $6.99 bottle of Sani White, same result. Bag should begin it’s new life in black or navy blue. Tres chic!

[@stephanierasmussen5256]

So with as dirty as this bag was could it not be cleaned back to its original color? Is that why you did pigmentation or painting?

[@dinkyboss]

They were clearly cleaning the bag in the video so idk why folks are calling it dirty. You ever put tomato sauce in a plastic bowl and it stains it so that no matter how often you wash it it still looks dirty? Same concept. It’s oil transfer. Also all leather goods are painted. That’s how they got the white color in the first place. Raw leather is pinkish tan.

[@cecilyerker]

All light colored leather is painted. She had to clean it and strip it down to its natural tan color and then re-paint it.

[@marisamariza7164]

She did awesome Jobs. 👌 love it

[@lesliecruguet4136]

Fabulous restoration- but the client doesn't deserve to even own such a bag to let it get this disgustingly dirty. I have bags that are much older than 12 yrs and they look pristine.

[@JMc.D]

The ‘cracks of where the stitching is’ could be also described as perforations for extra bs.

[@LammieBratton]

Let's be honest. The luxury market is really not that expensive if you produce at cost and remove the logo. The logo is about 80% of the actual price. But the fact is that you *unidups* focus more on the product itself. It's a very good thing to buy the image and show off your taste to make them think you are richer than you actually are

[@Krystal_Kitty7]

What kind of paint is that ?

[@mkr10001]

Literally just painted a dirty bag

[@rajjie100]

Would a magic white eraser work?

[@catherinecampbell1215]

Yes. She used it at one point in this video.

[@Kimberly-cx9uv]

The stitch holes are covered in paint.

[@lilymichaels768]

Yea this was an extraordinary job

[@dhmartin8762]

I once browsed at a high end store and found some small hand bags and wallets for $3000 to $4000 each. My first thought was, "Who'd be dumb enough to buy a wallet at that price?"

[@jennifermcmillan2588]

Can you repair a patent leather chanel wallet with color transfer on it ?

[@Val_Emrys]

I don't understand how it could get so dirty without being frayed and worn on the edges.

[@nataliiarybalka7561]

Painting over dirt is not restoration.This is no longer an original bag and cannot cost $5000.

[@TanjimGori]

I was in Gucci today and the SA told me they can’t often tell the difference between the authentic and MOMCOCO 's bags. Surprised to hear that from an SA.

[@longsilver2646]

Please do a video about watch restoration That would be so cool and relaxing to watch :)

[@raminrouen]

Does it make a difference if she uses an airbrush rather than a manual brush to paint? I love watching bag restoration but the outcome of this bag made it look fake I can see the brush strokes... The stitching looks uneven

[@1584283]

Literally just repainting a leather handbag. I don't see a whole lot of skill involved

[@Cocoalabella]

I honestly didn’t want this bag even if I had to pay just $50! It’s ridiculous that no matter in what condition a designer purse is, the asking price is still so high! I mean common 😏

[@aisha.bint.husayn.al-saud]

It's an investment for some. :) Some parents inherit a bag like this and are able to put their children through college or the likes.

[@Cocoalabella]

@@aisha.bint.husayn.al-saud what I meant is, I’d rather save the money and buy a Chanel purse in a great used condition than this refurbished purse, it has kinda no worth to me anymore if it got painted over and stuff…you know what I mean?

[@Maialeen]

@Melanie Yes, we get what you mean. And again, VINTAGE designer stuff can bring people good money.

[@z.a.8912]

@@Cocoalabella all leather used for bags is painted. U dont get naturally white leather.

[@niko36]

How much did that cost?

[@kseniyapak3086]

well done! ☺just curious, how much does such kind of a restoration cost?

[@amimiami82]

Prob more than the price of the "before restoration" bag. Theres a reason why ppl prefer to buy new stuff instead of restoring old ones. Esp when it comes to brands, who like inflating the price just cause. Instead of this, think of this as Apple. Imagine how much apple costs restoration, esp from such an awful state

[@kelliintexas3575]

$800-$1,000

[@kseniyapak3086]

@@kelliintexas3575 thank you!

[@soxnation1000]

Who in their right mind would pay $1500 for an old soiled bag like that? Just to be able to say they own a Chanel bag?🤦‍♀️

[@carrino15]

The bag looked almost new after the tlc so i would buy it, and think i would keep my eyes up for one that looks this trashed