Designer Care Notes

The care guidelines below are recommended by Chanel, Gucci, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Prada, amongst others, and will aid to preserve the quality of your designer piece and allow it to gently develop its own character over time, making it unique to you as the wearer. We have included a selection of care products that we personally use and recommend, so with a little time, care and pampering, you may enjoy your designer bags and accessories for many years to come. If you require more specialist care or are looking to give your bag a spa treatment, please get in touch with us at shop@myhaute.co.nz.

Your designer piece is fashioned from the finest materials available, bearing a signature that is a synonym of quality and excellence worldwide and that combines the most advanced technologies with the exacting skill and passion of traditional craftsmanship. These items are subject to the strictest standards of quality and are crafted by expert artisans from carefully selected hides and materials.

Leather is a living material and will soften, change and patinate over time. Each piece is a masterwork and slight irregularities, like pores, veins and wrinkles, are the sign of its distinction and quality. Marks or irregularities and sensitivity to scratches or dirt can appear even in the most luxurious skins and natural materials; these are naturally occurring features and should not be thought of as imperfections, but rather the signs of their transparency and excellent quality. Likewise, natural vegetable-tanned leather, such as Louis Vuitton Vachetta Leather, is finished lightly without protection to preserve its authentic appearance. Expressing its natural character, this will continue to patinate over time and with use and develop fine lines and markings, revealing its full nobility over time. This is viewed as a natural part of ownership of this type of leather and the inevitable signs of love and unique markings are coupled for many with cherished memories. Louis Vuitton aficionados with a keen eye will note that LV frequently use bags with Vachetta trim in their print advertisements that show marked staining, water marking and patina.

GENERAL CARE GUIDELINES

Always put your bag away upright in the original dust bag if available. Pad it with acid-free tissue paper to preserve the shape. Ensure any chains are not in contact with the exterior as they may mark, it is best to wrap these in tissue paper and place them inside the bag.

Do not over-fill your handbag or place irregularly shaped items inside, as this may spoil the shape irreparably and strain handles, zips and clasps.

Hardware can be sensitive to sea air, humidity and the acidity of the skin. Over time and with use, for solid metals this may result in tarnish and plated hardware may wear off.

Avoid exposing your bag or accessory for too long a time to light, direct sources of heat (such as radiators and car interiors overheated by sun), direct sunlight, water, liquids or humidity.

Avoid contact with other leathers and materials that may transfer their colour pigments, for example magazines or dark jeans, particularly for lighter coloured bags and those with a gloss top coat such as patent leather, as permanent colour transfer may occur.

Avoid contact with water, grease, oils, perfume and makeup, particularly for hides that are treated to remain porous and permeable.

Do not clean with products intended for other purposes, such as polish, turpentine, oil, spot removers, spirits or solvents.

Light-coloured handbags, particularly white and beige, are more vulnerable to dust, markings and lighting, this may result in yellowing if the bag is exposed for too long a time to spotlights, fluorescent lamps or sunlight.

You can polish your leather bag gently with a natural-coloured soft cloth. Do not rub with rough or abrasive materials.

If your bag gets wet, do not wipe it, but rather absorb the water by patting gently with a clean, absorbent and lint-free cloth.

Leather and natural materials react to humidity, should a slight white coating appear on the surface, it can be removed using a soft dry cloth.

SPECIFIC CARE GUIDELINES

For coated canvas, such as Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas, should it become dirty, gently rub with a soft, light-coloured cloth, dampened with soapy water (pH-neutral soap), avoiding contact with any leather trim. Never use solvent.

Natural vegetable-tanned leathers, such as Louis Vuitton Vachetta leather, undergo a very light finishing without protection, it will patinate over time and with use, to ensure an even patina, when not in use, store it in a dust bag in a dry and ventilated area. The more patinated the leather becomes, the less fragile it becomes as well. In case of contact with water, gently blot with a lint-free, light-coloured, absorbent cloth. Never use solvents of any kind and avoid standard leather cleaners and conditioners.

For calfskin and cowhide leathers, these can scratch easily and can be damaged by greasy substances or solvents. Should the leather become soiled, wipe gently with a damp, soft, dry, light-coloured cloth (dark colours may transfer).

For Lambskin leather, unscented talcum powder is recommended for greasy marks. Sprinkle on mark, leave overnight and brush off gently with a perfectly clean makeup brush.

Minor scratches on soft leathers like Lambskin leather can be rubbed off with a clean, dry finger. Press gently, with a circular movement. The finger should be free of any grease or moisture.

For exotic leathers, such as python, lizard or crocodile, as these exotic skins are processed naturally, it is essential to protect them from humidity and rain. Avoid all contact with water or any other liquid, which may alter the texture, causing permanently visible stains and minor colour transfer. Should the leather come into contact with water, blot the affected area gently with a light-coloured, absorbent, lint-free cloth. The use of creams and cleansing products is strongly discouraged as these may cause irreversible staining.

For fabric linings, particularly light-coloured linings that are easily soiled, should the lining become soiled, gently rub with a soft, light-coloured, lint-free cloth, slightly dampened with soapy water (pH-neutral soap). Never use solvents.

For leather linings, these may be fragile and scratch easily, it is recommended to avoid all contact with abrasive objects.

CARE PRODUCTS

We recommend the Collonil, Waproo, Woly and Wren's range of care products for general care and maintenance of exotics, luxury skins, leather, natural materials and synthetics. For specific treatments, we recommend the products listed below, most of which are readily available in NZ, including for online purchase. Please follow instructions as provided with each product and contact the manufacturer for added guidance if required. Remember to always spot test first in an inconspicuous area and to use products sparingly until you have a feel for how much product is required to obtain the desired result. We are not affiliated with, nor sponsored by, any of the companies or products listed below, these are a selection of the care products we personally use and recommend.

For all leathers, including exotics and luxury skins, but excluding (a) bare untreated leather such as Louis Vuitton Vachetta Leather (b) patent and metallic leather and (c) suede and nubuck: the 'Collonil Organic Bamboo Lotion' for cleaning and the 'Collonil Leather Cream in Neutral' for conditioning.

For cleaning suede, nubuck and fabric materials, such as interior linings: the 'Waproo Suede & Nubuck Fabric Shampoo'.

For conditioning bare untreated leather such as Louis Vuitton Vachetta Leather: 'Lovin My Bags For Handles Only' - used very sparingly to avoid deepening the tone of the leather or its existing patina.

For cleaning and conditioning of patent and metallic leathers: 'Woly Lack Liquid Patent in Neutral'.

For conditioning coated canvas, such as Louis Vuitton Monogram: 'Renapur Leather Balsam'.

To repel water and stains from all materials, even the most delicate leathers and including Louis Vuitton Vachetta Leather without altering the tone of the leather: 'Waproo Water & Stain Protector'.

For deep conditioning of delicate leathers such as Chanel Lambskin: 'The Hand Bag Haven Wonder Balm'.

For coloured smooth & grained leathers, to touch up for example scuffs, the Woly and Wren's coloured leather cream and wax range.

For solid (not plated) brass hardware, we recommend polishing with 'Brasso' and buffing with a soft microfiber cloth to restore shine, taking care to avoid contact with surrounding materials.

For solid (not plated) polished stainless metal hardware, we recommend polishing lightly with a very small touch of 'Autosol Metal Polish' and buffing with a soft microfiber cloth to restore original lustre, taking care to avoid contact with surrounding materials.

For odours, we recommend 'Queen Organic Vanilla Essence' (though any natural vanilla extract or essence, rather than flavouring, available from your local baking aisle will work). For odours in linings of bags, place a small amount inside a ramekin or dish and place this inside the bag, taking care to avoid contact with any materials to avoid staining. For odours to the outside of a bag (or a smaller item like a clutch or wallet) you can place the bag in a sealable box or inside the hot airing cupboard and place a ramekin or small dish of vanilla essence nearby. For linings, generally a day or two will work fine, for exterior odours this may take a little longer and it is also dependent on how strong the smell is and how deeply it has been absorbed into the material.