As the world grapples with the economic crisis that stemmed from the pandemic, many have taken a more conservative approach when it comes to purchasing luxury goods. Coupled with the continuing conversation around sustainability and fostering the habit of reduced consumption for less waste, caring for your luxury investments becomes of paramount importance to maintain their longevity. Designer bags require a significant amount of care especially if you live in a humid climate. With proper care, these bags will last you years. Here are my 10, tried-and-tested tips to ensure your bag investments stay in good condition, and maintain sound financial value over time.
Keep your bags in light-coloured, cloth dust bags
Designer bags usually come with their own dust bags, but if your purse is light in colour, changing the dust bag to something light will benefit your bag as it prevents colour transfer. Also be mindful of wearing dark clothes with light coloured bags – denim has been known to transfer its indigo colour especially onto lighter bags.
Store your bags in a dry place with consistent temperature
Don’t store them in an area with high humidity to prevent them from developing moulds, which are also proven harmful to your health.
Do not hang your bags
Instead, let them sit on a flat surface. Bag handles, especially rolled leather ones, get deformed when they are hung on bag hooks. Once they have those hook marks on the undersides of their handles, it’s difficult to restore them to their original state.
Air out your bags once every two weeks
If you live in a country with a humid climate, this exercise is necessary to prevent them from developing a musty smell and to keep moulds from forming. The musty odour is hard to eliminate once it’s there, and moulds tend to stain and can cause lasting damage to your bag.
Keep your bags away from prolonged exposure to the sun
Especially if don’t plan on using them for a while. Sun exposure not only dries out the leather, but it will also cause discolouration and fading.
Stuff your bags with acid-free paper to retain its shape
For the stuffing, I usually use two layers of acid-free paper, wrapped over stuffing made from bubble wrap. Stuffing the bag properly prevents it from becoming deformed over time.
Use dehumidifiers
Dehumidifier pellets or silica gel, a desiccant that keeps items in a dry state, can be purchased in small, individual packs. You might have already seen these packs also being used in some dried food products. They have proven useful in keeping humidity away.
Rubbing baby powder inside leather interior pockets helps prevent sticking
I’ve done this on many of my bags because humidity and prolonged storage can also cause leathers, especially on pockets, to stick together.
Treat bags with leather or fabric protectors, cleaners, and conditioners
I’ve never hesitated to use products on my bags, but I always make sure to try them in a small area underneath the bag beforehand, to ensure that the product won’t stain the leather or fabric. I use these products, albeit sparingly, on my bags twice a year.
Keep your bags away from alcohol-based liquids like hand sanitisers, perfumes and pens
If you do plan on carrying them in your bag, make sure to keep them in a separate, waterproof zipped pochette. Having a separate container for your liquid products and ballpoint pens will prevent unnecessary marks, spillage and stains.
Editor
Ingrid Chua
