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How to Properly Take Care of Your Handbag, According to Designers

Bydie - Written By Nicole Kliest | Fact Checked By Cherisse Harris • Aug 19, 2022

UPDATED ON JUN 23, 2022 


It starts with a scratch, maybe an unsightly wrinkle, or even a small stain—we’ve all been there. The handbag you once loved slowly becomes tainted, and before you know it, you’re left with a remnant of what once was. Neglecting the upkeep of your handbag is something that everyone’s guilty of, but if you’ve ended up having to let go of a purse you used to adore, then you now understand the importance of properly taking care of them. Regardless if it’s a designer investment or a more affordable version, any handbag in your repertoire is worthy of a little TLC. That's why we tapped a few designers to share their tips on how to care for your handbags. Ahead, they fill us in on purse storage methods, cleaning hacks, and the best techniques for maintaining your handbag's shape. 

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Don’t Hang It

While you might be inclined to sling your bag over a doorknob or hook, resist the urge. "Don’t hang your handbag by the handle as it may distort the leather," Caraa co-founder and creative director Carmen Chen Wu says. "I recommend standing it upright on a shelf, instead."


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Keep It Out of the Light

Chen Wu also warns that letting your handbag sit in the light for too long can cause damage. "Store it somewhere without direct sunlight to prevent any discoloration, and with low humidity to avoid mold," she says.


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Use a Dust Bag

Hobo co-founder and chief visionary officer Koren Ray has a storage solution that keeps your bag out of the light and safe from the elements. "Dust bags are always a good idea," she says. When you purchase your handbag, it should come with a dust bag, but if it doesn’t, you can find eco-friendly options pretty easily.


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Invest in Maintenance Products

Ray notes that while leather ages gracefully on its own, a little protection and nourishment go a long way. "Certain leathers work well with leather cream, while other leathers should only be treated with a cleaner or protectant, depending on the nature of the grain,” she notes. "I am a big believer in spraying a suede bag with leather and suede protectant before use, so that the suede will have a protective layer and be better suited to handle the elements. I do believe less is usually best when it comes to applying product to leather, in effort to keep the hides in their natural state as much as possible."

Hobo’s leather care collection includes a leather cream, leather spray, and leather and suede protector, all of which are made with natural ingredients and in the United States.


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Clean It, But Not Too Much

If your bag is nylon, you’ll clean it differently than leather. "Gently hand-wash nylon with mild soap, rinse with water, press almost dry with a large clean towel, and air dry for a couple of hours," Chen Wu says. For leather bags, she advises to "mix a solution of warm water and dish soap, dip a soft cloth into it, wring it out, and gently wipe the leather surfaces. Use a second clean, damp cloth to wipe off the soap. Dry with a towel. Warm, soapy water will also help remove water stains and scuffs." Keeping this in mind, she also recommends not going overboard. Chen Wu recommends only cleaning your handbag when it needs a refresh to avoid wearing it out more quickly.


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Ditch Plastic Poly Bags

If you’ve been using a plastic polybag in lieu of a dust bag—halt! "Never store your leather handbag in a plastic polybag," Chen Wu warns. "The plastic can stick to the leather over time and damage it." Aside from avoiding the damage concern, a traditional dust bag is a far more aesthetically pleasing option so this tip should be easy to follow. 


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Maintain the Shape

There’s nothing sadder than a sunken-in handbag. However, this structural catastrophe can be avoided completely. According to Ray, rolling sweaters inside your bag helps them maintain their shape. 


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Embrace Imperfections

Both Ray and Chen Wu agree that while taking care of your handbag is necessary, it’s important to love and carry it, too. "Age equals beauty and the more you carry your bag the more beautiful it will become over time," Ray says. "As the leather softens, the shape can change slightly and that is part of the charm of something well-loved." Chen Wu adds that "worn-in bags develop a patina that can make them even more beautiful."


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Do Not Wait Until the Last Minute to Make Repairs to Your Handbag

Don't wait to get those small repairs done because you may cause more harm than good if you do. At the first sign of damage, visit your local seamstress or leather repair shop, depending on what damage has occurred.


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Consider Using a Handbag Liner

Protect the inside of your handbag from things like spills, especially if you frequently change your bag, by using a handbag liner. Not only will your bag be protected, but you'll also get even more pockets for storing things, and a liner makes it easy to swap out bags quickly.


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Be Sure to Zip or Fasten the Handbag and Overlap Handles on Top of It

Leaving handles with heavy hardware to hang on the sides of your bag when not in use will put added stress on the handbag or may cause tearing, so make sure that you always zip or fasten your handbags and then overlap any handles on top of it. 


By My Zuri 27 Jun, 2023
The winter chill is finally upon us. Let's take a look at our favorite handbag must-haves this season, to keep you on trend. QUILTS Express timeless elegance with a classic quilt sling. Black is generally the colour choice for winter, but you can go bold and mix colours to achieve a sleek look.
By Michelle - Practical Perfection 05 Feb, 2023
Being a sports mom can be so much fun! And it can be so dang hectic! Have you ever been running late to a baseball game only to realize that it’s 39°C outside and you didn’t even bring sunscreen or a drink of water? I have! Many times! I’m here to help you create your very own sports mom bag and give you my favorite sports mom hacks! 1) Have a Designated Sports Bag My first piece of advice is to create a designated sports mom survival bag that you can keep in the car. That way you are fully prepared and ready to go for every sports game, no matter how late you’re running! You’d be surprised how much peace of mind it brings to know that you have most of your stuff already prepped and ready to go in the back of the car. So find a bag that you specifically set aside for the purpose of staying prepped and ready to go for all of your kid’s sports games. 2) Must Have Sports Mom Seating I can’t stress how important it is to have great seating! You will be spending hours upon hours watching your kids play in their youth sports. So having great seating is one of the best ways for you to stay comfortable and happy, so you can focus on watching them play! Depending on if your kid is playing out on a field or inside a gym, will determine what type of seating you are going to need. If you have multiple settings that your kids play sports in, then you may need a couple of different types of chairs. If you really want to be the cool mom, you REALLY need to bring an awesome Bluetooth Waterproof Outdoor Speaker to the games to help get the kids pumped up and ready to win! I see this more and more at games and tournaments and it really helps the kids to get hyped up and excited to compete. 3) Sports Mom Tips to Keep Cool My next sports mom hack just to make sure that you have plenty of options for sun protection! The type of sun protection that you use will depend on how many people are attending the games. If you have a whole family coming to watch your child play, then it may be beneficial to bring up an entire pop-up tent. But typically for our family of five (when one person is playing), my favorite thing to bring is our Sport Umbrella ! I love how compact it is and how easy it is to set up and take down. They also have these handy air vents that you can unzip that will let in more breeze for those hot days. Sometimes all the shade in the world won’t help on those super hot summer game days. But having a personal neck fan definitely does! Sunscreen is also super important! I can tell you how many days I’ve shown up to a summer game wishing that I had brought my sunscreen with me! If you keep sunscreen in your sports mom bag, then you’re never going to have to worry about sunburns again! I love having a hard sided, insulated cooler with me to take to games. It keeps drinks cold super well and is extra handy if you are in charge of bringing treats for the team! 4) Sports Mom's Tips To Keep Warm Those spring and autumn games definitely bring some relief in the way of getting a break from the heat, but with that also comes chilly temperatures! What’s more fun than watching a football game wrapped up in your favorite blanket while drinking some hot chocolate!? I definitely have some favorite products that I use when it comes to staying warm at my kids’ sports games. There are tons of blanket options out there but why not use a customized blanket to keep warm and show your team spirit at the same time? My next favorite is to bring a blanket with a waterproof bottom. This is a great spot for the kids to sit when they are sitting on the sidelines watching their siblings. It gives them space all their own or they don’t have to be crawling all over your lap but you don’t have to worry about their pants getting wet! My other favorite thing is an insulated tumbler. This is the perfect option for keeping your hot chocolate warm during the entire game! I know insulated tumblers are super popular right now and for great reason. They are incredible at keeping your drinks cold when you want it kept cold, and hot when you want it hot! 5) Seasonal Stuff. For my cold weather readers here are some questions to ask yourself about each item. Can it be worn with tights or layered over a long-sleeve shirt? Is it a darker tone such as maroon, purple, olive, navy, black, or red? Is the fabric heavier, and will it retain heat? Can it be easily layered over with jackets or coats? I also keep a beanie on hand in the back of my car at all times. I have been caught at a cold game unprepared way too many times for me to keep it anywhere else. I’ve seen lots of different ways to keep your heat seated throughout those cold games. You can heat up a microwave-friendly hot water bottle and it will stay warm for hours! If your bum gets cold easily while sitting on those cold bleachers then these just may save your life! 6) Portable Chargers For Your Sports Mom Bag I can’t even tell you how many times I have gotten to one of my kid’s games only to realize that my phone battery is only at 3%! I get in a few pictures but always manage to miss taking video of some other greatest shots! Never be caught unprepared again with a low phone battery. Having a power bank can come in handy not only during sports games but in emergencies! I recommend having a power bank, no matter the reason! 7) First Aid Supplies For Your Sports Mom Bag Whether we like it or not, the sports field is definitely a place where injuries happen! Obviously you don’t want to be carrying around a giant first aid kit to every single sports game that your kids have. But having a few things on hand will go a surprisingly long way to help you feel prepared. And you’ll be very surprised at how often you use it! Usually, when someone gets hurt, it tends to be my other kids that are playing with friends at the playground. So I tend to keep a few basic first supplies on hand.  These are the things that I keep in my mini first aid kit: Regular size Band-Aids Butterfly Band-Aids Alcohol prep pads Kids allergy medicine Wound Antiseptic Liquid bandaid (optional) Tissues 8) Bag For Trash It is also helpful to keep small trash bags in your sports mom bag. Whether it’s rappers from the snacks you brought, or Band-Aid wrappers, or used tissues, you’ll never regret having a Ziploc bag on hand. 9) Food And Water Essentials For Your Sports Mom Bag For some strange reason, my kids always get ridiculously hungry when we are at a game. Despite the fact that I usually had just fed them before we left! And they always get thirsty from running around and playing with their friends. That’s why I always make sure to keep some pre-packaged snacks and water on hand in my sports mom bag! Having the prepackaged snacks will allow you to keep your bag fully stocked without having to remember to refill it every game like you would have to with fresh produce. 10) Sports Mom Hacks For Keeping Other Kids Entertained Whenever we go to watch one of my kid’s games, my other two kids end up getting bored at some point. If they are lucky enough to have some of their friends there, then my kids don’t get bored. But otherwise, it’s nice to have something small for them to do while they are at the game. We usually bring a soccer ball or some sort of ball for them to play with on the sidelines. Another great idea is to have a notepad and paper for them to color, play tic tac toe or other small games that don’t require a lot of art supplies. I hope this list has helped you get some ideas so you can get your own Sports Mom Bag put together so you are prepared for all of the sports games you attend! By Michelle - Practical Perfection
By Bagaddicts Anonymous 03 Dec, 2022
3 Simple Steps To Remove Colour Transfer, Dirt, and Stains on White Leather Luxury Bags 
By Angela Goh 21 Oct, 2022
If your staple handbag is boring black, it’s time to go shopping. When you need a little somethin’-somethin’ to spruce up a drab or dull outfit, you can always turn to accessories. And what better way to make a statement than by carrying around a bag in a unique shade of, say, orange? Or blue? Or red? Or pink? Brightly coloured handbags and clutches can really bring some life and spice to an ensemble. If you’re rocking the monochrome black-and-white trend and want to add an extra eye-catching element to your outfit — bam! — a fiery red bag will make a huge statement. If you’ve decided to go with dark greys and neutral shades for the office today and need to feel a little more “fashionable”, no problem — grab your cheery yellow bag and strut into the city feeling confident. Need some inspiration from street style gurus on the best ways to carry around a coloured bag? Keep reading to get started. Less black, more white Black isn't the only colour that will "match with everything". White works wonders with vibrant pieces too. A snazzy design Don't just stick to solid colours, pick out a cool pattern or an intriguing print. Bright red + cool colours Dark greens and blues are cool colours, but that doesn't mean you can't pair them with a fiery red accessory on the warm side of the spectrum! Statement piece If your outfit isn't edgy enough, throw in an eye-catchingly bold, bright bag to spruce up any dullness. White with a splash of colour A plain white dress can look boring if you don't add a dash of colour to it - toting around a bright bag will help. Mix and match with neutrals Neutral colours mean you'll be able to tote around any coloured bag you wish without awkward clashes. Electric blue Stick to the darker spectrum of colours for the rest of your outfit if you're going for an electric blue clutch. Black + yellow Channel your inner bumble bee and go for that black and yellow look. Always a stunner. Monochrome + colour If your ensemble is mostly sticking to monochrome, it's okay to select a "loud" bag to draw attention. More than one bright shade Accessorise with more than one strong colour in your ensemble, so long as the rest of your outfit is plain and simple. Block colours Simple and easy: the solid colour combo. Pink works too It may be a challenge to get hot pink to work in an outfit, but stick to neutral colours where it counts. More electric blue Go all out and get print-crazy with your outfit - and as the cherry on top, you'll want a bold bag in an uncommon colour. Electric blue works a treat. Black + yellow Yet another superb example of the black and yellow combination. Cheerful yet chic is the aim of the game. Match it up Warm colours unite in this red-tastic ensemble.
By Bydie - Written By Nicole Kliest | Fact Checked By Cherisse Harris 19 Aug, 2022
UPDATED ON JUN 23, 2022 It starts with a scratch, maybe an unsightly wrinkle, or even a small stain—we’ve all been there. The handbag you once loved slowly becomes tainted, and before you know it, you’re left with a remnant of what once was. Neglecting the upkeep of your handbag is something that everyone’s guilty of, but if you’ve ended up having to let go of a purse you used to adore, then you now understand the importance of properly taking care of them. Regardless if it’s a designer investment or a more affordable version, any handbag in your repertoire is worthy of a little TLC. That's why we tapped a few designers to share their tips on how to care for your handbags. Ahead, they fill us in on purse storage methods, cleaning hacks, and the best techniques for maintaining your handbag's shape.
By The Wall Street Journal - By Meenal Mistry 15 Jul, 2022
Leather stamped to look like crocodile has never been more convincing or chic. Here’s why your next bag should be faux;
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