Vachetta Leather 101: How To Care For Your Louis Vuitton Leather Bag

We all know the Louis Vuitton name, and we’ve all seen a Louis Vuitton bag at some point or another. They’re undoubtedly iconic and hugely desirable. But for those of us lucky enough to actually own one, what can we do to keep them looking great? How do you properly care for a Louis Vuitton bag? 

That’s one of life’s most important questions, right there, and with that in mind, we’ve asked the guys at The Leather Colour Doctor for their top tips on how to care for your Louis Vuitton leather bag. Here’s what they had to say…

What Is A Louis Vuitton Bag Made From?

Louis Vuitton bags are made from a range of high-end leathers. The brand uses a vast list of leather to make their iconic bags. A Louis Vuitton leather bag could be made of any of the following leathers:

  • Vachetta leather: a calf-hide leather that is durable, soft to touch, and darkens with age, and is the most common type of leather used for LV bags.
  • Taurillon leather: a hard wearing leather that will soften and show wear with age
  • EPI leather: a sturdy and hard wearing material.
  • Empreinte leather: a hard wearing leather that will soften and lose embossing over time.
  • Vernis leather: a shiny leather that water repellent and prone to sun damage and colour/dye transfer.
  • Lambskin leather: a leather made from young sheep that is lightweight and soft.
  • Ostrich leather: a very durable and very flexible leather.
  • Crocodile and alligator leather: a leather that is soft to the touch and very expensive.
  • Exotic leather: an expensive and durable leather.

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The Best Ways To Care For Louis Vuitton Vachetta Leather

The most common material in a Luis Vuitton bag is vachetta leather. It is in more of the Louis Vuitton bags than any of the other leathers. You will be able to find out what type of leather a Luis Vuitton bag is made of when you visit the Louis Vuitton store.

To keep your new Louis Vuitton bag safe from cosmetic damage, you should:

  • avoid direct sunlight
  • avoid using harsh chemicals
  • do not scrub classic Louis Vuitton bags or a Louis Vuitton purse
  • clean the vachetta leather of your Louis Vuitton purse on a regular basis

How To Clean Louis Vuitton Bags

Cleaning Louis Vuitton leather is a risky business, and it is important to consider that if you do not want to risk damaging the coated canvas or harming the easily scratched leather, you can always send a Louis Vuitton bag to the Louis Vuitton experts. They can try to fix any issues with your bag, and will know enough about the bag materials not to damage your vachetta leather.

Vachetta Leather Handles

If you do want to clean your Louis Vuitton bag, you can clean the leather handles by:

  • Running a clean damp cloth over the straps and handles of your Louis Vuitton vegetable tanned cowhide leather is a great way to keep the straps clean, but be aware it may encourage patina (more of that in a moment).
  • You should regularly condition the vachetta leather handles to prevent cracking or dehydrating, but this may also encourage the rich amber patina to develop.
  • Deep clean with a leather cleaner, but it is important to do a patch test on your bag first to ensure you do not damage it.

Interior Or Lining

If the inside of your Louis Vuitton bag has gotten damaged, you may need to have it relined. Alternatively, you can use a damp cloth to try and clean it. If you’re concerned about the risks of cleaning the bag yourself, you can send it off to the experts.

Monogram Canvas Exterior

Many of Louis Vuitton bags have a monogram canvas exterior rather than being made of leather. This means it’s easier to clean! You can use alcohol free baby wipes or a leather cleaner to gently wipe down the surface. These are unlikely to cause damage, but it is still important to check them on an unseen patch first.

Leather Exterior

The leather exterior of a Luis Vuitton bag is very special, and it needs to be looked after with great care. If you need to clean it, you should really consider sending it to the experts. However, if you want to clean the vachetta leather yourself, you can try:

  • using a small damp cloth or scented leather wipes to wipe away marks and stains
  • blotting oily marks as soon as you see them
  • using cornstarch to remove stains from the leather
  • using a magic eraser to remove stains from the vachetta leather
  • using a leather cleaner to properly clean the vachetta leather

Read: What your handbag says about you

How To Stop Watermarks On Vachetta Leather

You can purchase water-repellent sprays for leather that work to prevent water from being able to damage the vachetta leather. Watermarks can be unsightly and annoying, and unfortunately, once on your Louis Vuitton bag, there’s not much that can be done to remove them other than dying your leather bag.

What Is The Louis Vuitton Vachetta Leather Patina?

Louis Vuitton vachetta leather will darken over time. This is known as the patina. As the patina develops, the handles and other elements of the bag will go from a light brown to a honey colour and eventually to an almost black. This is caused by the sunlight and the natural oils of our skin.

Stopping Patina

If you’d like to stop the patina process, you might want to store your bag in a dust bag to help it to avoid natural sunlight. You can also reduce the amount or avoid conditioning the leather at all. Making sure that you only touch the bag with clean hands can also help to slow the process.

Speeding Up Patina

Alternatively, if you want the darker leather, you can place your bag in direct sunlight and condition it on a regular basis to encourage the oils to change the colour.

The Bottom Line

With the above leather care tips, your Louis Vuitton bag will be your pride and joy for many years to come.

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