Signs it needs replacing
- It feels sticky, or sheds black or brown flakes onto your phone and wallet
- It has gone to powder at the folds and the base
- Mould keeps returning inside, even after cleaning
- A smell that will not leave — perfume, smoke, damp
- Ink or make-up has soaked through a large area
Signs it only needs repair
- A seam has opened along the top edge or a pocket
- A pocket corner has torn from the weight of keys
- A small stain, on fabric that is otherwise sound
Both are stitching and lining work. We tell you which one yours is after seeing the inside of the bag.
What a replacement involves
- The bag is opened along its own seams.
- The old lining becomes the pattern, so pockets and compartments come back where they were.
- New lining is cut and stitched, with pockets and zips rebuilt.
- Labels and tags are moved across to the new lining wherever they can be.
- The bag is closed on its original stitch line.
Worth doing at the same time
The bag is already open, so this is the moment for a broken zip, a loose handle base or tired edges. It is one opening instead of two.
The bag is already open, so this is the moment for a broken zip, a loose handle base or tired edges. It is one opening instead of two.