Louis Vuitton - Leather or Canvas?
Louis Vuitton - Leather or Canvas?
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22/6/2020
On my very first marquage project, I made a faux pas.
I told my cousin-in-law that the Louis Vuitton Monogram Neverfull is a leather bag and we spent while a while trying to ascertain its origins.
In the end, I turned to trusty Google to solve this mystery.
I think nothing can describe the astonishment, shock and disbelief when I discovered that the SGD$1990 bag is actually made from canvas and not leather?
Don't believe too? Look at the detailed specifications for the Monogram Neverfull bag taken from the Louis Vuitton website.
"Look! It's Monogram coated canvas! Where is the leather?"
"Look! It's Monogram coated canvas! Where is the leather?"
The Louis Vuitton Monogram, along with the dark brown Damier Ebene and lighter Damier Azur checker-board print, are essentially printed on a layer of cotton canvas, which is then coated with a plastic derivative PVC (polyvinylchloride). The meticulous craftsmanship of the Louis Vuitton coated canvas bag is really where your investment lies. It goes through more than 100 stages of production before it is ready to hit the retail shelves. This process forms the hard-wearing nature of Louis Vuitton's coated canvas which actually makes the bag a lot lighter and more durable than other luxury all-leather handbags.
I can attest to the durability of the coated canvas. My Louis Vuitton Monogram Neverfull has been with me for more than 10 years, with nary a scratch on its surface. It holds its shape well and does not need a lot of fussing unlike other leather bags.
Despite its hard-wearing and durable nature, Louis Vuitton coated canvas is not indestructible and if not properly cared for, it can split and crack. I will share some tips on how to keep your canvas bags in pristine condition.
Top tips for caring for your Louis Vuitton canvas bag
Top tips for caring for your Louis Vuitton canvas bag
Storing the bag in its dust bag (not box) so that it can 'breathe'. Do not expose the bag to direct sunlight when storing away as canvas can become brittle from sitting in sunlight often.
Do not bend the canvas or store the bag bent or crumpled up.
Be very careful when you place your bag. Even though Louis Vuitton canvas is highly durable, the canvas bag can still be susceptible to scratches if they come into contact with abrasive surfaces or sharp objects.
Always take note not to drag your bag across a surface as it may cause damage such as scratches to the bottom of the bag, especially the corners (common on Neverfull and Speedy bags). Unfortunately, once Louis Vuitton canvas is scratched or worn, it cannot easily be repaired.
Wipe the bag down with a clean, damp, ideally white or light-coloured cloth. Remember to avoid contact with any of the vachetta leather trim as water can damage the leather and leave marks.
Avoid over-filing the bag or putting too much weight inside the bag to avoid stress on the vachetta leather handles.
For more fun facts about leather painting and leather care, follow me on Instagram www.instagram.com/deelydelly to learn more!
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