When you are using a faux leather bag, the faux leather especially the fringe section starts to peel off, doesn’t it? A favorite bag of mine has faux leather that’s starting to peel off.
Normally, I would just throw it away, but the rest of the bag is still usable, so I still want to use it. But I didn’t want to take up much of my time by repairing it, so I googled to see if I could do it easily myself, and found some useful goods!
The state of the tattered, peeling faux leather bag before repair
The faux leather bag I’m repairing is a Patrick Cox Tote Bag, which costs around 20,000 JPY (about US$200). The appearance of the bag seems to be a pretty usable condition from my judgment.
But if you look closer, you can see that the faux leather on the edge is actually in such awful condition…It’s kind of embarrassing to use the bag as it is.
After some research, I found out that faux leather is supposed to last only a few years even if you use it normal way. It’s true that I’ve had a number of faux leather bags where various parts have peeled off with few usages.
Applying a faux leather repair tape to fix the peeled section
To repair the peeled leather, I used CAPTAIN’s “Synthetic Leather Repair Tape, Fine 25mm x 1m,” which is a strong adhesive type. This tape is very easy to use for repairing a long, thin handle of bags, umbrellas, or the like.
The 25mm width type comes in three colors: black, dark brown, and translucent. This time, I chose the black color because the part to be repaired is black.
You will find a piece black tape in the package. It is thin and fragile, as shown in the image below. I was a little skeptical when I first saw this tape, and I had a feeling that it might not succeed. Well, let’s see what happens…
Steps to repair the peeling faux leather of the bag with the repair tape
The edge of the peeling bag is about 5 mm wide, but the tape I purchased is 2.5 cm wide. In that case, you just have to cut the tape with scissors to a width of about 1 cm to match the edge of the bag (5mm x 2 (front and back)).
Then, neatly attach the tape to the edge of the bag. The rear of the faux leather tape is firm glue, so you just have to peel off the backing paper and stick the tape on the edge of the bag.
Note that if the area to be taped is wet, dusty, or greasy, the adhesive strength will weaken, so be sure to check and dry the area beforehand!
Above is the tape that was applied to the bag’s front. The tape stretches a lot more than I expected, so it was very easy to apply and attach. Faux leather is, if I’m right, naturally stretchy.
Also, even after peeling off the tape several times to adjust and reattaching it, the adhesion did not degrade at all.
This is how the tape’s back looks after it has been applied.
And it’s done!
(*5*)
I proudly showed it to some of my friends, and they complimented me, saying, “I can’t tell if it’s been reapplied at all! All of them were amazed at how quickly and easily the peeled section was repaired.
It took me about five minutes from the time I cut the tape into 1cm pieces with scissors to the time I finished applying it, even though I had been sitting on it for weeks before I bought the tape and started applying it.
In fact, I was so lazy that I didn’t even bother to cut the tape into 1cm pieces and just cut it by eye, but I was surprised at how quickly it was done.
I was surprised at how quickly I was able to complete the project. With this 1 meter long tape, I was able to cover the entire area around the edge of the bag with just one piece of tape.
This captain’s faux leather repair tape costs only around 500 Japanese yen, a mere one coin. Considering the price of the original bag, it was a good decision to repair it instead of throwing it away.
It’s really easy to do, so if it’s your favorite bag (or even though it’s not your favorite but if it’s an expensive bag), it’s worth a try before you throw it away!
Repairing my favorite backpack with the faux leather part peeled off
I was so pleased with how easy it was to repair, that I decided to repair another bag.
This backpack is quite old, but I really like it because it’s so easy to use and I just couldn’t throw it away, and if possible, I want to use it again!
However, just like the black bag I mentioned earlier, the brown faux leather part of this backpack is peeled off and it’s falling apart. I really don’t know why faux leather peels off like this…
With this backpack, the surface of the faux leather part is peeling off, so it is not usable as it is… So, the next step is to use a repair sheet for the faux leather in a dark brown color.
This is the same dark brown version of the CAPTAIN “Synthetic Leather Repair Tape 11cm x 20cm”. This dark brown one measures 11cm x20cm.
I don’t know if it’s because of the wide width, but the name of this one is “faux leather repair sheet” instead of tape. All you have to do is cut the tape into 1cm pieces and stick them on.
Here’s the finished image. Is it what you want? Isn’t it beautifully done?
This repair tape is a useful tool. The best part about this tape (or sheet is its flexibility).
Thanks to its elasticity, you can apply it to anything, even curved areas, even if dexterity is not your strong suit. Your child can do it too. I think it’s a fun crafty way to fix things for them!
Captain’s faux leather repair tape can also be used to repair other colors of bags!
Don’t worry. It’s not only black or brown that can be repaired.
You can also use Captain’s Synthetic Leather Repair Tape to repair other colors of bags
The 11cm wide “faux leather repair sheet” comes in six colors: black, dark brown, camel, off-white, white, and translucent, as well as black and brown.
FAQ:
Q: What causes faux leather to peel?
A: Faux leather is a synthetic material with a fabric base and a polyurethane coating. Over time, the coating can wear off due to exposure to heat, moisture, friction, or chemicals, causing the faux leather to peel.
Q: How can I prevent faux leather from peeling?
A: Keeping it away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and sharp objects.
Cleaning it gently with a damp cloth and mild soap, and drying it thoroughly.
Applying a leather conditioner or a protective spray moisturizes and seals the faux leather.
Q: How can I fix a faux leather purse that is peeling?
A: Removing the loose flakes of faux leather with a razor blade or sandpaper.
Coloring the exposed fabric with a marker or a dye that matches the color of the purse.
Applying a leather paint or a shoe goo over the peeled area with a small brush or a sponge.
Q: What are the alternatives to fixing a peeling faux leather purse?
A: Replacing the faux leather with a new fabric or leather by sewing or gluing it.
Covering the peeled area with a patch, a sticker, a brooch, or a charm.
Using the purse as a craft project, such as making a collage, a mosaic, or a quilt.
Q: How can I tell if a purse is faux or genuine leather?
A: Checking the label, the tag, or the logo for any indication of the material.
Examining the texture, the smell, and the feel of the leather. Faux leather is smooth, plastic-like, and odorless, while genuine leather is rough, natural, and leathery.
This article explains “Renapur” in detail, a convenient leather cream that can be used to care for everything with just one bottle.
