FB PROMO ALERT: BAG SPA INVITES

Dear bag lover,

It's been awhile since we started preaching about caring for bags. We think it's about time you join us while we give our bags a little pampering. Join us and manila's top bloggers as we bond over our love of nice bags and good food. 

Although, as much as we'd love to invite our entire FB following, we don't think our humble little office can handle it. So to save us the dilemma of selecting the lucky Purse Prime Friend, we decided to just turn it into a competition (its just more fun that way). 

The rules are pretty simple... its all found in the lil artwork below. 

SAVE THE DATE: AUGUST 24. 8PM.

Starter collection? Brand loyal? Well edited? Lust Inducing? Doesn't matter what sort of bag collection you have. Just pose and post! Oh and tell your pals to vote for you!

Don't miss out on this fabulous bag lovers soiree. Like our facebook page now and join the promo! 

xoxo,

LA and K-wey

P.S.

Did we mention we have a neat goodie bags for our guests too?? :)

Get the bag collecting started

STARTING A BAG COLLECTION

There comes a time in every girl’s life when it’s not anymore enough to borrow bags from mom’s closet. Together with the bigger paycheck and the new taste of independence comes the want to build their own bag collection. It may come later than sooner but we all know the want for bags will sure come a knocking! (hihi)

We’re on the beginning of our bag collection ourselves and by no means is it as extensive as we would want it to be (when will it ever be?).  Yet we can proudly say that we care for each and every piece.  Like with clothes, we do a purse “fitting” before we decide on a bag. Go through our PURSE FIT test it just might help you get started on that bag collection.

PURSE FITTING

Does it fit your personal taste?

This is the easiest part. There are about a hundred of designer bag choices and there is bound to be one or two that is just so YOU. Do some research online to get familiarized with style and brands. Don’t get too caught up with “IT” bags though. It’s better to go to the store to get a personal feel of the bag.

Does it fit my lifestyle?

Where do you spend most of your time? What are your usual activities? Are you a klutz?  Some people think wear and tear gives bags more character while others just frown on the imperfections. Noting these considerations will help you pick a bag that will match your needs and activities.

Does it fit my things?

Get a bag that can hold the amount of stuff you cannot leave your house without. Certain occasions call for specific types of bag. If you constantly find yourself in such events, it might be good time to invest on the required bag. No point in buying a bag that will just sit unused for years.

Does it fit in my closet?

Is there enough room for the bag to comfortably sit in the closet. Remember even in storage a bag may deteriorate if not stored properly. Make sure you'll be able to use the bag at least every other month.

Does it fit my budget?

Only buy bags you can actually afford or save up for. No point having a designer purse and no money in your wallet. Though that doesn’t mean you should just let go of your bag dream. Scout for good deals. Wait for end of season sales or better yet shop around pre-owned bag boutiques.

Deciding on a bag takes some time. Go through the questions over again if you’re still not sure. Buy only when you are certain that you will enjoy the bag for a good long while.  After doing that first purchase, growing and maintaining your collection is another story. Watch out for our next post as we share stuff we’ve learned along the way.Don't forget to like us on facebook for bag care tips!

Now, get that collection started!

CARE GUIDE : Keeping Suede Bags Perfect.

CARING FOR SUEDE HANDBAGS
Stain on your SUEDE satchel? Don't worry, PROBLEM SOLVED!  The Purse Prime Team is excited for all our Purse Pals who are big fans of suede just like us. We have the perfect solution in keeping Suede Handbags clean and "fuzzy"!

SUEDE 101 

Suede LV 

When leather is produced, it is usually the outermost layer of skin that gets used, which is tougher and more durable than the inner surface used for suede.  Suede is in fact the flesh side of animal skin and the hide is scraped clean of hair and tanned.  Most suede leather is made of calfskin, lambskin, kidskin and goatskin.


Suede is more supple and flexible than full grain leather, but because of its nappy surface, it scuffs easily and often makes it more difficult to clean. It also stains easily, including water, so our suede bags are not appropriate for rainy days.  

BUFF THE SUEDE, KEEP THE NAP.
Regular maintenance of suede handbags is very simple. Buff your bag with a Nylon Suede Brush to help restore the nap. Brushing is recommended after usage and upon taking out from storage.


CLEANING SUEDE
Stains on suede maybe categorized in two group, dry and wet. Scuff marks and accumulated dirt maybe considered as dry stains. Dry stains on suede maybe removed using a Suede Eraser Bar. Gently rub eraser on the stained area. Once stain is lifted, restore the nap with the nylon suede brush.

Get a Suede Care Kit now to bring the beauty back to your suede handbag

Wet stains from rain, water spills, ink, and oil are trickier to deal with. Don't even think about tossing the bag into the washing machine!!!  To clean Wet suede stains, use only Apple Suede and Nubuck Cleaner.Tried and tested for years, the Apple Suede & Nubuck Cleaner is especially formulated to safely remove most oil and water based stains from delicate suede, nubuck and fabric.  Follow these tips and steps to learn how to care for, and clean your suede properly!

1.  Always shake the bottle of Apple Suede & Nubuck Cleaner well before using.

2.  Test Patch comes first.  -  Do this is in a hidden area of the bag. 

3. Dilute 1 part cleaner to 2 parts water.

4. Dampen cloth with diluted cleaner and rub into stain gently in circular motions.  Wipe treated area clean with damp cloth.

• For hard to remove stains, directly pour a little amount of Apple Suede & Nubuck Cleaner onto a soft clean cloth and apply on stain.  Wipe treated area with clean dampen cloth.

5. Allow the bag to dry for at least 4 hours.

6. Brush with a suede brush to restore the nap of the leather.

7.  Before and after use of your suede bag, add a  much needed layer of protection and spray on the Apple Garde Rain & Stain Repellent. 

To make bag cleaning even easier, Purse Prime packed all the essentials for a suede bag cleaning session ready for your use.

TREATING WATER SOAKED LEATHER
If by some miserable chance your suede bag was soaked in water, do these steps to save your bag:

• Use paper towels or bath towels to remove excess moisture. 
• if only a part of the bag was soaked, using a spray bottle, wet the rest of the bag then towel dry.
• Place bag stuffers or crumpled sheets of uninked paper inside the bag to help maintain its shape while drying. Air-dry your bag for 24 hours.
• Once dry, buff the suede to restore the nap.

Purse Prime Note:  When talking about suede, we have to distinguish between suede, the leather, and suede, the fabric. The fabric only imitates the rough surface of suede leather. Apparel made of suede fabric may be laundered or dry cleaned, simply by following instructions on the garment’s label.


Dont miss out on our fabulous bag care tips like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

CARE GUIDE: Removing Denim Stains from Handbags

Wouldn't it be nice to finally put together a comfy pair of jeans plus a statement bag ensemble without worrying about color-transfer? Enjoy this easy, breezy, helpful guide on how to avoid and remove color-transfer on leather handbags.  This DIY denim stain removal guide should work for leather and suede.  

CROCKING

No, that’s not a new dance craze.  Crocking is the when the dye from one material transfers to another. Denim is a usual culprit for crocking as the Indigo dye used to color jeans takes multiple washing before it completely rinses out. Thus constant rubbing between your bag and  your brand new jeans may cause color-transfer from the denim to the bag’s leather.

To check if your denim jeans are safe to wear with your bags, please do a crocking test.  Get a white piece of paper or cloth (like bond paper) and rub it against your jeans. If there is any color-transfer on the paper, do think twice about the outfit you are going to wear or the bag you are going to carry.

CLEANING DENIM STAINS

Sad but true denim stains is a common problem for bag lovers. Should your bag have those blocks of slightly translucent blue streaks those are most likely denim stains.  Don’t worry though; with the help of Appple Leather Cleaner that bag may still be saved!

To remove stubborn stain such as denim dye transfer simply follow the steps below

1. Pour a quarter size amount of Apple Leather Cleaner on soft clean cloth (best with a pro shine cloth) and apply to problem area of the bag.
2. Rub gently in a circular motion to remove the dirt and stain. Do not over rub.  
3. Wipe off the excess product before letting the bag dry for four (4) hours.
4. Check for the stain visibility once the bag is dry. If the stain is still there, repeat step  1-3.
5. Use a clean soft cloth and apply Apple Leather Conditioner liberally to the bag and let it dry.
6. Buff gently with a horse hair brush
7. Finish off with Apple Garde Rain and Stain Repellent to protect the bag from future stains and damage.

To further avoid any chance of color-transfer on your bags do store them properly. Keep them inside dust bags and store away from any source of heat.

Hope this helps  Purse Friends! For more bag care tips Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!

Were on MULTIPLY! Lets Shop Shop SHOP!

Multiply has been abuzz with all the online shops they cater to and they sure found a way to make online shopping a whole lot of fun!  Now, the Purse Prime team enjoys online shopping as much as all our Purse Pals and we just had to share how proud we are of our official Multiply site!  TADA!

Layout was designed by Tin Roque of www.poshandpretty.com and our logo was done by Pam Medina (kindly message us if you'd like to inquire about her contact details).

Through the Purse Prime Multiply site, you can navigate easily and shopping is a breeze with the shop cart system which allows you to check out other sites while shopping at Purse Prime! Absolutely EASY!

Hope you can find time to check out our multiply site at http://purseprime.multiply.com/


So exciting!  See you all at Multiply Purse Pals!

CARE GUIDE: Keeping Balenciaga leather bags clean.

CARING FOR BALENCIAGA HANDBAGS

Here in the Purse Prime office keeping Balenciaga leather bags clean is serious business. If there are Gucci Girls, LV lovers… we are Balenciaga Beauties!  We simply adore the softness of the Italian goat leather used for by the Balenciaga purse line.  The ruggedness of the distressed leather gives it just the right amount of street cred that makes you want to carry it everyday.

As rugged as those City bags look, distressing them even more is just heartbreaking. Thus if there is any bag in our closet that regularly receives the PRIMING and MAINTENANCE bag care combo, it’s got to be the Balenciagas.  Purse Prime fans would know just how important priming with Apple Garde is. This rain and stain repellent spray can surely protect your handbag from water that may harden the oh-so-soft leather.  It’ll also keep your bag from absorbing oil that may lead to discoloration or spot darkening.

For cleaning and maintenance only MELTONIAN cleaner and conditioner touches our Balenciaga handbags.  From experience, Meltonian helps maintain the suppleness and of the leather while retaining the subtle sheen that can only be found in authentic Balenciaga handbags (replicas tend to be shinier).  

Get a Balenciaga Care Kit for your Motorcycle bag!

To make bag cleaning easier for you, Purse Prime put together a special Balenciaga Care Kit. It contains everything you will need to keep your prized City bag in perfect condition. Leather Care is done in 3 easy steps:

1. Put a small amount of Meltonian Cleaner and conditioner on the shine cloth and wipe in circular motion onto the leather bag. (always do a spot test before treating the entire bag)

2. Once the entire bag is clean, buff with the horse hair brush. Leave to dry for 3 hours.

3. When bag is dry, spray with the Apple Garde and let dry for 30 minutes. 

Do remember to follow the products care guides during application

If there are no dirt or stains that need to be treated for your Balenciaga, make conditioning a priority. Some  Purse Prime pals only swear by the Apple Leather care brand and use only Apple Leather Conditioner for their Balenciagas.


About caring for the bag handles, a little more care may be needed as the material used for the rope stitching is actually untreated leather. You may want to avoid getting too much conditioner on the rope part to avoid unwanted darkening. Using Q-tips to apply conditioner on the handles may be a good idea.

For specific bag care questions, do leave a wall post and we’ll try our best to help solve your bag care dilemmas. 

Ciao bella!

CARE GUIDE: Keeping Patent Handbags Shiny And New!

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PATENT CARE GUIDE

Lovely to look at, Pretty to hold, disaster if soiled. Such is the story of the patent handbag. It shouldn’t always be the case. A few precautionary steps and your patent handbag can remain sparkly like new.

• Patents bags are not vampires, they can take some sun. Although leaving them to sunbathe under the hot afternoon sun maybe a bit too much. Also, leaving your bag inside your car while it’s parked outdoors will surely bake the color off your prized bag.
• Patent is allergic to ink. Keep the Parker pens and Vogue Italias away.
• Denim Jeans are usual culprits for staining patent bags. You may want to rethink your outfit on days you want to carry your vernis purse.
• Always keep your Patent bags in their dust bags during storage. Prolonged contact with any dyed, printed, or painted surface may facilitate color transfer.  

After use, it is also advised that you clean your Patent bag with Esquire Patent and Patina Cleaner. This proven safe formula can remove dirt while keeping the luster on your patent bag. This little bottle of love may also remove light scuff marks from your purse.  Lucky for LV vernis carriers, this product may be used for the Vachetta handles too!(Check out special post on keeping bag handles clean) Get one now at the Purse Prime shop.

The cleaning solution for your loved LV Vernis

VASELINE FOR YOUR SKIN, ESQUIRE FOR YOUR BAG.

Only use cleaners specially formulated for patent, doing otherwise may cause the bag material to be sticky. Same goes for Vaseline and Alcohol. You already made a sizeable investment on the bag why risk cleaning it with just about anything you can find in the medicine cabinet? Newsflash, it’s not the 80s anymore.

On the dreaded the event that you do find a stain on your patent bag, time is most crucial. Try to have the stain removed as soon as possible, the longer you let it set the more likely it will become permanent. Some say a white rubber eraser from the bookstore can remove ballpen marks on your bag. A better alternative would be to use a few drops of Esquire Cleaner on a cotton ball and rub on the stained area.

ONLY HAPPY WHEN IT RAINS

With just a little more care, carrying your patent bag should not be a disaster waiting to happen. Oh and before we exchange buhbyes here’s a lil Purse Prime tip: Use your Patent bag on rainy days! Not only will it brighten up a gloomy day, its waterproof material can withstand a stronger drizzle than your usual everyday leather bag.  Now ain’t that smart?