My wife and I traveled to France over a year ago to celebrate her new job with a reputable organization in Geneva, Switzerland. We had France on our mind the moment we realized how close it is to Geneva.
While there, my wife expressed interest in getting a Louis Vuitton for herself which she would use for her new job.
At the time, the winter season was upon us and we were having a lot of rain as you would have it in most winters in Switzerland. So this got me thinking if she could carry her Louis Vuitton in the rain since her office was a 10-minute walk to her office?
Being a cheapskate and not wanting the few thousand euros worth of bag to get ruined, I did some research on the matter.
Turns out Louis Vuitton leather bags are made from 100% genuine leather and are treated with a water-resistant finish, so they are safe to carry in the rain.
Score one for the husband! Now that the Louis Vuitton leather bag has seen 2 rainy/winter seasons, we know the answer to our original question, and yes, the LV bag has heldup.
So for the rest of this article, I would also like to share with you a few other important things I have learned these past few months on how the bag is holding up and why.
1. Louis Vuitton Bags Are Made Of Real Leather
Louis Vuitton bags are made of 100% genuine leather which means they naturally have a high level of resistance to heat, sunlight, and rain.
Meaning most Louis Vuitton bags will be able to withstand the elements. So if you are caught in a rainstorm with your Louis Vuitton leather bag, it is safe to bring it with you.
But let me hasten to add that, while it is possible to carry your Louis Vuitton in the rain, it is important that you take some preventative measures to keep your bag in good condition if you will have to use your LV in the rain.
2. Louis Vuitton Leather Bags Have A Water-Resistance Finish
The water-resistant finish does a good job of repelling rain and snow. However, if the bag gets too wet, it will in some cases, start to soak through the leather and will actually damage the bag over time.
This means the bag will be safe to carry in light showers. However, I would suggest you avoid using them in heavy downpours since this could ruin your bag.
My wife always does a good job of checking the weather forecast whenever she would want to wear or use anything leather. If it is going to be a particularly wet day, she leaves the leather item like her LV bag home and uses it on another dry day.
Because of this, her LV bag has lastest almost 2 years and it looks like the leather bag has a lot more years ahead of it.
3. Frequent Waterproofing Is Recommended
Another thing we noticed was that the water-resistant finish on the Louis Vuitton leather bag is not permanent. It will eventually wear off over time and when it does, the bag will start to absorb water a lot quicker.
To prevent this, I will recommend you waterproof your Louis Vuitton leather bag every few months or so.
This will play a major role in keeping your bag in good condition and prolonging the life of your Louis Vuitton leather bag if you get caught in the rain with it.
There are a few ways you can waterproof your Louis Vuitton leather bag and I have included a short overview below.
There are two ways to waterproof your Louis Vuitton leather bag. You can either use a water-repelling spray or a wax sealant.
If you are using a water-repelling spray, pick one base on the recommendations from LV. And when you apply the spray you will need to apply two coats for best results.
The first coat should be applied to the inside of your bag and let it dry completely before applying the second coat which should be applied to the outside of your Louis Vuitton bag.
If you are using a wax sealant, this is a good alternative for those who want to protect their Louis Vuitton bag from harsher elements like water and dirt.
The wax does a good job of protecting your bag from the rain, but it is important to note that you will need to apply it every few months for the best results.
4. Clean The Bag Regularly
Just like any other piece of leather, Louis Vuitton bags need to be cleaned on a regular basis.
This will help remove any dirt or grime that may have built up on the surface of the bag and will also help keep the leather in good condition.
As mentioned before, most LV leather bags come protected so when it comes into contact with rainwater, it will bead up or form water sports on the leather.
My wife over the period has done a great job of never leaving water spots on the bag. All she does is wipe it down with a slightly damp cloth after each time she uses it.
Also, whenever you deep clean your bag, make sure to use a cleaner that is specifically made for LV leather and never use any harsh chemicals on the bag.
Make sure to apply a generous amount of leather protector on your LV bag after deep cleaning it.
Can Louis Vuitton Leather Get Wet?
Having said all of the above, one question I believe I haven’t answered clearly is whether or not a Louis Vuitton leather bag can actually get wet or not. Well, the answer to this question is yes.
Louis Vuitton leather can get wet because although it may come coated or treated with waterproofing finishes exposing your Louis Vuitton leather to too much water will definitely cause it to become wet.
Water might be able to seep through seams, openings, and even the stitching so it is important that you take some preventative measures when using your LV bag in wet weather.
For this reason, you should avoid exposing your Louis Vuitton bag to too much water and if possible even if it has been waterproofed.
What Do You Do When You Louis Vuitton Gets Wet?
So, if your Louis Vuitton does get wet what should you do? Well, the first thing is to try and remove as much water as possible from the bag.
You can do this by using a dry cloth or paper towel and gently pressing it down on the surface of the bag.
After that, you will need to let the bag air dry and this can take a while so be patient.
Once the bag is completely dry, you can then apply a leather conditioner and then finish off by using a leather protector. Doing this will help the bag regain its original color and shape.
Final Thoughts
So, that pretty much covers everything you need to know about the topic of the day. Just to wrap things up, I’ll quickly go over the key points once again.
- You can carry a leather louis Vuitton in the rain.
- You can waterproof your leather louis Vuitton using either a water repellent spray or wax.
- Regularly clean and condition the bag to keep it in good condition.
- If the bag does get wet, try and remove as much water as possible before letting it air dry.
- Once it is dry, apply a leather conditioner and then finish off by using a leather protector.
As always, I hope you found this article helpful and informative.
