Can I rescue this suede purse?

June 25, 2018 11:07 AM

I sent a suede bag for cleaning, and it came back a ruined - a darker color and a hard, stiff texture. Can I save it?

I have (had!) a lovely fringed purse in a soft fawn-colored suede. Over the course of an afternoon, new pair of jeans dyed the back and underside of it navy blue. I took it to a dry-cleaner that specializes in leather. I just picked the purse up from the dry-cleaner, and while the blue dye is gone, the purse came back completely wrecked.
The soft suede has been turned into something hard and stiff with a texture like sandpaper - a friend described the texture of the purse as feeling "like burned toast." When I rub the fringes between my fingers they rustle like dried leaves. Also - weirdly - the color of the purse has darkened from fawn to a deeper, very-reddish brown.

Does anyone have any idea what they did to it?
Does anyone have any idea how I can rescue it? I can live with the new color, but is there a conditioning product that can bring back the suede softness of a once-gorgeous purse?

(No - I can't ask the drycleaner. The dry-cleaner is playing see-no-evil and denying it was ever any different.)

posted by tabubilgirl to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (3 answers total)

I wonder if taking a gentle pass with a suede brush might help? If it's residue it might help remove and unstiffen (like brushing sticky hairspray out of your hair.) You can find them in shoe stores.
posted by kapers at 12:16 PM on June 25, 2018

I concur. Brushing it is the first thing I'd try.
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:05 PM on June 25, 2018

Sounds like boiled leather. Is it possible the purse accidentally got in a washing machine?
posted by steady-state strawberry at 3:52 AM on June 26, 2018