Monday, March 3, 2014

How to fix your Longchamp Le Pliage bag if it has bubbles

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Years ago I purchased a Longchamp Le Pliage bag - it was a perfect gym bag that was lightweight and stylish. It's held up really well but after toting it around through the rain I started noticing unsightly air bubbles all over the bag; it was as if the bag hit puberty and got a bad case of acne! It appeared the nylon and vinyl backing were starting to come undone. I googled this problem and some people took their bag back to Longchamp but the replacement process seemed long so I just decided to fix it myself.

It occurred to me that I might just need to apply a little heat to get the layers to stick together again. Check out the pictures below; I think I did a pretty good job! All I used was a standard iron and an old t-shirt.

Here's a picture of the front which shows the bubbling (it was like this all over the other side as well).

A close-up of the bubbling:

I flattened out the bag the best I could and slipped an old t-shirt inside. I figured the heat may make the vinyl inside adhere to the other side so I wanted to keep the sides separated.

I set my iron on the highest dry setting - I didn't want any steam to come out.

I ironed the bag surface, moving the iron steadily so it wouldn't leave a mark. The air bubbles slowly went away as the nylon and the vinyl reattached.

Here's what the bag looked like after I ironed it a few times. Some areas required a lot of ironing so I just kept going over it until the bubbles disappeared.

A close-up - the bubbles are gone!

Update: The bubbles reappeared after I used the bag again so it seems that this is only a temporary fix. The good news is you can iron it again but just be aware that the bubbles may reappear. It certainly looked a lot better than having not ironed it!

After reading through several forums, it appears that there was a problem with the glue used on these bags from 2005-2007. I believe the issue has been resolved and Longchamp bags produced since then are now bubble-free. If you want to buy another original 'Large Le Pliage' Tote, I recommend Nordstrom because they have a generous return policy.

Good luck! Feel free to post comments or questions below.

66 comments:

  1. Hi! Did this last? I mean did bubble reappear after this?

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    1. Hi Lenne, unfortunately the bubbles did reappear. It doesn't look like ironing it was a permanent fix but it held up for a little bit. It looks like the best permanent solution is to get another bag! I think Longchamp will replace it but I've read that it takes a while to get a replacement bag.

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    2. I have just spoken to Longchamp about my pliage bubbling bag and they refuse to replace it as apparently it is my fault it has bubbled as I have used it in the rain, which I have not. It would appear it is a rare phenomena despite so many people complaining.

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    3. Some days it rains so of course a bag is going to get a bit wet now and again! I have a long champ bag, it's bigger than the lepilage and it is badly bubbled. It's quite old - more than 10 years. I've taken it to the longchamp shop in Regent Street but they didn't tell me about the glue problem and said it was very rare for this to happen and they didn't know why. It is quite old but hardly used. They didn't offer to replace it or offer any discount. It has put me off buying oaky of their products in the future

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    4. That's disappointing to hear. I wish Longchamp would stand behind their products.

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    5. I have two bags with bubbles purchased during the defect years. Longchamp USA repairs said they would not fix the bags nor do they have any idea how to remove the bubbles. Most unsatisfying service. I thought Longchamp stood behind their products but they do not.

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  2. Like this one, I now want to buy a Handbag,Longchamp Le Pliageliked, but I do not know that a goodpick ,you help to the point.

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    1. Thanks Su. I hope you find a bag that you like!

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    2. SPRAY WITH SPRAY STARCH AS YOU IRION IT WORKS AND IT STAYS THAT WAY FOR ABOUT 3MONTHS.

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    3. Has anyone used a spray glue instead of spray starch? If so, did it work and what brand was it. I would love to keep my bag in use.

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    4. Would be curious if spray glue worked for anyone else, too. You can always test it on a less visible part of the bag (like on the back) before you do it to more parts. Sounds like spray starch works for at least for a few months. Good luck!

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  3. Apparently all Longchamp Le Pliage bags "will bubble" after use. This was the reply I had from my local store supervisor after I sent in 3 bags to the boutique for PARIS Longchamp to evaluate. This is so upsetting. I had 8 of such bags and other series as well. And the trouble is I hardly use them. I'll never ever buy Longchamp bags and I'll tell all my friends about Longchamp bags getting "bubbles" whether you use or not.

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    1. Hi Jan, did all of your bags get bubbles at some point? I understood it was only bags produced during certain years but I could be wrong. I stopped using mine after the bubbles appeared. I didn't expect a product with such a high price point to be so bad in quality. No more Longchamp bags for me either.

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    2. 3 out of 5 of my first purchase of Longchamp Le Pliage had bubbles. I was told that Longchamp used to do a 1-to-1 exchange but not anymore. Does it mean that Longchamp doesn't even believe in the quality of its products anymore? If so, no more Longchamp ever for me, and let the readers be warned! Don't waste your money on Longchamp!

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    3. They did not believe me either. Told me the bubbling was my fault. I will never buy Longchamp again either

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  4. Hello!!! I have the same bag in beige but with the short handles-for some reason i was really into that. But because of that i now rarely use it (-wish i had the long ones-...).Last time was during vacation time cuz i can stuff a lot of things in it. It was laying in a corner in my room and i just now picked it up to clean it and i noticed some bubbles (it was sitting kind of creased). I started cleaning in with soap and water -unfortunately it also has some black marks that won't go away :( and now it's drying in the shower. It's got its shine back but there are so many bubbles now :( ...Don't know if the water made it worse or what... I'm so sad... It looks quite bad to hold it like this but i don't think i could throw it away. Anyone found another solution????

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    1. I have also used iron and cloth in order to get rid of Le Pliage's air bubbles. I have three bags from longchamp (Roseau shoulder, Roseau bucket and Le Pliage Hobo) and 2 out of three have air bubbles. I am so disappointed as well. Bags have a classic style, but durability is something else.

      Bags cannot stand water. I was also thinking of some kind of glueish material, which (with cloth) would attach Le Pliage's materials together.. Wonder what the material would be...

      I guess I'll make a post about this subject.
      Have a nice day!

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    2. My bag had gotten wet plenty of times but I didn't notice the bubble problem until I had it for a few years. The glue probably just got weak over time. Once the seal comes apart I think it'll be really hard to fix it without it being obvious. Think of air bubbles under a screen protector on the face of your iPhone - you have to pull it all off and start over!

      Would love to hear if anyone has success fixing it another way. Thanks!

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  5. Iv bought a Le pilage with bubbles fir a great price...i loved it when i saw it.im going to slice bottom and respray.with craft glue.!!

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    1. Can you let me know what you mean?? I'd love to know if there's a way to fix it

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  6. Hmm.... Weird I have a few of the bags in diff sizes never had bubble issues. Stains yes, but not bubbles. Even though I haven't used them for awhile. I really mean for a while as in few yrs still in good condition.

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    1. From what I've read, the problem seems to occur in bags that were produced in 2006. Something about a defect due to the glue they used during that time period. Longchamp won't do anything about it. Defective product, unhappy customers. Not a recipe for success.

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  7. Hi Conny thanks for the tips it really helpful, anyones do u have any tips how to get rid of yellow stain from my longcharm bag the my bag material is canvas, please share it , thanks in advance

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    1. Hi Sherry, not sure what the yellow stain is from but I've found baking soda and peroxide (or vinegar) to be a good way to lift stains. Try spot cleaning a part that's not really visible to make sure it doesn't ruin the color.

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  8. I faced the same prob too...same model n same colour..extremely sad! Will try to do this

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  9. I just discovered this problem with one of my older Le Pliage bags. I called my local Longchamp store (I live in SF) and they said that it's not fixable b/c the polyurethane lining is starting to separate and there's no way to reseal it, and that there was a batch from about 7-8 years ago where this was a problem. They can't fix it or replace it, but they're happy to give you 20% off any new Le Pliage if you trade it in. So at least there's that. Just wanted to share.

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    1. Thanks for sharing! Hopefully this helps someone. Please report back if Longchamp gave you 20% off a new Le Pliage!

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  10. Has the lining of anyone's bags cracked? I not only have some bubbles on the outside of my bag but the inside lining is literally cracked in a lot of areas it's so weird...

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    1. Yes, mine has. But only around the handles - I suppose it's an area that's heavily stressed.

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  11. Thank you so much for the tip!

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  12. I bought a large Le Pliage with short handles in Paris back in 2005, it was purple and I never even used it more than three times for three trips. It was stored away and one I took it back out it was full of bubbles. So it doesnt come with usage or rain thats for sure because mine was never in rain and barely at all used. It is now a stylish laundry bag lol, well it still actually pisses me off looking at it bubbling away.

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    1. Can't believe you barely used it! I used to calculate cost per use... 3 times would piss me off! :o) My bag is sitting in my closet doing nothing. I catch a glimpse of it every now and then but I don't have any desire to use it. Maybe one day I'll embrace it like people embrace their phones with a cracked screen.

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    2. I agree with you. I bought an almost new Le Pliage and has no bubbles. However, I stored it for week in my closet and folded it just to see how it will hold up if I bring it during travels. The bubbles appeared on the sides of the bag. I was so disappointed.

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  13. Longchamp can shove heir 20% discount up their behinds. Not standing behind their products is bad business. I have 3 of them that are delaminating and I’ll never support that company again.

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    1. That's a bummer to hear that 3 of your bags are getting bubbles! The best thing to do is to vote with your dollars. I hope you find another brand that stands up over time.

      On a semi-related note, the button clasp on my LV envelope wallet broke and I was told I'd have to pay for the repair which would take weeks. I haven't used that wallet in years and now I just use a cheap $10 wallet which works just as well. I don't buy luxury items anymore...

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  14. This is so weird. I have had three bags that are probably from around 2007/8, bought in the US and in France. They've all been used in the rain, especially when it's too wet for using my leather bags. One of them I even put in the bathtub and and gave it a good scrubbing.
    There's no bubbling whatsoever and also no cracking.

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    1. You're lucky yours didn't bubble! I would expect these bags to hold up but perhaps mine was among a bad batch.

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  15. Hello, I don't own a Longchamp, but I do own a Burberry tote which is made out of nylon and leather and the nylon has bubbled as well. Could it be that nylon bags bubbles after awhile? Haven't tried ironing it yet, but will give it a try.

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    1. The Longchamp bag I have is nylon on the outside glued to some sort of backing so I guess materials just break down after a while. It could be what's happening to your tote bag as well. You'd think that these bags (for the price) would hold up over time but I guess not! I've been using a canvas bag and it's great. Even better because I can toss it in the washer.

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  16. It's 2021 and I finally figured a way to get the bubbles out. I almost gave up on the Le Pliage line, but your blog gave me hope. If the glue used on these bags from 2005-2007 was defective, then my bag could have been from this era seeing that it has developed many bubbles. While washing my bag in the sink I was successful in removing the bubbles. First, I ran water onto the outside of the bag to make it easier to see the areas where the nylon was adhering to the inner lining. I then pulled apart and separated the layers, working in small sections at a time. I started from the bottom, to minimize signs of tugging, then worked my way up the entire bag. Lastly, I patted the bag with a towel and let it air dry, no need to iron as the bag dried wrinkle free. Even though the nylon is now separated from the lining, it doesn't affect the look or functionality of the bag. Hope this helps anyone who is dealing with bubbles. Don't toss out the bag just yet, this simple solution may be worth trying out.

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    1. What a great suggestion! So it's like you have a bag (lining) within a bag (outer nylon). And you don't have to worry about bubbles anymore because the nylon is just a single layer. My Longchamp bag is balled up in my closet somewhere. I might have to give your solution a try. I'm glad my blog post gave you hope and that you tried this. Thanks for sharing!

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    2. It is 2022 and your suggestion works! Just that I pull to hard and there’s an area where the nylon is visibly tugged. Other than that, no more bubbles!

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    3. Fantastic! I'm glad you were able to "fix" it. Hopefully the area where you tugged harder isn't too noticeable.

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    4. Incredible, thank you so much, this actually worked! I separated the nylon and lining from a very badly bubbling Le Pilage with 2704 aplique on it, although going inbetween the stitches on numbers was very difficult the result is just amazing. Even when separating the nylon from small areas between the numbers, there was no stretching of the upper nylon or other visible marks left. This saved my bag!

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    5. Thanks for the tip dear. I have a le pliage n le pliage neo thats starting to show bubbles and i have managed to separate the plastic lining to get rid of the bubbles. They look much beeter now 🥰

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    6. It is 2023, and this solution worked SO well on my mini le pliage bag--no tug marks at all :) I thrifted the bag (I thought for $5 I was willing to try different methods to see if it could be saved), and it was quite badly bubbled. I kept looking up solutions and almost tried ironing until I came across this wonderful blog! Thank you so much for helping me rescue a mini le pliage! 💙

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    7. So glad this poster's comment was able to help so many people enjoy their bags again!

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    8. Nov 23: Thank you so much for this advice! I was about to throw my LC bag out because of unsightly bubbling but it was a tough decision as I haven’t used it much and they are expensive! Worked like a charm - I’m so happy 😀

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    9. Glad you found this post and I'm so glad it worked out! Thanks for letting me know!

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  17. My Le Pliage bag isn't bubbling, but it is cracking/peeling on plastic liner. I used duct tape, but the tape started sliding around when it got too hot.....any ideas or other product to use. Thanks

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  18. My cousin gave me her 2 longchamp le pliage. One of them has bubbles. Thank you for this blog!

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    1. You're welcome! I really hope you have success getting rid of the bubbles.

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  19. So disappointed that Longchamp uses inferior materials. For the price you would think they would use a higher quality nylon canvas that does not gray at the corners. I have other nylon bags I have used rigorously for years without tears, fraying or bubbling. This will be the last of their products I purchase until they up their game.

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  20. May 2022 - my bag has severe bubbling after minimal use. I’ve written to the brand....

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    1. Did anything come out of notifying Longchamp?

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  21. My Longchamp bought by my daughter from Paris in 2014. Bubbling after minimum use for about 1 year. Thanks for the sharing, will try your method to fix it. Hope it works.

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    1. I've got 2 long champ with the butterfly design in 2010 luckily it's not bubbling , 1 in 2013 but it shows too much bubbles. I got 2 others preloved from my daughter because I love the designs.and they're all bubbling for a long time...As much as I love the brand but I am not going to buy from long champ as long as the issues are not yet given attention and recall maybe?

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    2. Understandable. I expect these bags to last a long time and it's disappointing when they have unsightly issues like bubbling.

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  22. Thank you for this, I have just bought 2 more le pliage bags to replace bubbled ones. Longchamp on Bond Street London have in the past repaired my backpack (zip issue) but I thought the le pliage travel bags which I had bought in 2006 2007 and 2008 at Heathrow were beyond saving as covered in bubbles going to give this a go. Thank you.

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