Leading luxury restoration and preowned retailer, The Handbag Clinic has partnered with Selfridges London to launch a permanent in-store concession within its new RESELFRIDGES accessories destination. Recognised as the leading innovators within luxury aftercare and preowned resale, The Handbag Clinic will seamlessly integrate its fully circular offering of ‘Buy, Sell, Restore’ as part of Selfridges’ in-store experience, enabling its clientele to enjoy luxury more consciously.
Located on the ground floor within the RESELFRIDGES edit in the Accessories Hall, The Handbag Clinic will showcase the ultimate next-level circularity model. Whether buying, selling or restoring, shoppers will be empowered to unlock the value of items within their wardrobes through an ongoing loop of circularity. Enriching Reselfridges’ preowned offering, The Handbag Clinic will stock a handpicked collection of fully authenticated, preowned luxury and vintage handbags, luggage and accessories from the world’s most coveted brands including Gucci, Fendi, Saint Laurent, Dior, Jacquemus and more. Because every bag is carefully assessed and cleaned before going on sale, consumers can be sure that, whether buying preowned that feels like brand new, or gently loved, the item will be in excellent condition.
As a key point of differentiation, shoppers will also be invited to trade in their unwanted luxury handbags, regardless of where it was purchased, in exchange for a Selfridges gift voucher to spend in store. The service is quick and easy to use. Clients can visit The Handbag Clinic at Selfridges London, where a team of experts will value, authenticate and exchange their item whilst they shop for their next purchase.
Repair and restoration services will span the full range of luxury leather goods; from handbags, luggage and SLGs to shoes, trainers and leather clothing, enabling luxury clients to breathe new life into an over-loved item. From cleaning and conditioning treatments, removing stubborn stains, replacing heel tips, repairing scuffs and tears or replacing broken zips, split piping, worn edges and damaged hardware, improving colour loss, reinforcing shape and stretched straps; The Handbag Clinic’s dedicated team of artisans combine the finest craftsmanship, technology and innovative techniques to achieve the seemingly impossible.
Elevating the post-purchase experience, luxury investors can also extend the lifespan of a brand-new purchase by booking it in for a protective treatment – enabling clients to shop with increased confidence knowing there is an aftercare programme in place that far exceeds standard warranties.
Repair and restoration services are simple to use. Clients can drop their leather goods in-store at Selfridges where an aftercare specialist will assess the requirements and book the item in before sending it securely to The Handbag Clinic’s Luxury Clinic where the expert team of artisans will carry out the required work. Clients can opt for direct home delivery or collect their item from Selfridges. Prices are bespoke and start from £75 for minor stitch work and go right through to £600+ for more complex restoration. The most popular treatment is a full restoration, which includes a clean on the exterior and interior, removal of all areas of wear/scuff/staining from the exterior, any minor stitch repairs and a carefully crafted protection treatment to nourish and protect the leather.
Because The Handbag Clinic restore over 700+ bags each month, artisans have an intrinsic understanding of premium luxury brands and their common areas of wear and tear. As a market leader in innovation, it has made unrivalled advancements with lambskin and exotic leather. It has also developed specialist brand-specific restorations, such as the restoration of Louboutin shoes’ signature red sole or hand dyeing the rope-finish for a Balenciaga City. Its research and development team tirelessly pursue the most innovative techniques and bespoke technology to support the Clinic – even working with chemists to create patented new products ensuring the most perfect possible finish.
The partnership builds on The Handbag Clinic’s collaboration with Selfridges in May last year for ‘The Stock Market at the Corner Shop’; a month-long circular experience enabling shoppers to unlock the value of items in their wardrobes in exchange for Selfridges credit within an immersive hub for buying, selling, repairing and upcycling.
The Handbag Clinic’s CEO and co-founder, Charlotte Staerck, said: “As world-leaders in luxury and service, we are excited to be partnering with Selfridges, who share our vision of encouraging more conscious buying and aftercare behaviours. They understand that true circularity begins with what we already have in our wardrobes. By trading these items in, luxury lovers can continue to get their newness fix whilst being kind to their wallets and the planet. We’re also deepening the aftercare offering, which will enable luxury investors to enjoy their purchases for longer and preserve their items for generations to come. We are so excited that this this will ultimately help to change how we view our wardrobes both financially and sustainably.”
The Handbag Clinic operates through stores and concessions across London, including its flagship store in Chelsea, with further concessions in Newcastle, Colchester and York. Through its offering of ‘Buy, Sell, Restore, Authenticate’, uniquely combining restoration with authentication and resale, it adds value directly back into wardrobes through an ongoing loop of circularity. Through its network of stores and worldwide shipping infrastructure, it’s also the only business providing luxury aftercare services at a global scale. Built on a 25-year legacy of leather and fabric restoration, The Handbag Clinic’s mission is to preserve the past whilst mindfully reinventing for the future. A proud gatekeeper for sustainable luxury, ensuring its integrity and circularity for generations to come.
At Selfridges, new, second hand and circular continue to coexist as a part of a seamless shopping experience, with the opening of expanded RESELFRIDGES accessories destinations in every store. At Selfridges London, RESELFRIDGES is positioned at the heart of the Accessories Hall, three times bigger than before (1,000 sq ft) where alongside second hand and archive pieces from some of the industry’s most coveted collections, customers will find repair and resale from The Handbag Clinic as well as customisation services.
