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| Old vs New Roots. This New Student Pack is hand rubbed to give a distinct vintage look that becomes softer with age. |
It's a nice day for a bike ride across town for a visit to the
Sandalman Leathercare. I've followed "a guy in a store that fixes leather" around town from Harbord and Bathurst in the 80's to Avenue Road in the 90's and now to Oakwood and Davenport. It's a cramped little shop filled mostly with Yoga bags and summer sandals now at end of summer 50% off. Really beautiful handmade sandals.
I have a Roots leather backpack that's about twenty five years old and has been sitting unused and getting a bit musty due to a half ripped buckle hole on the left strap. Nostalgia says "let's get it fixed" but when it turns out to cost 192.10, I have second thoughts. Cary lets me know that it's $50 @ hour for repair, $50 to refinish plus taxes.
Should I just go out and purchase a new one. The
Roots New Student Pack is made in Canada from 100% Italian leather and costs $238.00 plus tax, free shipping.
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| Repairs on a leather backpack incluse refinishing, stitching repair on a half-broken strap. Working on a new protective plastic for the name tag. |
I decide to go for the repair.
Stephen calls a couple weeks later to say it's ready. Looks good. The broken plastic on the name tag is easily replaced. The leather hook at the top of the back[pack was broken and lopped off. Really nice to have to hang your bag and take the stress off the shoulder straps. The stitching at the broken loop is a bit shabby - just a quick cut and overlap of the leather.
Someone else might be enjoying this bag if I had given it up -even in it's less than perfect state. It's still a divided debate. A new Roots leather backpack versus a reused, recycled, refurbished repair.
What do you think. Is it worth the repair or just replace?
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