The Louis Vuitton New Wave camera bag shown in this review has not been in my possession for too long, as it only came out as part of the 2019 Spring Summer collection. Irrespective of that I would like to share a couple of observations regarding its potential durability and things to watch out for in that context.
Firstly, the exterior. The calfskin leather used in the construction of the New Wave camera bag is quite stiff in comparison to that of other bags. This type of leather is usually very delicate but in this instance it feels unusually hard wearing, to the point I was actually surprised that the bag was made of calfskin. By virtue of its rigid nature, the leather does not have the supple and luxurious feel that you can observe in other designer pieces and it feels somewhat synthetic so, admittedly, it may not appeal to everyone. On the positive side, I expect this type of leather to be less prone to scratches, creases and indents than softer equivalents and, as such, to maintain the pristine, brand new look for longer.
Of course, the stiff structure of the bag will not prevent all issues thus, for instance, the exposed round edges and the unprotected bottom of the bag may start losing colour or pick up dirt over time, especially if you opt for one of the lighter shades. Lighter colours like Snow (i.e. white) or Smoothie Pink will also be predisposed to colour transfers so probably best to keep your bag away from fabrics or surfaces with a tendency for staining like brand new denim, for example. On top of that, I also expect that strong, direct sunlight will not be ideal for pastel shades like the Bleu Porcelaine or Smoothie Pink, and may cause discolouration.
Regarding the interior, the bag is lined with suede-like textile so watch out for leaking pens, lip glosses or make up as these might stain the delicate microfibre fabric. Even though I have been very careful with my LV New Wave camera bag, I have already spotted a few make-up marks which might have transferred from my hands which indicates that the fabric is quite stain-prone. The Louis Vuitton care booklet states that the fabric may be cleaned with soap water but I have not tried that yet as I am worried about causing damage to the lining and subsequently staining the underlying leather.
