Hermès is one of the most popular luxury brands in the world, and its products are highly sought-after by collectors and fashionistas alike. This guide will teach you all about Hermès bags – the different styles, leathers, and colors that are available. After reading this guide, you will be an expert on Hermès bags and be able to find the perfect bag for your personal style.
History of Hermès Brand
Hermès is a brand of luxury products, renowned for its quality and craftsmanship since 1837. Its founder, Thierry Hermès, spent years traveling the world, before settling in Paris and establishing his own fashion house, then crafting his very first bag from a single piece of leather.
For each collection, the color palette for each handbag is designed by combining multiple hues. The notion of the four-season wardrobe is reflected in the bags. For instance, spring designs often have floral motifs and bright colors, whereas summer bags feature brighter colors and radiant patterns. In fall, the bags depict warm shades of terracotta and gold. The latest winter collection also features a colorful bag that displays a portrait of a young woman watching a snowy landscape while wrapped in a white coat.
Names of Hermès Bags
The names of Hermès bags are usually inspired by the places where they are manufactured. For example, Birkin, Kelly, and Togo bags are made in France. The Birkin is made in Paris while the Kelly and Togo are made in Asnieres-sur-Seine.
Names of the Famous Hermès Bags
• Kelly
• Birkin
• Herbag
• Berlin
• Evelyne
• Jypsiere
• Constance
• Kelly Pochette
• Kelly Cut
The Other Hermès Bags
• Picotin
• Bolide
• Roulis
• Catenina
• Jide
• Medor
• Egee
• Pan
• Garden Party
The names of Hermès bags usually have a single word with a French origin followed by a story. For example, the name of the Birkin bag is derived from Jane Birkin who was a muse for Pierre Bergé and Jean-Louis Dumas.
Hermès Bags Styles and Types
Hermès Kelly
The first Kelly bag prototype, designed to hold a saddle, was introduced in 1892. Because of its high handle, it was dubbed the ‘Haut à courroies.’ In 1923, Hermès’ wife, Julie, had a simple and plain bag designed to fit into a car door for easy transport. In the 1930s, Hermès’ son-in-law, Robert Dumas, redesigned the bag into the more glamorous Sac à dépêches, which stood out among other bags of the time. The bag’s design is distinctive, with a trapezium shape and two straps. The studs on the bottom of the bag allow it to stand on its own. You can check more details for the complete Hermès Kelly Bag prices.
Hermès Birkin
The Birkin bag (or simply Birkin) is a line of tote bags created by the French luxury goods manufacturer Hermès in 1984. Birkin bags are leather creations named after the English-French actress and singer Jane Birkin. Jane Birkin’s name would eventually be immortalized in fashion history thanks to Hermes. Birkin was seated next to Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight from Paris to London in 1981, according to the story. Her infamous straw bag spilled its contents all over the plane’s floor after she placed it in the overhead compartment, including her Hermes diary. Birkin admitted to Dumas that she had struggled to find a leather weekend bag she liked.
Hermès Herbag
Hermès’ Herbag Zip bag, first introduced in 2009, was created with versatility and functionality in mind. This Herbag Zip Retourne PM 2way bag has a canvas and leather body, a detachable shoulder strap, and a handy removable pouch. The new Zip bag comes with a removable pouch on the inside, but no interior pockets. There is an exterior pocket on the back that can be closed with a zipper. This allows you to reach for specific items without having to open the entire bag.
Hermès Kelly Pochette
The Hermes Kelly Pochette is also referred to as the Hermes Kelly Clutch. The Kelly Pochette, as the name suggests, is a clutch bag designed and handmade by artisans at Hermes, a high-end luxury brand known for the quality of its leather goods. The Hermes Kelly Pochette looks a lot like the more famous Hermes Kelly bag. A Kelly Pochette, like the Hermes Birkin and Kelly bags, is almost impossible to find in a Hermes store (with the exception of the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré store in Paris).
Hermès Kelly Cut
The Kelly Cut, first seen in 2008, hasn’t been around as long as the Kelly Pochette, which debuted in 2004. Its iconic closure and dramatic styling (the Kelly Cut is 31cm long, compared to the pochette’s 22cm) will undoubtedly ensure its long-term popularity among Hermes collectors.
Hermès Jige Clutch
Unworn Hermès Jige handcrafted in 2016 (“X” stamp) from incredibly smooth Swift leather in Tabac – a soft and popular camel color. The Jige is named after Jean Guerrand, Émile Hermès’ son-in-law, who designed the clutch in 1975 as a wedding gift for one of his future daughters-in-law. It’s a classic piece that you’ll be able to wear for years to come, from dinner parties to wedding receptions.
Hermès Berline Bags
The Hermes Berline Bag was first introduced in the fall of 2011. It has a Kelly spin lock and a removable strap that allows the bag to be used as a grip. She is a shoulder bag with a shorter strap than the original size. The Mini Berline is a new dimension for the Hermes Spring 2013 Collection. The strap is now longer and can be worn diagonally. It is available in six different colors. Its sporty appearance is related to the brand’s 2013 theme “A Sporting Life.“
Hermès Constance
Constance means constancy in French, which translates to perseverance, trustworthiness, and being true to oneself, all of which can be applied to Hermès. The value of being Constance…
Jean-Louis Dumas commissioned a fashionable young woman to design a bag for Hermès in 1967. Because the designer was expecting a child, she naturally named the bag Constance after her daughter.
It’s an urban bag with a quietly sporty spirit, a practical and casual bag for women with a confident stride; in a nutshell, it’s a bag for its time, a time when anything is possible. It’s a timeless bag, the epitome of elegance in motion, a Constance passed down from mother to daughter.
Hermès Jypsiere
The Hermes Jypsiere Bag has arrived. Hermes Autumn 2008 Collection includes this unisex shoulder bag. Previous artistic director Jean-Paul Gaultier used the iconic Birkin bag’s body, swivel clasps, brackets, and side straps to create the Jypsiere bag.
It has a swivel clasp on the front flap closure. It has an adjustable strap with a shoulder pad and numerous pockets on the inside. There are four sizes available: 28, 31, 34, and 37. The size 31 is the most recent addition to this lovely bag.
Hermès introduced the Jypsiere. The bag, designed by Jean Paul Gaultier and first shown in the Hermès Fall 2008 show, was praised for its androgynous style. The bag, according to Gaultier, is “a functional, nonchalant bag slung across the shoulder, combined with the iconic details of the Hermès bags.”
Hermès Swift Toolbox
The toolbox was first shown as part of Hermès’ Autumn/Winter 2010 Collection. While the ready-to-wear collection featured head-to-toe dark leathers and bowler hats, the accessories included mini Kellys in black snakeskin and a never-before-seen piece with cute wings reminiscent of Céline Luggage. We received one for the first time recently and were very excited to get our hands on it and spend some time with it.
Hermès Evelyne
Evelyne Bertrand, then head of Hermès’ riding department, created the Evelyne bag in 1978 as a carryall for horse groomers. The perforations in the shape of an “H” were designed to allow airflow to dry the tools while they were in transit and were considered the bag’s back. The Evelyne bag is shaped like a saddlebag, and the adjustable canvas and leather shoulder strap was inspired by a horse’s girth strap. The Evelyne is made of durable leather that resists scratches and tarnishing and is hand-cut, sewn, and polished. The interior of the bag is the raw, suede back of the leather from which it is made, sewn without lining.
Hermès Bags Leathers & Skins
A key part of Hermès’ appeal is its use of top-quality materials, including its signature leather. Hermès leathers are some of the finest in the world, and they are used to create a variety of iconic products, from the Hermès Birkin bag to the Hermès Kelly bag. Hermès offers a wide range of leather, each with its own unique properties and characteristics.
The most popular Hermès leathers include the following:
Clemence
Clemence is a very supple and smooth leather that has a matte finish. It is often used to make Birkins, Kellys, Loefflers, and other smaller handbags. It is available in many colors including black, brown, blue and tan.
This is a very fine-grain leather that comes from France. It is smooth to the touch and has a shiny finish. This type of leather was used by Hermes as early as 1869, but it was not until 1956 that Clemence became available on all handbags. Today, you can find Clemence on everything from wallets to backpacks to totes.
Epsom
Epsom is another popular type of leather that comes from France. It is made from cowhide and has a very soft texture due to its fine grain structure. Epsom tends to be more expensive than Clemence because of its high demand among designers and consumers alike. It does not have much color variation like Clemence does, but it does have a lovely sheen that makes it very desirable in the fashion industry.
Varanus/Lizard
Varanus or lizard skin comes from reptiles found in Africa and Madagascar — namely the Nile monitor lizard, the horned viper snake and the Parson’s chameleon. These exotic skins have their own unique patterns.
Fjord
Fjord is a natural, full-grain leather and is usually used for Hermès Birkin bags. It’s soft, supple, and durable but it can be scratched or stained easily. Fjord leather is also sometimes referred to as “Calfskin” or “Nappa”.
Swift
Swift is a full grain goatskin leather that is very similar to Fjord in its appearance and durability but it’s slightly more resistant to scratches and stains. Swift was first introduced in 2001 and became one of Hermès’ most popular materials because of its durability and price point (less expensive than Fjord).
Barenia
Barenia is a signature leather of Hermès. It is made from the hide of water buffalo and it has a very fine grain. Barenia is the most common type of leather used by Hermès for their bags. It is flexible and soft, but not very durable. It can be easily scratched or even damaged if you don’t take good care of it.
Box Calf
Box calf is also a signature leather from Hermès. It comes from the best part of the cow’s leg, called “box”. This type of leather has an attractive grain pattern with irregular lines and small dots all over it that make it look luxurious and elegant. It is soft, durable, and flexible; however, it doesn’t have much durability compared to other types of leather such as Barenia or Evercolor.
Chèvre de Coromandel
The most luxurious type of Hermes leather is Chèvre de Coromandel. This type of leather was originally made from goat skin but now it is made from sheepskin with an artificial finish. It has a very soft texture which makes it perfect for creating high-quality handbags and accessories that will last for years to come!
Chèvre Mysore
This type of Hermes Leather comes from goats raised in India who have been fed on bamboo grasses which makes their hair softer than usual! Evercolor: Evercolor (or Everlasting)
Taurillon Clemence
Taurillon Clemence is made from calfskin and has two metal closures at the top, one on each side of the bag. It also has an internal zip pocket that can fit about three credit cards or ID cards.
Togo
Togo is made from calfskin and comes in five different colors, all with a single metal closure at the top to close it up. It also has an interior zip pocket that can fit about three credit cards or ID cards inside it.
Final Thoughts
The best leathers in the world are used by Hermès to create its luxurious leather items. There are no two Hermès bags exactly alike, making them absolutely unique. Finding the ideal bag for every occasion is simple thanks to the brand’s extensive selection of models, leathers, and colors.
Do you now own or have previously owned or planned to buy a Hermès bag? Share your experience or questions with us!
