Hermès Handbag Guide On Everything You Need To Know Before Buying One
According to second-hand market data, overall demand for Hermès handbags has surged by 430%, with the Birkin or Kelly bags the most sought after! On the other hand, the canvas version of Herbag, known as the "sister" to the Kelly, at a more affordable price of 20,000 Hong Kong Dollars, is rising in popularity!
Buying your first Hermès bag is a big moment and never needs to be rushed. Research is essential, supported by Rachel Koffsky, Vice President of Christie’s and Senior Expert in handbags and accessories, who said: "Please make sure you have done your homework before buying."
Hermes was originally a Parisian horse club established by Thierry Hermès in 1837 with its professional field changing in the following years. Its first handbag was unveiled in 1922, which was the predecessor of Kelly. Following this, The Sac à Dépêches, launched in 1935 by Émile-Maurice, Head of the Hermès brand, was created as a handbag that could meet his wife's needs.
In 1977, this exact model was renamed Kelly after the Hollywood actress Grace Kelly who became Princess of Monaco became a major fan. In 1956, she was introduced to her at the shooting scene of Alfred Hitchcock's "To Catch A Thief", and was spotted with the bag in a photo. It was this captured moment that made the style truly famous, and since becoming an ultimate fashion classic.
For those desiring a rarer Hermes handbag style, auction houses are a good place to start. As well as this, second-hand websites like Vestiaire Collective, Farfetch and Collector Square are reliable places for golden finds.
Hermès Birkin has the same name as another idol, Jane Birkin. The actor once found himself sitting next to Chief Executive of Hermès at the time, Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight from Paris to London in the 1980s. After she spilled the contents of her bag on the floor of the plane, Jean-Louis Dumas said, "You should have one with a pocket." She replied: "One day when Hermès creates a handbag with pockets, I will own it." Birkin immediately drew a prototype on a ‘sick bag’, drawing a style that also resembled Kelly and her partner Serge Gainsbourg's suitcase. In 1984, the actress exchanged her name for an early handbag model.
Birkin has two handles, while Kelly has only one (the latter also has a shoulder strap, which can be used as a cross-body bag). Both are made with the most exquisite Hermès craftsmanship.
How long is the waiting list for Birkin bags?
Waiting lists for the Hermès store no longer exists. These two styles are in short supply, ultimately resulting in the inventory in each store being inconsistent. Specialty stores have their own styles, and don't always have stocks of models, or pay any notice to which colour products are available to buy at any given moment. Therefore, customers who want a brand new handbag should ask in store. For this reason second-hand options from resale sites can be a fantastic option. You never know your perfect handbag could be out there waiting for you to be their next owner!