CBC - Making an Hermes Bag

It Twas But A Moment Between Me and Hermes

I’ve had a brief affair with Hermes for the past month. Fascination with this French luxury brand had me swirling in trying to learn its secrets behind its astronomical prices behind their coveted handbags. Part of my interest is due to a friend of mine who is studying in making leather goods and has told me a good deal about some inside scoop of what it would be like to work for Hermes’ prestigious ateliers. It certainly gives a different angle that we very rarely get to see, which is the makings of the bags. You won’t be seeing this sort of documentation from LVMH and Gucci Group that’s for sure.

I went tumbling through the adventures of Michael Tonello in “Bringing Home The Birkin” and had learned a great deal of what kind of following Hermes had created in the scarf department - who knew there are actually scarf collectors out there? There must be all kinds of people on the planet. I’ve been trotting around Europe for the past two weeks and each time staring wistfully at each Hermes store I come across.

Also, it had me seriously looking at Birkin and Kelly bags. I’m still not a big fan of the Birkin, and actually prefer the sleeker look of the Kelly bag. However both bags pose a similar practicality problem that will perhaps refrain me from forking over $3000 - the particular Hermes clasp. Two straps overlapping over a turning metal key to close the bag. I find these impractical since it takes more effort in opening and closing the bag when you’re out there doing a payment of sorts. It’d be easier for a pickpocket to really just steal the entire bag than going for the contents of the bag due to this somewhat complex locking system.

However, I really like the fact that each product is handmade, and they’ve taken their time in designing exceptionally nice things with the best skins. Hermes to me is not really prestige in the high prices, but prestige in the product themselves. In essence, the price is worth the fine quality of its products. Frankly, buying a product of utility deserves nothing but the best materials, don’t you think?

I went to the Paris flagship store the other day and was surprised that they had a few basic leather Birkins out in the display cases. Wasn’t this a coveted handbag with a waiting list? Well…according to Tonello, the basic leather Birkin IS only a “beginner’s handbag”. The Kellys were out in full force though, wallets and purses in perfect shades of yellow, turquoise, white, brown, fuschia, and red. They were in skins of all sorts including one croc bag in fuschia with diamond clasps priced at over 130,000 euros. There was a more sensible 20cm yellow Kelly bag at just over 3200 euros. Le sigh. Still over my meager budget. There was no way I was settling for a 295 euro leather bookmark.

The store was unsually busy with patrons, 1/3 of which were Japanese women. I secretly studied the sales people there and amusingly associated each one to Tonello’s descriptive Hermes personas. Sadly, no saddle makers in that day. I toured the store like a museum visitor noting of the famous scarf department, the $40,000 blankie made of who knows what kind of ridiculously soft fur in the children’s department, and their $500 toy horses…yeah. Hermes should perhaps just stick to their bags and tea cup sets.

Still at the end of the day, despite some impracticalities of Hermes’ iconic clasp, I’d be willing to purchase one of their bags to really see just how durable their bags are. Machine stitching actually cannot replicate certain handstitched methods, which are much more solid therefore will not break as easily as other stitches. You’ll notice “cheap” stitching methods easily if you buy skirts and check the hem stitching (very loose stuff).

As I’ve mentioned before, I want my things to be solid, stiff like a rock and I’m a rough handler, so in some sense, I’d like for my things to be indestructable. I’m guessing Hermes can’t make their bags indestructable unless you ordered a custom model made of titanium, but I’m betting that they are more durable than other bags. If you have the opportunity to handle Hermes handbags and wallets, check them thoroughly, I’m quire sure you’ll notice a difference the minute you touch them.

Image credits: Hermes.com, Vogue UK