Hermès 101: Top 10 Most Popular Leathers - The Vault (2024)

FAQs

Hermès 101: Top 10 Most Popular Leathers - The Vault? ›

Togo is probably the most popular leather for Hermès bags. Made from baby calfskin – the female version of Clemence – it has a fine grain, is scratch-resistant, easily refurbished and comparatively light, although sometimes people may find it a bit dry and/or thin.

Togo is probably the most popular leather for Hermès bags. Made from baby calfskin – the female version of Clemence – it has a fine grain, is scratch-resistant, easily refurbished and comparatively light, although sometimes people may find it a bit dry and/or thin.

1 | The Hermès Birkin: Timeless and Most Coveted

The four most popular sizes of the Birkin are the Birkin 25, Birkin 30, Birkin 35, and Birkin 40 (the original size). Even at its smallest, the Birkin 25 can fit all your necessities including phone, wallet, sunglasses, and keys.

However, one of the most consistently sought-after and iconic Hermès bags is the "Birkin" bag. Named after actress and singer Jane Birkin, this handcrafted leather bag is known for its luxurious materials, impeccable craftsmanship, and timeless design.

Hermès leather is always "full grain", with a top layer that remains intact and unaltered. This ensures that the leather is resistant and ages well, while also highlighting some of the natural characteristics of the grain, such as wrinkles, veins and pores.

Barenia leather is the most expensive smooth leather found in Hermès workshops. Once used by the house for saddle making, it's treasured as a sturdy heritage skin that's also incredibly soft to touch. Desirably, it does not scratch easily, and is also water resistant.

Birkin bag and Kelly bag: Birkin and Kelly are the two most famous Hermès bags. They are highly sought after due to their unique design, advanced handcrafting and limited production. Both bags usually have a high value retention and are also very popular on the second-hand market.

The Bougainvillea color is one of the rarest Hermes colors and can be described as a light tone of red with raspberry and pink undertones. This particular color is extremely difficult to find elsewhere and is a very hard color to obtain on a Clemence leather.

These colors, Noir (89), Rouge H (46), Etoupe (18), Gold (06), and Orange H (93), have been joined over time by Blanc (01), Etain (8F), Rouge Casaque (Q5), Craie (10), and Blue Nuit (2Z). Together, they are considered the classic colors of Hermès.

The Birkin and the Mini Kelly bags are made to last – they are hand crafted with high quality materials that are extremely difficult to source. This gives them a long life span, making them the perfect collectable item to only appreciate in value over time, providing you keep it in good condition, of course.

Is Chanel or Hermès bag better? ›

Hermes bags generally hold their value more than Chanel, retaining an average of 103% of their value. This is because Hermes bags are produced in much lower quantities than Chanel, making them rarer. On the other hand, Chanel bags have a slightly lower resale value of 87%, which is still exceptionally good.

Birkins are available in four different sizes, ranging from the mini Birkin bag to the travel Birkin size. The most common sizes are Hermés Birkin 30 and Birkin 35, whereas the Birkin 25 is the hardest size to source, typically reserved for VIP clients.

For Chanel and Hermes mostly lambskin and some goatskin as well as calfskin. Hermes leather quality is the 'gold standard" in the bag business. For Louis Vuitton as well but remember that the signature LV material is a very very high grade of PVC coated canvas.

Full-grain leather is considered the highest quality, and is left in the most natural state: It is not split at all, and consists of the entire top layer of the leather. It is durable, and maintains many of the natural characteristics and inconsistencies of the leather.

Hermès epsom leather bags tend to hold their shape better than most others, except for stiff leathers like Box and Tadelakt.

Differences Between Togo Leather and Epsom Leather

Epsom leather, on the other hand, has a textured surface that is created by pressing an embossed pattern into the leather. Togo leather is generally considered to be more durable than Epsom leather as it is thicker and more resistant to wear and tear.

Hermès Togo leather was released much later in 1997 and is often referred to as a half-sister to Clemence leather. It is the perfect type of leather to go for in Birkin bags if you want something that is low maintenance and long-lasting.

For instance, the soft, slouchy nature of Hermès Swift is ideal for crafting a baby Birkin in the relaxed Retourne style. Togo leather, however, is much stiffer than Swift, with a harder, more scratch-resistant surface. It is a favorite for larger bags like the Kelly 35.