MammaFiglia Blog

‘IT’ Bags in Focus – The Hermes Kelly

3rd March, 2010 - Posted by Miranda Jeffries - No Comments

While most fashion trends manage to eke out little more than a “season” before hitting the trash, or at least the back of the wardrobe as yesterday’s news, some defy all odds and establish themselves as institutions in the fashion community.  Where forward thinking, classic design, excellent craftsmanship and intelligent placement in the public eye meet, little iconic legends are born.  In a world of fickle fashion rules, standing as the original exception is the Hermés Kelly bag.

Such an iconic fashion item starts its journey to the top by being sleek, stylish, timeless, and well made.  In the world of handbags, Hermés is celebrated for maintaining a line of products individually handmade by craftsmen that cut, stitch, and slave over each bag start to finish, one at a time.  When an artisan sets to work on such a creation, it can take anywhere from 18 to 24 hours to complete.  Short of a “we don’t sleep” Santa’s workshop scenario, the maintenance of these standards is the reason for the Hermés waitlists.  Buyers must order new Hermés Kelly, and, Kelly’s close cousin, Birkin bags directly from Hermés, in the face of a waitlist lasting anywhere from 1 to 6 years.  A delay like that in the fashion world certainly speaks to a look and style being timeless.  Anyone interested in skipping the waitlist should look into vintage Hermés Kelly bags, which, when in good condition, can run anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000 US dollars.

Also known as the Sac à dépêches, the Hermés Kelly bag derives its common name from a photo snapped of former actress, and then new Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly clutching her one-day namesake in 1956.  While the handbag had existed since the 1930s, its popularity truly took off after this unplanned celebrity spotting.  Today, the bag can still be seen in the clutches of superstars including Christie Brinkley, Brooke Shields, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Victoria Beckham, the latter of whom reportedly owns a small museum’s worth of Hermés handbags valued at well over $2 million dollars.

Each lovingly made Hermés bag can be composed of a variety of precious metals and exotic leathers of the buyers’ choice, however, the price tag and wait time may be noted to rise at an exponential rate the farther off the “charted territory” zone the lucky lady wishes to wander.  Look for ultra-luxury specialty leathers from Hermés, including Floridian alligator, Thai Shark skin, Pakistani buffalo, Australian crocodile, Malaysian lizard, and an assortment of others like ostrich, goat, calf, deer and oxen from all around the globe.  Each bag can be ordered in a range of five different sizes from practical to teeny-tiny, and recognized by its signature metal-tipped clasp, which can be padlocked with a tiny key.

The high fashion house of Hermés began as a saddle shop, founded by Thierry Hermés in the year 1837 in Paris.  The designs still pay homage to the Hermés equestrian heritage, as does the logo which features a Duc carriage and horse.  With stores in fashion capitals around the world, customers can visit Hermés in person, or head to the website for the latest product information and fashions.