Hermès, timeless pieces.
Founded in 1837 and specialising in harnesses and saddlery, the house of Hermès diversified into luggage at the beginning of the 20th century, then ready-to-wear, jewellery, watchmaking and even interior design. Hermès handbags, really exceptional pieces, are today regarded as symbols of French refinement and luxury. There is even a waiting list for certain models (Kelly, Birkin, Constance). Impossible to find anywhere else, these timeless bags are always available on Vestiaire.
Equestrian influences and origins.
It is in the Rue Basse-du-Rempart, near the Madeleine Church in Paris, that Thierry Hermès opened his first boutique selling horse harnesses. After relocating to Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, the House devoted the second half of the 19th century to the manufacture of horse-riding equipment, horse blankets and racing silks. Today, the luxury brand still draws inspiration from the horse-riding world. It is manifest in the motifs on its famous silk scarves and in the lines of its bags, that find their origins in the bags hunters carry with them on horseback, tall and equipped with belted straps.
It was Lola Prusac who was behind the first handbags, and specifically the Sac à Dépêches, that would become a legend in the 1950's, when it was carried by Princess Grace Kelly. Of the designers who have left their mark on the history of the label, we can mention Martin Margiela, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Christophe Lemaire.
Bags of legend.
Smooth leather, pony-style calfskin, ostrich leather patterned with raised follicle bumps, and crocodile or alligator leather with its textural variations, Hermès enjoys working with prestigious materials. These exotic leathers adorn all shapes and sizes of bags: from shoulder bags to clutches, from totes to Picotin handbags, without forgetting the canvas models, as functional as they are lightweight. What do they have in common? Unparalleled refinement, enabling them to finish off any feminine outfit with grace and elegance. Carried by the most prominent artists and celebrities, Hermès bags often take the name of their muse and have become ever more daring over time, especially in terms of colours.
The Sac à Dépêches, renamed Kelly in tribute to Princess Grace of Monaco, has become a must-have of the House of Hermès. Practical, the Evelyne model worn across the body frees up hands for active women, as does the Herbag backpack, that nestles nicely and discreetly against the back. Finally, the timeless Birkin bag, and its infinite variations, continues to make hearts flutter with its pretty metal clasp, small padlock and leather straps.