Why is Hermès so special?

Hermès is so special for a few reasons. The French luxury house is one of the most storied fashion labels in the world and has a rich heritage that dates back to 1837.Hermès began in Paris as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen. The house later extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and jewelry to pillows and handbags .Hermès artisans spend years honing their craft as apprentices before they produce Hermès pieces in premium materials. For example, the Kelly bag , which was named in tribute to one of its biggest fans, Grace Kelly, takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce , and its 680 hand stitches are made by one Hermès artisan. Each Birkin tote is also hand-sewn according to Hermès’s centuries-old saddle-stitching technique, and its exotic leathers , a variety that includes ostrich and crocodile , are subsequently painted and polished by house craftsmen in France.On 1stDibs, explore a selection of vintage Hermès handbags and accessories.

Birkin Handbags

Hermes Birkin With Silver Hardware

Hermes Phw

Hermes Bags And Purses

2010 Birkin

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags

$16,495

Hermes Cuivre Novillo Leather 30cm Birkin Bag with Goldtone Hardware

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Cuivre Novillo Leather 30cm Birkin Bag with Goldtone Hardware Made In: France Year of Production: 2019 Color: Cuivre Hardware: Goldtone hardware Materials: Novillo leather Li...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

$90,467

H 9.06 in W 11.82 in D 6.3 in

Hermès Birkin 30 Crocodile Porosus Lisse Cassis Palladium Hardware

By Hermès

Located in Berlin, BE

Hermès Birkin 30 in cassis and shiny crocodile porosus leather with palladium hardware. The bag is unworn and comes as full set including the original receipt and Cites. Stamp Y (2020)

Category

2010s French Top Handle Bags

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HERMES Etoupe grey Togo leather BIRKIN 30 Bag Phw

$42,500

HERMES Etoupe grey Togo leather BIRKIN 30 Bag Phw

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100% authentic Hermès Birkin 30 bag in Étoupe (taupe) Veau Togo leather, a neutral colorway prized for its versatility and understated elegance. Crafted from luxury grained Togo leat...

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21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags

1950s Bes-Ben Ivory Feather & Pearl Medallion Cocktail Hat

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Chanel Timeless Vintage Cc Tote Towel Rare Piece Black Terry Cloth Beach Bag

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Located in Miami, FL

Chanel Vintage Beach Bag CC Tote Towel Rare Piece 1989 {VINTAGE 33 Years} White terry "CC" lettering stitched on one side Black leather lined interior Interior zippered and open poc...

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1980s Italian Tote Bags

Hermes 1970s Haut À Courroies HAC 50 Black Gold Veau Grènè Travel Duffle Bag

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Hermes Vintage 1990's Haut à Courroies Hac 50 Birkin Vache Natural ravel Duffle

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Located in Miami, FL

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1990s Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags

HERMES Parchemin cream OSTRICH KELLY POCHETTE Bag Phw

$47,500

HERMES Parchemin cream OSTRICH KELLY POCHETTE Bag Phw

By Hermès

Located in Zürich, CH

100% authentic Hermès Kelly Pochette clutch in Parchemin ostrich with palladium hardware. Crafted from rare, full-quill ostrich leather in a luminous Parchemin cream, this Hermès Kel...

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21st Century and Contemporary French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags

Alberta Ferretti Intricately Seamed Sexy High Waisted Purple Silk Skirt

$380

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Alberta Ferretti Intricately Seamed Sexy High Waisted Purple Silk Skirt

By Alberta Ferretti

Located in New Hope, PA

Lustrous royal purple silk is used for this high waisted skirt. It is seamed for the most figure flattering fit and the seams have a hand stitched detail for an extra touch of elegan...

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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Pencil Skirts

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Louis Vuitton Paris Italian Knit Brown Cardigan c 21st c

By Louis Vuitton

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Birkin Handbags For Sale on 1stDibs

Find an extraordinary variety of birkin handbags available on 1stDibs. Many people prefer Black birkin handbags, but fashion is all about individuality — you can find Brown, Red and more options on these pages. Finding the perfect accessories for you may mean sifting through those that were made during different time periods — popular versions of these were made as early as the 18th Century and a newer one, made as recently as the 21st Century, can also be found on the site. When shopping for these accessories, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for men or unisex today than there are for women.

How Much are Birkin Handbags?

The prices for birkin handbags start at $235 and top out at $649,000 with these items, on average, selling for $14,939.

Hermès for sale on 1stDibs

For Hermès, what began as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen would eventually grow into one of the most storied fashion labels in the world. In 1837, German-born French entrepreneur Thierry Hermès opened a saddle and harness purveyor in Paris. Gradually, the house extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and modernist jewelry to pillows and handbags.

The first top-handled bag ever produced by Hermès was the Haut à courroies, which made its debut in 1892. A tall bag secured with a folded leather flap (fastened with bridle-inspired straps), it was designed to transport riding boots and a harness.

As the world made the switch from horse to automobile, the bag adapted, becoming a multifunctional travel satchel instead of a designated saddlebag. Today, 120 years later, the HAC remains in Hermès’s line — and its distinctive flap and clasping straps have laid the groundwork for some of the house’s other iconic bags.

In the 1930s, Robert Dumas (son-in-law to Émile-Maurice Hermès, Thierry’s grandson) designed a smaller, trapezoidal take on the flap bag with a handle and two side straps. Later, actress Grace Kelly, then engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco, is said to have used one of these bags to conceal her pregnancy during the 1950s. Because she was photographed constantly, the coverage catapulted her handbag to international popularity.

In 1977, Hermès officially renamed the model for her, and the Kelly bag was born. Each Kelly bag takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches owe solely to one Hermès artisan.

Robert Dumas was also responsible for another one of the brand’s most iconic offerings: the launch of its first silk scarf on the occasion of Hermès’s 100th anniversary in 1937. Based on a woodblock designed by Dumas and printed on Chinese silk, the accessory was an immediate hit.

Today, vintage Hermès scarves, typically adorned in rich colors and elaborate patterns, serve many functions, just as they did back then. Well-heeled women wear it on their heads, around their necks and, in a genius piece of cross-promotion, tied to the straps of their Hermès bags. Kelly even once used one as a sling for her broken arm.

In 1981, Robert Dumas’s son Jean-Louis Dumas, then Hermès chairman, found himself sitting next to French actress and musician Jane Birkin on a plane, where she was complaining about finding a suitable carryall for the necessary accoutrements of motherhood. After the two travelers were properly introduced, Birkin helped design Jean-Louis’s most famous contribution to the Hermès canon: the Birkin bag, a roomy, square catchall with the HAC’s trademark leather flap top and the addition of a lock and key.

Owing to the brand’s legendary commitment to deft, handcrafted construction, the Birkin is an investment that is coveted by collectors everywhere.

While the Kelly and Birkin may be standouts, gracing the arms of everyone from royal heiresses to hip-hop stars in the past few decades, the handbags are but a small part of Hermès’s fashion offerings.

Since the 1920s, the brand has produced some of the most desirable leather goods in the world. There’s the Constance bag, a favorite of Jacqueline Kennedy, the recently relaunched 1970s-era Evelyne and, on the vintage market, a slew of designs dating back to the 1920s.

Good design never goes out of style. Find a variety of vintage Hermès handbags, day dresses, shoes and more on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Handbags And Purses for You

An integral part of fashion, handbags and purses have been indispensable accessories ever since we began to carry around personal items. Level of craftsmanship, style and shape matters — from coin purses in ancient Greece to early 20th-century opera bags and onward, handbags have evolved considerably over the years to meet our needs and desires, whether or not you happen to be prioritizing functionality over a flashy exterior.

Once, a single “It” handbag ruled each fashion season. No more. Today, lovers of vintage handbags are savvier and have a wider range of shopping options. Nevertheless, classics created by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga still rule.

“It is not a fashion bag — it is a statement bag,” says Mightychic's Debra Kent of Hermès's widely beloved accessories. “When you carry an iconic Hermès bag — Birkin, Kelly, Constance — no one knows how long you have been into this culture or if you are a newbie. Your status is validated immediately.”

First released in 1997, Fendi's Baguette rose to fame along with Carrie Bradshaw, the Sex and the City character portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Recently, the design has seen such a resurgence in popularity that Fendi has reissued it.

They are part of design history, so owning a handbag has meaning. As New York–based fashion historian Sarah C. Byrd says, “You have made the choice to invest in this piece because you understand the value of it in the past and in the future to come.”

From a 1980s Chanel black leather quilted mini buckle bag to the rare Hermès Birkin 30cm Himalayan with diamond hardware to a range of 19th-century bags, find a rich variety of vintage and designer handbags and purses spanning numerous brands on 1stDibs — seasonal “It” designation no longer needed.

Questions About Hermès

Why is Hermès so special?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024
Hermès is so special for a few reasons. The French luxury house is one of the most storied fashion labels in the world and has a rich heritage that dates back to 1837.

Hermès began in Paris as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen. The house later extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and jewelry to pillows and handbags.

Hermès artisans spend years honing their craft as apprentices before they produce Hermès pieces in premium materials. For example, the Kelly bag, which was named in tribute to one of its biggest fans, Grace Kelly, takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches are made by one Hermès artisan. Each Birkin tote is also hand-sewn according to Hermès’s centuries-old saddle-stitching technique, and its exotic leathers, a variety that includes ostrich and crocodile, are subsequently painted and polished by house craftsmen in France.

On 1stDibs, explore a selection of vintage Hermès handbags and accessories.

Beyond the Birkin: 10 Hermès Bags with ‘If You Know, You Know’ Appeal

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This Hermès Picnic Garden Party Bag Is Elegant and Errand-Friendly

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The Hermès Passe-Guide Bag Might Not Be as Well Known as the Birkin or Kelly, But It’s Every Bit as Chic

Find out why this under-the-radar piece is so exceptional.

How to Spot a Fake Hermès Birkin Bag

The iconic Birkin bag is much coveted — and often copied. Find out how to tell the real deal from a convincing fake. Of course, you don't have to worry about this on 1stDibs, where every seller is highly vetted.