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Kelly Bag
Iconic Designs

Kelly BagBy Hermès

About the Design

In 1837, Thierry Hermès (1801–78) founded his eponymous luxury goods company in Paris as a saddle manufacturer, serving the era’s carriage trade. In 1880, under the stewardship of Thierry's son Émile-Charles, fine riding gear was added to its offerings to complement the saddles. Hermès eventually expanded their workshops to design handbags in the years that followed. The Kelly bag, originally introduced as the Sac à dépêches (“the dispatch bag”) in 1935, was created by Robert Dumas, son-in-law to Thierry's grandson Émile-Maurice Hermès. 

Designed for independent women who wanted a piece that was both luxurious and efficient, the Kelly bag has a trapezoid shape, two triangular gussets, a sculpted flap and a handle.

To this day, the understated bag comprises 36 individual leather pieces, 16 studs and a signature padlock and leather key cover, with three layers of leather at the base to ensure the bag can stand upright. Each Kelly bag takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches owe solely to one Hermès artisan.

The Kelly bag earned its name during preproduction on Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 film, To Catch a Thief. Costume designer Edith Head sourced products from Hermès to outfit actress Grace Kelly, who fell in love with the Sac à Dépêches and continued to carry it long after the movie wrapped.

Months after marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956, Kelly was spotted carrying a brown pigskin Sac to shield her pregnancy from the paparazzi. And while the oft-repeated claim that Kelly and her bag appeared on a Life magazine cover isn’t true, photography of the actress and her cherished accessory began to appear everywhere at the time, and the bag’s profile suddenly skyrocketed. 

In 1977 Hermès officially changed the item’s name to the Kelly bag. Less than a decade later, Hermès introduced another top-handled bag to its line, also named after a style symbol, the Birkin bag.

The Paris-based British actress Jane Birkin sat next to Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas — Robert's son — on an Air France flight. He noticed her overflowing handbag, and she told him she longed for “a handbag that is bigger than the Kelly but smaller than Serge’s suitcase,” in reference to her then-romantic partner, the French musician Serge Gainsbourg. The Birkin bag was created in 1984, joining the Kelly in Hermès’ permanent collection.

Hermes Kelly Bag

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Hermès Kelly Mini II Cuivre Chèvre Mysore PHW
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Located in Mayfair, London, London
A beautiful Hermès Kelly Mini II handbag. The exterior of this Kelly Mini features Cuivre Chèvre Mysore leather and is complemented by palladium hardware and tonal stitchings. It has...
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This authentic Hermès Blue Electric Kelly Doll Bag Charm is brand new. Adorable iconic Kelly Bag in bright Electric Blue with Palladium hardware and co...
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Hermès Rouge Garance Togo Leather Kelly 32cm Retourne Product Details Xupes Ref: CB1473 Brand: Hermès Model: Kelly 32cm Type: Top Handle, Shoulder, Crossbody Serial Number: [L] Ag...
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Hermès Geranium Togo Leather Kelly 35cm Retourne Product Details Xupes Ref: CB1443 Brand: Hermès Model: Kelly 35cm Type: Top Handle, Shoulder Serial Number: [P] Age: 2012 Accompanie...
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Hermes Kelly 25 Nata colour Epsom leather with gold hardware bag. All stickers on, in new condition. Comes with everything, box, dustbag, detachable strap, clochette lock and keys, r...
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Hermès Intense Blue Evercolor 28 cm Kelly with Gold Hardware
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This authentic Hermès Intense Blue Evercolor 28 cm Kelly is in pristine condition with the protective plastic intact on the hardware. Hermès bags are considered the ultimate luxu...
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HERMÉS KELLY Retourne 32 cm bag in toile beige, Courchevel blue leather 1995s
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Located in Stuttgart, DE
Iconic Hermès "Kelly Retourne" 32 cm 2 way bag (Made in France), beige Canvas and ''Courchevel dark blue leather. Stamped with Y - 1995. Measurement Height 23 cm - Width of t...
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Hermés Kelly Sellier 25cm Vert Verone Veau Epsom GHW
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A gorgeous Hermès 25cm Kelly bag. The exterior of this Kelly features a Sellier style in Vert Verone Veau Epsom leather. The Vert Verone Epsom leather is complemented with gold-tone hardware and tonal stitchings. It features a front toggle closure with two straps, a single rolled handle and a removable shoulder strap. The interior is lined with Vert Verone leather and has one zip pocket with an Hermès engraved...
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Hermès Pink Magnolia Togo 25 cm Kelly
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This authentic Hermès Pink Magnolia Togo 25 cm Kelly is in pristine condition. Hermès bags are considered the ultimate luxury item worldwide. Each pie...
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Kelly II retourné soleil
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Located in Paris, FR
Kelly II retourné 35 HERMES Togo soleil Condition: very good Country of manufacture : France Collection : Kelly II retourné Genre : unisex Material : togo leather Interior : leather ...
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Hermès 28 cm Jaune de Naples Yellow Epsom Kelly Sellier
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This authentic Hermès 28 cm Jaune de Naples Yellow Epsom Kelly Sellier is in pristine condition with the protective plastic intact on the hardware. H...
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Hermes Kelly II Retourne 28 Veau Swift Anemone
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Located in New York, NY
Hermes Kelly II Retourne 28 Veau Swift Anemone, Palladium Hardware Condition: Brand New Material: Swift Leather Measurements: (W)28cm × (H)22cm × (D)11.5cm Hardware: Palladium plat...
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HERMES KELLY BAG 2 WAY 35 cm, CHEVRE LEATHER IN BLACK, KOLLECTION 1998 - B
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Located in Stuttgart, DE
Hermes Kelly Bag 35 cm, 2 way, Chevre leather in black, a very insensitve leather, marked with B - 1998 the square . Very good condition - ...
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1990s French Shoulder Bags

HERMÉS KELLY Sellier 2 way bag 35 cm gold Courchevel leather, stamp B /1998
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Located in Stuttgart, DE
A gorgeous Hermès Kelly Sellier 35 cm bag in gold Courchevel leather (Made in France). The gold Courchevel leather is complemented with gold ...
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Hermès Mustard Yellow 25 cm Kelly with Palladium
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This authentic Hermès Mustard Yellow 25 cm Kelly is in pristine condition. Hermès bags are considered the ultimate luxury item worldwide. Each piece is h...
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Hermes Orange Kelly 28 Bag
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Hermes Orange Kelly 28 Bag. Excellent condition. Gold hardware. Togo leather. Interior clean. Most desired size and hard to find. Includes clochette, lock, keys, and dust bag. Guaran...
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This authentic Hermès Black Lizard Micro Kelly Bag Charm is in pristine condition. Adorned with a colorful twilly, this tiny exotic Kelly is the ultim...
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