Our 10 favorite types of Hermès leather

All you need is love, but a Hermès Birkin Bag never hurt anyone, right? If your wallet allows it, this is an iconic and timeless bag. The Birkin bags are great but very expensive. Hermès has many beautiful and iconic bags. Our favorite is of course the iconic Birkin Bag. The bags are available in different sizes and leather types. Hermès is best known for the leather. The fashion house has many different types of leather that they use for their products. We have listed the 10 most popular leathers from Hermès.

Leather from Hermès is not just any leather. Hermès bags can have many different types of leather, they all have their own and unique properties. That is why it is good to know all the ins and outs about the different types. Based on this blog, you probably know a lot more about the types of leather and you might make the right choice for a new bag. Maybe one day the Hermès Birkin Bag can shine in your closet!

Alligator Leather

This type of leather is one of the most expensive types of Hèrmes. The skin comes from the Mississippi Alligator. This leather is created by polishing the spots with agate for a smooth finish. Agate is a type of stone that is formed naturally. When an empty cavity in a rock fills layer by layer with microcrystals at the molecular level. These organize themselves concentrically (around a common center) and thus form different patterns. It is very difficult to find Alligator Leather that is big enough, that is why they usually use this type of leather for a Hermès Birkin size 25. 

Box Calf Leather

The box calf leather is the oldest type of leather that Hermès uses for their bags, but they still mage bags with this type leather. Usually you see Box Calfskin on a vintage Kelly. You can easily recognize this type of leather. The soft appearance and glossy finish make the leather very beautiful. This type of leather must be handled with care, it is very sensitive to scratches and other damage. If you have a bag with Box Calf leather, you probably only carry it outside when the weather is nice. If it rains and it falls on your bag, it will definitely leave water marks. But the nice thing about the Box Calf is that the leather will stay in shape and does not get softer. So, the conclusion: “The leather looks absolutely stunning, but pay attention, because you have to take good care of it”.  

Ostrich Leather

Ostrich Leather is, as far as we're concerned, the leather you can invest in best. This type of leather lasts the longest. Is it also the most beautiful type of leather? That is the question, in our opinion there are nicer leathers available, but this leather is really durable! The leather is of course from the ostrich and is very unique. When the ostrich skin comes into contact with the human skin it changes color, the leather becomes darker. But when it comes into contact with daylight or a lamp, it brightens. Rain or water? It does not matter for the Ostrich Leather, because it is water resistant. This type of leather has many advantages. 

Togo Leather

Togo Leather is probably the most popular and classic Hermès leather type. Usually they use this type of leather for the Birkin Bags and it is of a very good quality. The leather is scratch resistant and keeps its shape. Many customers enjoy the raised grain but smooth texture. We absolutely love this kind of leather!

Swift Leather

It is a very soft and fine type of leather. We think it has a classic look. The Swift Leather is perfect if you like bright colors because the leather absorbs the paint perfectly, it looks great. Swift Leather is very similar to the Box Calf Leather. This type of leather (just like the Box Calf Leather) must also be handled with care, because it is very sensitive to scratches and other damage. You can gently rub off small scratches with your fingers.

Epsom Leather

The Epsom Leather is lightweight, very easy to clean and more durable in the rain than other leather types. It is a man-printed grain, therefore it gives a slightly laminated appearance and scratches are not easily visible. The bag lasts a long time and is easy to maintain.

Clemence Leather

Matte, flat-grained, very soft and quite heavy, these are all characteristics of the Clemence Leather. With this texture on your bag you create a casual look. Hermès started using this leather in the 80's and it is still one of the most popular choices. This leather is unfortunately made from baby bull. Our hearts broke when we heard this, but it's the truth. This leather is also resistant to scratches, but water doesn't go well with the Clemence Leather. It is also very important to know what you can and cannot put in your bag. If there are too many heavy things in your bag with Clemence Leather, it will affect the bag and make it ugly. So no water and heavy things for this type of leather.

Veau Doblis Leather

The Veau Doubles is made of suede, it’s a beautiful soft leather that needs a lot of maintenance. If you are not careful with the leather, the leather will have a lot of scratches. Also, keep the bag away from water and dirt, otherwise it won't stay in the best condition. This type of leather is becoming increasingly popular, the reason for this? Hermès does not make many bags of this type of leather anymore.

Chevre Leather

Hoatskin? Yes, that's what this leather is made of. The Chevre Leather is extremely resilient to stretch. It is also very lightweight. This makes the leather suitable for everyday use!  

Barenia Leather

Barenia Leather is the original saddle leather used at Hermès. It is a unique and classic type of leather. We don't know if we love it or hate it. What do you think of this iconic type of leather? 

Are you also crazy about Hermès bags and their leathers after reading this blog? It's nice to meet you! You are probably overwhelmed by all this information and choices. One thing is for sure, there is plenty of choice for your perfect new Hermès bag. Would you like to know more about the Hermès Birkin Bag? Read more about it in this blog. Looking for another designer bag? Then you will surely find a gem here. Didn't find what you're looking for? Contact us or send us a direct message on Instagram. We help you find your vintage designer treasure.

Sources:
Hermès 
Designer-Vintage
Bags of Luxury
Bag Hunter