Hermès 101: The Herbag

Photo Credit: @liezljoie

If you’re haunted by dreams of owning a Kelly and haven’t heard a peep from your SA about the arrival of your dream bag… you’re going to want to pay close attention to today’s discussion. There is perhaps an option, at least until you get the ‘call’. Lighter on the wallet and the body, consider the Hermès Herbag.

The 101 on the Hermès “Herbag”

A glance at the Herbag will give you a major Kelly Déjà vu. The two bags by Hermès are similar looking, but score really differently on price, material and adoration scales. So without further ado, let’s reacquaint ourselves with the beautiful Herbag.

Photo Credit: renees.liu

What to expect from this guide:

I. History
II. Why We Love it
III. Key Features
IV. Material
V. Sizes
VI. Colors
VII. Prices
VIII. Instagram Eye Candy

History

Unlike the leather Kelly, the Herbag uses canvas for its body and leather for trim. The canvas body can be easily detached and the leather top can be attached to any other body. This way the same top can be used for differently colored and styled Herbag canvas bodies! It’s because of this feature that the Herbag is often called the Hermès ‘Two in One’ bag as well!

Circa mid 2000, Hermès actually discontinued the Herbag, only to reintroduce it on the 2009 runway with a new name and look- the Hermès Herbag Zip. The new design stayed true to the original, in terms of its trapezoidal shape. However, Hermès made changes intended to improve functionality and versatility.

Photo Credit: @vk_8112

As with the original, the body is replaceable. It features an external pocket with a zip on its backside and a removable pouch inside.

More recently in 2019, the Herbag stole the show on the Hermès’ Spring 2019 runway. Since then, the bag’s popularity soared. Moreover, despite the name, this bag (especially in larger sizes) is truly unisex.

Why We Love It

What’s not to love about cousin Kelly’s lookalike that’s far more affordable and bears the seal of the same masters of craftsmanship – Hermès!

“The free-spirited Herbag pieces are athletes at heart” boasts Hermès of this handbag, hinting of its practicality in style and fortitude. With both a handle and strap, this bag may be worn in different ways depending on your personal style preference. But its two-in-one function, wherein you can mix and match colors, is where it really shines. That is, if you own more than one, LOL.

In the Herbag, you get the elegance of the Kelly but in a more casual avatar, making it a great all-day bag. The back pocket is a major asset, especially because the Clou de Selle closure is a tad tricky to open, a slight inconvenience when in a hurry. Think of it this way, you don’t have to dig through the bag for phone and keys – just use the external pocket, much like the newly introduced Hermès add on, the Backpocket 30 Pouch.

The Hermès Herbag, is a great entry level bag. It comes in under 5k and is absolute value for money.

Photo Credit: @renees.liu

Key Features

• A top handle
• Long shoulder strap
• Palladium plated Clou de Selle closure
• Detachable canvas body
• Back pocket with a zip
• Removable inside pouch

Material

As mentioned earlier, the Herbag uses leather for the top part and hard military canvas for the body. Vache Hunter leather graces the top, as it is known for durability and ease of maintenance. And if military canvas is sturdy enough for the, well, military, it should be tough enough for us. Hardware is palladium-plated.

Photo Credit: @malumomo

Sizes

The Herbag is available in four sizes. Herbag Zip 31 is the smallest, though not that small, works day to night. The slightly larger 39cm Herbag, makes for a convenient and stylish all day bag that can house all your requisites to see you through the day.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for more travel-friendly sizes, there are two. The Cabine bag size is larger, an ideal carry on during air travel (as the name suggests), and the Weekend bag is wider, which makes it the most appropriate overnight bag. Both are unisex – perfect for anyone to use!

Size	Dimensions in inches (L X H X W)
Herbag Zip 31cm	12.2 X 9.8 X 3.9
Herbag Zip 39cm	15.3 X 12.6 X 5.5
Herbag Zip Retourne Cabine Bag	19.7 X 13.4 X 8.9
Herbag Zip Retourne Weekend Bag	19.7 X 16.9 X 9.1

Colors

Although there may not be a waitlist for the Herbag, given its allure, it flies off the shelves the minute it arrives at stores. The body of the bag comes in a number of fun colors. One can often find the Herbag on the Hermès US website (on and off, though) in Deep blue, ébène (deep brown) and noir (black).

Photo Credit: @petitbunnii

Price

The gorgeously versatile bag, is only partially crafted in leather, resulting in a price point much below its all leather counterparts.
However, the price naturally increases as you opt for a larger bag. But even in the largest size the bag falls well under the 5k mark, which is far less than most Hermès handbags.

Size	Price in USD
Herbag Zip 31cm	$2,575
Herbag Zip 39cm	$2,800
Herbag Zip Retourne Cabine Bag	$3,725
Herbag Zip Retourne Weekend Bag	$3,950

Instagram Eye Candy

Photo Credit: @orange.diaries

Photo Credit: @char_line_cha

Photo Credit: @vnikali

Photo Credit: @karachka_magic

Photo Credit: @justgohwithit

Photo Credit: @ig_chachachou

Of course, Hermès bags are beautiful, functional and coveted. They are also quite costly. Fortunately, for many of us, the Herbag includes many of the same quintessential hallmarks of the Hermès brand, at a lower price point. Clearly, that’s one reason it is such a popular choice amongst luxury savants.

So, how do you feel about the Herbag? Might it work as a Kelly stand-in for you? Share your thoughts with us on our Instagram handle or via the comments below.