Not your typical Hermès icon, the Arçon bag is a reimagination of the Maison’s heritage through a modern lens. Introduced in Spring/Summer 2023, its sleek crescent silhouette and utilitarian details strike a balance between refinement and relaxed ease. Designed for those who appreciate quiet luxury and everyday versatility, the Arçon adds a subtle yet distinctive voice to the Hermès handbag lineup.

Image courtesy: @kathrinbommann

Anatomy of the Arçon

Drawing inspiration from Martin Margiela’s ‘Poches en Liberté,’ a design introduced during his tenure as artistic director at Hermès (1997-2003), and traditional saddle flaps, the Arçon showcases a unique crescent silhouette with generous volume and a clean, minimalist aesthetic. This semi-structured hobo style features a wide, adjustable leather shoulder strap that balances its proportions.

Emphasizing its saddle-inspired silhouette are equestrian details like the key fob on a D-ring and a diagonal external zip pocket, which complement the design. The open-top construction adds to its relaxed feel, while the unlined interior keeps the bag lightweight and flexible. A signature ‘Étrivière’ buckle on the strap finishes the look with an unmistakable Hermès touch.

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Image courtesy: @darjabarannik

Image courtesy: @darjabarannik

Beyond the original Arçon, the collection has expanded to include two new iterations: the P’tit Arçon and the Arçon Slim.

P’tit Arçon

Launched for Spring/Summer 2024, the P’tit Arçon lives up to its name—petite by nature, yet packed with the signature details that define the original. This compact version retains the distinctive crescent shape, exterior zip pocket, Étrivière buckle, and key fob with D-ring, while introducing a practical zip-top closure for added security. The wide shoulder strap is swapped out in favor of a slimmer, adjustable strap that complements the bag’s proportions and is designed for comfortable crossbody wear, measuring approximately 39.3 inches long.

Arçon Slim

Slightly smaller and more streamlined than the classic, the Arçon Slim retains the same overall footprint but with refined proportions for a lighter, more refined silhouette. It balances the original’s bold presence with the P’tit Arçon’s compact ease, delivering the signature crescent shape without feeling bulky. The adjustable strap, measuring 29.5–39 inches, sits between the Classic and P’tit widths, allowing for comfortable crossbody or shoulder wear. While it forgoes a zip-top closure, the Arçon Slim features a spacious internal pocket to keep essentials organized, along with all the collection’s hallmark details.

Image courtesy: @_mg._____

Signature Leathers of the Arçon

Like many Hermès bag styles, the Arcon is offered in a variety of leathers, though the original is typically found in Togo and Swift.

Here are the key features of the leathers used in the Arçon collection:

Image courtesy: @worldofcasaharris

Togo & Swift

The classic Arçon features a pebbled Togo leather body with a soft matte finish, paired with smooth Swift leather accents on the zip front pocket trim, shoulder strap, zipper pull, and the base that follows the crescent curve.

Togo’s textured grain adds a durable, tactile depth, while Swift’s fine, smooth surface and slight sheen offer a sleek contrast. Swift leather is also known for its excellent color retention, keeping its vibrant hues crisp against the more muted Togo.

Barenia Faubourg & Barenia

Since the Arçon is essentially a saddle bag, why not go full saddle leather? Crafted entirely from Barenia, this style channels Hermès’ equestrian heritage in every stitch. The body highlights the coarser, tougher Barenia Faubourg for durability, while the trim is made from the softer, smoother classic Barenia. Though slightly heavier due to its all-Barenia construction, this Arçon variation showcases Hermès’ iconic contrasting saddle stitching. Over time, the leather develops a glowing patina—just like a well-loved saddle.

Image courtesy: @darjabarannik

H Canvas & Swift

For a casual yet sophisticated look, the Arçon pairs durable H Canvas with smooth Swift leather trims. H Canvas is known for its distinctive woven design, created by intertwining two different colored threads to form its signature pattern. This lightweight canvas adds subtle texture and a relaxed feel, ideal for everyday wear. Complemented by supple Swift leather on the straps, zipper pulls, and trim, the combination offers a refined contrast of materials.

Find Your Perfect Fit: The Arçon Sizes

The Arçon collection comes in three thoughtfully designed sizes to fit a range of lifestyles and style preferences.

Arçon Style	Dimensions (Inches)	Dimensions (cm)
P’tit Arçon	11 x 6.1 x 1.1	28 x 1.5 x 3
Arçon Slim	10.6 x 10.2 x 1.5	27 x 26 x 4
Arçon	13.7 x 11 x 1.9	35 x 28 x 5

Image courtesy: Hermès

P’tit Arçon

With its secure zip-top closure, the P’tit Arçon offers compact practicality without sacrificing style. Despite its petite silhouette, it’s surprisingly roomy—fitting daily essentials like a card holder, keys, cosmetics, and even a small paperback book. While its narrow width makes it challenging for bulkier items like sunglasses in hard cases, it’s ideal for hands-free days when you want to travel light.

Arçon Slim

Striking a balance between the P’tit and Classic, the Arçon Slim offers more space without feeling bulky. It easily fits your essentials, including sunglasses, small wallets, and cosmetics. Though it doesn’t have a zip-top closure, it features a spacious internal pocket to keep items like your wallet and phone organized and within easy reach.

Image courtesy: Hermès

Image courtesy: Hermès

Arçon

The largest of the trio, the classic Arçon offers ample internal space for daily and travel essentials alike. It comfortably accommodates an iPad Mini or Kindle, a toiletry pouch (like the Louis Vuitton Toiletry 15), keys, a cardholder, sunglasses, and even a small umbrella. The external zippered pocket offers generous space for flat essentials—like a phone, passport, or travel documents—though bulkier items can distort the bag’s clean silhouette.

The Arçon’s Color Palette

The Arçon comes in classic neutrals like Black, Étoupe, and Gold that rotate regularly. Seasonal shades such as Jaune Milton, Vert Mangrove, and Gris Pantin offer fresh options, while Barenia leather is available exclusively in a warm Fauve.

Styling the Hermès Arçon

All Arçon sizes feature an adjustable shoulder strap with the iconic Étrivière buckle, allowing for versatile wear. While the Classic Arçon’s strap can be extended for crossbody use, its larger size and structure make it most comfortable worn on the shoulder.

Image courtesy: @kathrinbommann

Image courtesy: @kathrinbommann

Image courtesy: @kathrinbommann

Meanwhile, the P’tit Arçon and Arçon Slim offer slimmer, lighter profiles with straps designed for effortless crossbody styling. Thanks to their adjustable lengths, the straps can be shortened by half—transforming the bags into chic shoulder styles for a more polished, compact look. This added versatility makes both models easy to dress up or down, depending on the day.

With its clean, equestrian-inspired silhouette, the Arçon complements a wide range of casual to smart-casual outfits, making it a versatile everyday companion.

Hermès Arçon Pricing Overview

The Arçon sits as a versatile everyday bag within Hermès’ lineup, positioned slightly above entry-level models like the Herbag, Picotin, and Evelyne. Combining practicality with luxury craftsmanship, it offers a refined option for daily wear without reaching the price of Hermès’ most exclusive pieces.

Arçon Style	Leather/ Material	Price (USD)	Price (EU)
P’tit Arçon	H Canvas & Swift		€3,800
	Togo & Swift		€3,800
	Barenia Faubourg & Barenia
Arçon Slim	Togo & Swift		€4,050
	Barenia Faubourg & Barenia
Arçon	H Canvas & Swift		€4,450
	Togo & Swift	$6,400
	Barenia Faubourg & Barenia