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Originally Posted On: https://retreatstpete.com/blogs/blog/why-are-hermes-bags-so-expensive

 

Hermes bags are the most expensive bags in the world, some going for as much as $500,000, but what makes them so expensive? After all, a bag is a bag unless it has something very special about it that makes it stand out from the rest. The Hermes Birkin bag originated with the actress Jane Birkin who once complained that she couldn’t find a bag that she liked.

The result was the creation of the Birkin bag which is unique because of its practical storage space. Of course, the storage space is not the only thing that makes this bag unique, otherwise, it wouldn’t be all that different from any other utility bag. Other aspects that make luxury Hermes bags so expensive have to do with the craftsmanship of the bag, the materials, the demand, and the exclusivity.

Keep reading to learn more about what makes these bags unique and why they cost so much.

UNDERSTANDING THE MATERIALS USED FOR HERMES BAGS

Many bags are made of leather, so what makes a Hermes bag so special?

Most Hermes bags are made out of calfskin which is much more elastic compared to adult cow leather and also a lot more expensive. For that reason, calfskin is much more pliable and ready to bend and fold in a flexible way compared to ordinary leather. You might even find that it feels delicate, but upon further inspection, you will find that it is just as sturdy and durable as most other leather.

But it isn’t just leather that makes a Hermes bag expensive. You will find that every kind of material included in a Hermes bag is of the highest quality possible. More than that, a Hermes bag is full of little details and intricacies that make the entire bag a unique work of art.

For example, a staple of Hermes bags has to do with a little lock and key attached to the bag. The delicate lock tends to match other metal elements on the bag such as any buckles that may be present. The metal used for the lock and buckles usually match and they may be made of gold or palladium.

CANVAS AND METAL

Palladium is a very shiny, silver-like metal. On one of the buckles of the bag, the metal will have an engraving marking the Hermes brand. That way, no one will mistake your Hermes bag for any other kind of handbag. Aside from the use of gold and palladium, you will also find several other interesting materials on Hermes handbags.

Keep in mind that each Hermes handbag is different from the next, so the materials used may not be the same from handbag to handbag. For example, many Hermes bags are made out of canvas. Canvas is a very sturdy material and it makes the bag perfect for every day carrying to run errands, etc.

Canvas can also come in many different colors and patterns, so no canvas Hermes bag will ever look exactly the same. Canvas is also very easy to clean at home if you ever end up getting it dirty on accident. More than that, canvas Hermes bags tend to be very flexible.

So, if you need to store the bag somewhere such as under a seat or in an overhead compartment in an airplane, you shouldn’t have any problems putting the bag in a safe and comfortable place and you won’t have to worry about the canvas getting damaged either.

OSTRICH AND ALLIGATOR SKIN

Hermes bag costs are not limited to the expenses of leather. This is because many Hermes bags also use other very expensive types of skin such as ostrich and alligator skin. Alligator skin, in general, is an expensive material to produce.

The leather that alligators produce is quite rough compared to calfskin, but alligator leather has a unique look that no other animal can mimic.

Ostrich skin is an even rarer type of leather, and because it is so hard to get, it is very expensive.

Birkin bags that contain a lot of ostrich skin will be very expensive, even more expensive than those made out of alligator leather or calfskin. This, of course, feeds into the exclusivity of the bags themselves along with the high price tag of the bags. At this point, you might think that the bulk of a Hermes bag’s price comes from its materials, but this isn’t necessarily true.

While the materials obviously constitute a large part of the bag’s value, there are a few other aspects that make these bags valuable.

HERMES BAGS ARE HANDMADE AND MADE TO ORDER

When you buy an ordinary bag from the mall, there are thousands, if not millions of bags that are identical to it. That’s because most bags come from factories that make bags and purses in bulk. As a result, the bags that factories produce are cheap but also not unique in the slightest.

When you buy such a bag, you might find your neighbor and several strangers carrying the same bag. That, of course, isn’t a very luxurious feeling. Hermes bags, on the other hand, are completely handmade and uniquely crafted.

More than that, there is only ever a limited production of these bags. There is certainly no assembly line in a factory producing thousands of these bags one after another. Because there is such a limited supply and such a huge demand, the price of Hermes bags will only go up.

As long as Hermes bags are produced in a limited way, the price will always be very expensive. Whenever a person places an order for a Hermes bag, the manufacturers will start creating the bag right away for the individual. As it turns out, because Hermes bags are so expensive, only a handful of people place orders for these bags every year.

This makes the bags unparalleled when it comes to exclusivity. The Hermes bag is undoubtedly the VIP of bags in this department. The benefit of having a limited supply of bags every year is that the manufacturers will have no chance of getting overwhelmed by the demand.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

When an order comes in, bag makers have the chance to take their time as they work on a single bag. This ensures that every part of the bag is high-quality and that there are no mistakes. This isn’t the case when you buy a cheap, factory-made bag.

Many factory-made bags will end up with loose stitching and smudged leather soon after you buy them. The leather might start to crack and the bag as a whole will start to look quite worn down. Of course, the last thing you want is to be carrying a worn-out bag.

But when you buy a handmade Hermes bag, you will find that the durability and quality of the bag will last for years without showing any signs of wear and tear. This, of course, is very important for the Birkin brand. Hermes bags would never have such a high reputation if the bags tended to rip or scratch after a short period of time.

When you look at a Hermes bag, everything you see is done by hand. The shaping of the leather, the stitching, the colors, and the designs are all done by hand. This takes a very long time to do and, needless to say, it adds to the price.

But many people find that the price is worth it because of how durable and beautiful the bags are.

THE SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND ARTISTRY OF HERMES BAGS

There is plenty of social influence behind Hermes bags. These bags are a status symbol. If you see someone carrying one, you can be sure that they’re living the high life.

These bags are not only very expensive but also very hard to get due to their limited supply. If you manage to get one, it is like a key opening into the world of social influence. Once other people see a person with a Hermes bag, they immediately want to get one for themselves even if they can’t afford it.

The limited availability of these bags is what makes them feel so exclusive and irresistible. If you can’t have it, then, of course, you want it. People who manage to be lucky enough to get these bags tend to flaunt the bags on social media.

This effortlessly gets them plenty of likes across social media platforms and increases the hype behind Hermes bags. The social popularity behind these bags makes them even more coveted and in a way, these bags have a sort of cult following.

But beyond the power of social influence, you can’t forget about how Hermes bags are more than just bags but instead works of art.

THE ARTISTRY

The people who stitch and put together Hermes bags are literal masters when it comes to the art of making bags.

You could technically hire any old seamstress to put together a bag, but this wouldn’t produce the fine craftsmanship of a Hermes bag. A Hermes bag requires professionals who have been making high-quality bags for years and years. Only then will those professionals have the skill to put together a bag as coveted and unique as a Hermes bag.

Usually, the masters who work on Hermes bags have been making bags for at least 10 years beforehand. This level of craftsmanship, of course, increases the value of the bag and also ensures the quality.

Finding an imperfection in a Hermes bag is virtually impossible because of all the attention and care that goes into it. There are many different styles of Hermes bags with many unique designs. Because every Hermes bag is completely unique, they have a high collectible value.

Many celebrities have several Hermes bags as part of their handbag collections. Some variations of this bag even have precious gems such as diamonds decorating them. Others have striking colors and patterns that you won’t be able to find on any other kind of luxury handbag.

The pocket space and organization of the bag’s interior also make it a very convenient bag to carry around throughout the day or night. While the price of a Hermes bag might be shocking, the price is worth it if you want a one-of-a-kind handbag.

WHY ARE HERMES BAGS SO EXPENSIVE?

Why are Hermes bags so expensive, you might ask? It has to do with the bag’s exclusivity, materials, and limited availability. The materials alone to make these bags are very expensive and tend to be calfskin, alligator leather, or ostrich leather.

These bags need to be made by hand which is a lengthy and expensive process but also one that ensures the bag’s quality. To learn more about buying luxury bags, contact us here.