First off, let’s just acknowledge the elephant in the room: these bags are EXPENSIVE. Like, *mortgage* expensive. And personally? I’m always a little skeptical. Is it *really* worth it? But then, you see the process, and you start to understand… a little.
I mean, six kilometers from Paris, in Pantin, you got this place, Les Atelier Hermès, where, like, *over* 200 artisans are slaving away. I mean, “crafting,” not “slaving,” but you get my point. Apparently they are highly skilled, and I’d hope so if I am going to pay that money! You see, Vogue got a sneak peek into their leather goods studio (lucky ducks!). And it’s not just some factory churning out bags. It’s… well, it’s *Hermès*.
And that Kelly bag? Man, that thing has a history. Originally, it was called the “Petit sac haut, à courroie, simplifié” – try saying *that* five times fast! But then Grace Kelly – y’know, Princess Grace – got photographed with it in ’56, and BAM! Name change. It’s all about the story, isn’t it? I guess.
Here’s the thing that gets me, though. You see these “replica” Hermès bags online. And I get it, okay? I *totally* get the temptation. But, honestly, is it the same? Probably not. This one person, Birkin Aangel, says they have experience shopping for them and wants to help you shop for one (?). It’s like, you’re buying the *idea* of Hermès, not the actual thing. I’m not judging, but… just saying!
Then you see stuff about the new Hermès workshop in Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, France, where apparently the Kelly bag is the *training ground* for new leather artisans? That’s kind of amazing, right? To think, that iconic bag is what they are practicing on. I mean, talk about pressure!
Honestly, I am a bit confused. There’s the whole thing about handmade bags, and then there’s the allure of the brand, and then there’s the, let’s face it, insane price tag. And at the end of the day, it’s a bag. A really, REALLY nice bag, sure, but still… a bag.
