The Hermès Herbag takes the outline of a Kelly and builds it in canvas and leather. The result is lighter, more relaxed and far easier to find than a leather Kelly, yet it still carries the house’s saddle-stitched frame and hardware. This guide covers the sizes, the three canvases, the leather trim and what each version costs.
What the Hermès Herbag is
The current version is the Herbag Zip. Its body is canvas, while the frame, handle and strap are Vache Hunter, a vegetable-tanned leather that darkens and takes on a patina as you use it. The flap closes with a clou de selle, the round saddle stud found across the Hermès line. In addition, there is a zipped pocket on the back and another inside, which is where the Zip gets its name. Every Herbag comes with a shoulder strap, so it works by hand or crossbody.
Herbag sizes
The Herbag Zip comes in three sizes. We stock the two most wanted:
- Herbag Zip 20, sold as the Mini. About 20 × 17 × 6 cm, with a shoulder strap drop of about 46 cm. It takes a phone, a wallet and keys, and it is the hardest Herbag to find at boutique.
- Herbag Zip 31, sold as the PM. About 31 × 25 × 10 cm. It is the reference Herbag: it carries a tablet and a full day’s things without reading as a tote. The 31 adds a clochette with a lock and two keys.
As a result of that scarcity, the Mini usually costs more than the larger PM. In our stock most Minis are $4,025, while the 31 starts at $2,765.
Three Herbag canvases
- Toile H. The house cotton canvas, woven with a small repeating H. It is the standard Herbag body, usually in two tones such as ecru and black. See the Herbag Zip Mini in Ecru and Black Toile H.
- Toile Militaire. A denser, flatter canvas with no woven motif, so the colour reads solid. For example, the Herbag Zip Mini in Paille or the Herbag Zip 31 in Black.
- Printed canvas. Seasonal prints such as H Plume sit on the surface of the canvas rather than in the weave. They are made in short runs, like our Herbag Zip 31 in H Plume.
Colours and trim
The Herbag pairs a canvas colour with a leather trim, so the same canvas can look quite different. Fauve, a natural tan, is the classic trim: it warms the canvas and deepens with age. Black trim makes the bag sharper and hides wear. Our stock runs from neutrals such as Ecru and Beige with Fauve trim to Bleu Riviera, Bleu Indigo and Gris Pantin. Hardware comes in gold or palladium on most colours.
Hermès Herbag or a Kelly?
The Herbag is not a cheaper Kelly; it is a different bag. It weighs less, it shrugs off rain better than smooth leather, and it is meant for everyday use rather than for special occasions. On the other hand, a Kelly holds its value far more strongly. If you want the Kelly shape for weekends and travel, the Herbag is the practical choice. For the leather original, read Kelly Sellier or Retourne.
What to check before you buy
Look at the canvas corners and the base first, because canvas shows rubbing there. Next, check the Vache Hunter trim: even darkening is normal, but water marks are not. Finally, make sure the strap is included, and on the 31 the lock and keys. Each listing we publish states what comes with the bag.
Buy an Hermès Herbag
Every Hermès Herbag above is a single unit, authenticated in house and photographed exactly as it is. See them all in our Herbag collection, read about the house on Hermès, or follow new arrivals on Instagram.
Common questions
Is the Hermès Herbag waterproof?
No, but canvas copes with light rain better than smooth leather. Dry the leather trim promptly if it gets wet.
Why is the Herbag Mini more expensive than the 31?
Because it is the hardest size to find at boutique, so demand outruns supply.
Does the Herbag come with a strap?
Yes. Both the 20 and the 31 come with a shoulder strap, so they can be worn crossbody.
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