The Mini Bag Revolution

There’s no two ways about it, as things get smaller they get cuter. Handbags are no exception, with numerous ultra-luxury brands designing bags in mini, micro, and even nano sizes. Among these designers downsizing their bags are Hermes, who has created a range of smaller bags for fashionistas who wish to miniaturize their Birkins and Kellys.

Although Hermes doesn’t advertise their bags as ‘mini’ or ‘micro’, their ranges feature items that can certainly be categorized as such, like the Hermes Birkin 25cm, Hermes Kelly 25cm, and the Hermes Kelly Clutch and Hermes Kelly Cut ranges. Over the last few months, these miniature sized bags have experienced a rapid growth in desirability as women join the mini bag revolution.

The World of Hermes Mini Bags

Hermes craft several handbags which fall into the ‘mini’ category. These mini bags are generally classified as measuring a maximum of 25cm in length and are the smallest in their respective ranges. Hermes also craft complete collections which can be classified as minis or micros such as the Hermes Kelly Clutch and Cut bags. Let’s take a closer look at the features of these Hermes minis:

Design

Hermes minis are exactly that, miniature versions of the iconic Birkin and Kelly bags. The craftsmanship, detailing, and features on mini bags are identical to those on the larger bags, just smaller and daintier. For instance, even when comparing the Hermes Birkin 25cm to the Hermes Birkin 30cm, there is a clear contrast in stature despite only a 5cm difference in length. In fact, the Hermes Birkin 25cm can ‘nest’ within the Hermes Birkin 30cm. However, even though the size difference is immediately evident, the design of both bags is identical. The same is applicable to the Hermes Kelly 25cm, Kelly Clutch, and Kelly Cut.

Material

As with larger Hermes bags, minis offer great flexibility in terms of material with both leathers and exotic skins available. The rarest minis feature a blend of exotic skins such as crocodile and lizard or a combination of rare or special colors. Each mini handbag is hand stitched by a single artisan in Paris, providing the same intricate detailing found in the larger Birkin or Kelly bags. On very rare occasions, Hermes also offer VIP customers the option to customize their minis with bespoke artwork or Swarovski crystals.

Hardware

The hardware found on Hermes minis is also identical to that found on larger Hermes bags. Standard hardware options for the lock, buckle, clasp, and base studs include a gold plated finish or a palladium finish. However, there are also special hardware options that can be found on rare customized bags including 24K plated gold, silver palladium, ruthenium, burnished, and guilloche (diamond cut pattern HW palladium). These customized hardware options are extremely rare with only a handful of Hermes minis in the world boasting such exotic materials.

Capacity

One of the more surprising aspects of Hermes mini bags is the amount of items you can actually fit inside – they are deceivingly roomy! The Hermes Birkin 25cm and Hermes Kelly 25cm can both comfortably fit a mobile phone/small tablet, purse, notebook, makeup bag, sunglasses, and keys with some room left over for other essentials. The Hermes Kelly Clutch measures approximately 21cm in length with a height of 12cm and a width of 6.5cm while the Kelly Cut measures 31cm in length and 13cm in height. Both of these bags are more suited to evening wear with a mobile phone, purse, makeup bag, and keys fitting comfortably in each.

Why Hermes Mini Bags Are Surging in Popularity

Hermes mini bags first gained popularity among women in Asia, mainly because they didn’t swamp smaller statures. However, the craze for mini bags quickly spread to the United States as celebrities such the Kardashian Klan and Naomi Campbell declared their love for the mini. From there, the craze has swept across the world with fashionistas, bloggers, and collectors falling in love with these gorgeous mini bags. This craze is continuing to build momentum as more and more women look for Hermes bags that fit their personal style rather than worrying about the size of the bag and what they can fit into it.

However, the surge in popularity isn’t solely down to the adorable sizes of the bags and the trend of following fashion icons. Mini bags provide a charm to almost any look or outfit and can be extremely practical. For instance, a mini Hermes Birkin or Kelly can complement an evening outfit perfectly, but will also work wonderfully with an everyday outfit. With technology advances eliminating the need to carry as many items as before, a larger size Birkin can lead to carrying excessive items which will weigh you down and work against a sleek look. On the other hand, a mini bag has enough space to fit in a mobile phone, a makeup case, and other essentials while maintaining a dainty appearance.

Coveted and Rare – Hermes Mini Bags Are Almost Impossible to Find

The difficulties in getting your hands on the elusive Hermes Birkin or Kelly bags are well documented. Long waiting lists, limited availability, and an extensive purchase history with Hermes are all factors in making it extremely difficult to find one of these iconic bags. However if larger Birkins and Kellys are hard to find, realizing the dream of having a mini bag is almost impossible due to extremely limited availability. They are only offered to elite customers of Hermes and rarely come on to the secondary market.

Bags such as the Hermes Kelly 25cm or the Hermes Birkin 25cm are highly coveted by all due to the fact that they very rarely become available to purchase. Whenever these bags do become available, they are generally snapped up within a few days. Bags such as the Hermes Kelly Clutch and Cut bags are slightly more common, but remain almost impossible to find and are just as highly coveted as the Birkin and Kelly 25cm bags.

The difficulty in finding these bags, coupled with the increasing desirability of them has created a huge opportunity for both investors and collectors. Our study has already revealed the excellent investment opportunity offered by Hermes Birkin bags in general, however, the combination of scarcity and demand for mini bags means these unique miniatures are likely to be an investment opportunity of at least equivalent potential.

Advantages of a Hermes Mini Bag

• Hermes mini bags are seductive and charming. Once you have laid your eyes upon a miniature you are unlikely to forget about it!
• Although small, minis aren’t impractical. The shape of the bags allow them to hold a sufficient amount of essentials without the bag feeling over-stuffed.
• As miniature versions of the iconic Birkin and Kelly bags, they maintain the sophisticated look of their larger sisters and can complement almost any outfit.
• Minis can be more “ladylike” than larger bags as they are easily carried by hand rather than in the crook of the arm. The iconic look is maintained in the mini bags with the addition of the super-cute factor.
• The rise in popularity and demand for minis is increasing at an incredible rate. This provides a huge opportunity for both investors and collectors.