Leathers and Skins from Hermès
Hermes bags come in a wide range of different leathers and skins, and they create a distinct look for each bag. Dyed in various colors with precision, this gives Hermes a very luxurious and expensive look. Leather is considered the raw hide of an animal including cow, goat and buffalo, whereas skins are thinner and just include the top layer of the animal's skin.
Hermes is known for their careful and expert handling of leather and skins. Some of the most popular types of leather used in both Birkin and Kelly bags include Box Calf, Clemence, Epsom, and Togo. These are the most common types of leather and give the bags a different feel and look so that it will appeal to different women and their diverse tastes.
Clemence
This leather comes from baby bull and is completely scratch resistant due to its textured make. The leather is grainy, flat, and matted.
Epsom
This leather is extremely light and is also scratch resistant. The grains are much finer than the Clemence and is very easy to clean.
Varanus/Lizard
Available in both matte and lisse, this is a more demanding material, due to the fact that it can dry out. The small scales contribute to the material's shiny look.
Fjord
This is an adult leather and has a soft texture. It is heavier and water resistant.
Swift
Formerly known as Gulliver, this is a very soft leather with extremely fine grains. It is commonly compared to Togo and Clemence, however this is better suited for bright colors.
Togo
Also scratch resistant, this leather comes from baby calf and has a soft pebbled finish. It appears slightly raised and feels smooth to the touch, but also slightly grainy.
Ostrich
Ostrich leather is distinguishable due to the pores that run evenly through the surface. When contacted with skin, the material will eventually begin to darken, and when in contact with the light, it will become lighter in color.
Alligator
Alligator material can come in either Matte, which has a smooth and plainer look, or it can come in Lisse, which is shinier. Alligator skin is farmed in the southern United States in states such as Florida and Louisiana. If you are wondering what the difference is between alligator and crocodile skin, it comes from the dimples on the edges of the scales, which appear in crocodile leather. Alligator material lacks these dimples and instead has a completely smooth, neat design.
Crocodile Niloticus Matte
A smooth finish, this material comes from crocodiles in the region of Africa's Nile River, near the country of Zimbabwe. The scales in the pattern are large and wide.
Crocodile Niloticus Shiny
As the name suggests, this is the same Nile Crocodile, only with a much shinier finish. The material is buffed until it becomes glossy.
Berenia Natural
This leather is a very old type, from calf and originally made for Hermes saddles. It is extremely smooth and resistant to scratches. It can also resist water and absorb oils.
Buffalo Skipper
A rare leather from water buffalo. This leather is very soft and has a medium grained appearance.
Box Calf
This leather comes from calves, and is the oldest type of leather available. It was commonly used in the first productions of Kelly bags. The leather is extremely smooth to the touch and has a slightly shiny finish. Scratches show up more easily on this type of leather than textured leathers because of how smooth it is.
Chamonix
Think of Box Calf without the shine. This is Chamonix, a smooth leather that has no glossiness.
Chevre de Coromandel
This leather comes from goat and is very lightweight and scratch resistant, with a smooth finish.
Chevre Mysore
This goat-hide leather differs from Chevre de Coromandel in that it is more refined and bumpy.
Doblis Suede
Also known as nubuck leather or suede leather, this leather is made with a napped finish and a very smooth make.
As you can see, there are plenty of amazing choices for leathers and skins, and they all look amazing paired with the elegant design of the Birkin and Kelly bags. There are many expensive choices to pick from, with some of the rarest ones being ostrich, alligator and lizard, as well as great cowhide leathers that will resist scratching.
Posted on 09-01-2014
