Hermès is a byword for luxury and one of the world’s most revered fashion brands. Its exceptional quality and world-class craftsmanship are certainly a large factor in its success, but its tapestry of compelling backstories adds whimsy and legend to every piece. Its most coveted collections are, without doubt, the Birkin, Kelly and Constance bags, collectively known as the “holy trinity” and, of course, these famed pieces have some of the most loved and retold stories of all.
With the decline of horseback riding, Hermès shifted its focus from saddle making to remain relevant. Émile-Maurice Hermès was the creative mind behind the first Hermès accessories, including the famous Carré scarves. Among his contributions was the ‘Sac à Dépêches’, a women’s bag with straps. Hermès produced it in 1935 for his wife, who couldn’t find a suitable handbag in all of Paris. As an added bonus, this Hermès newcomer was made to fit inside the door of a car. Émile-Maurice designed a masterpiece in a trapezoid shape that has become recognizable all over the world.
It was Grace Kelly, Hollywood star and Princess of Monaco, who propelled the bag into the spotlight. While filming ‘To Catch A Thief’ in 1954 she was given a Sac à Dépêches for the movie. She fell in love with the bag and took it home with her. In 1956, Grace Kelly was photographed holding the bag over her stomach to hide the early signs of her pregnancy. The image was seen around the world and Hermès received so many requests for ‘The Kelly Bag’, that it was renamed the bag in honor of the princess.
The Kelly is made in the same atelier as Hermès saddles and the same double-needle saddle stitch is used to make it, a stitch that cannot be recreated by machines and, if done correctly, will never unravel. The workmanship that goes into the bag’s handle is equally impressive. Four to five layers of leather are formed into a handle shape using the artisan’s thigh before being stitched into place–a process that can take up to four hours.
“Grace Kelly was photographed holding the bag over her stomach to hide the early signs of her pregnancy. The image was seen around the world.”
The story behind the Birkin is legendary among Hermès lovers. In a chance meeting on a flight from London to Paris in 1983, actress Jane Birkin and Jean-Louis Dumas, creative director of Hermès at that time struck up a conversation. As she attempted to stow her straw tote into the overhead compartment, everything fell to the floor. Dumas asked why she didn’t have a bag with pockets. To which Jane Birkin allegedly answered: “I will when Hermès makes me one.” The remainder of the flight was spent sketching the ideal solution on the back of an airsickness bag. The supple and spacious rectangular holdall with a burnished flap and saddle stitching he designed became the first Birkin. It even had a nail clipper attached on the inside. Since its inception, the Birkin has changed little in style or function, with only limited editions, like the Sellier or Cargo Birkin, switching up the exterior design.
“Asked why she didn’t have a bag with pockets, Jane Birkin allegedly answered: ‘I will when Hermès makes me one.’”
As a new Hermès bag design left the production house in 1959, the designer, Catherine Chaillet, gave birth to her fifth daughter, Constance. It was only fitting that the bag should be named after her.
Constance’s elegant shape and functional design make it a favorite among collectors and can be harder to find than the more well-known Birkin and Kelly, especially on the secondary luxury market. It’s an urban, practical bag with a modern feel.
As a first, this Hermès Bag doesn’t come with the iconic turnlock, but an H forms its clasp. It is a very functional design and can be opened and closed by the aid of a spring-loaded mechanism concealed on each side of the bar fixed to the flap.
The Constance bag became the favorite bag of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who popularised the Hermès shoulder bag amongst Hollywood’s elite.
It’s widely known among Hermès aficionados that the BKC (Birkin, Kelly, Constance) holy trinity is hard to buy directly from an Hermès store. Due to demand far outstripping supply, these coveted pieces aren’t displayed on the shelves and the likelihood of walking into a store and leaving with one is low. To be offered one by a sales assistant, you usually need a good relationship with them and a strong purchase history. It can take a substantial time, energy and financial investment before you get offered a BKC.
These hurdles have helped build a robust secondary market, where these coveted bags are accessible to anyone with the budget to afford one. However, these in-demand bags don’t tend to linger so, if you’re in the market for something specific, we suggest you Source an Item on our website so we can inform you the moment we get one in.
