all handmade?

[gga]

It isn't a "need to be right" and I find your comment rude. I have spoken to various SAs at length about it and parts of some bags are machine stitched. And that was pointed out to my on some of my bags. And again, it does not diminish their authenticity, which was your comment.

My Store Manager, who's been at H forever, agrees with mistikat, Justincredible (love your name, btw), and irishlass. She walked me through one of the canvas bags and pointed out some of the differences in stitching. It was really interesting.

It can take awhile, or, at least, it took a few years for me...but if you hang around Hermes bags and stores long enough and become a consistent customer whose taste they can plan their orders around, wigglytuff, I'm sure that someone higher up will note your interest and eventually pull out the various styles of bags for an informal tutorial on stitching and craftsmanship!

 

[pug*shoes]

my SAs told me otherwise... but if you need to be right, then you are right

Umm, there was no need for a comment like this.

Not everything said by SAs is gospel. Like the other day I was told the SO Black line was not going to be coming out with a Birkin. Just like you can't believe everything you read online.

 

[sydspy]

my SAs told me otherwise... but if you need to be right, then you are right

.............. how rude............ ITA with all the above post regarding the SA's knowledge of H items........ I am still learning about H as well.........

 

[Notorious Pink]

About scarves:

Ooh, I nearly got the spelling right!

 

[wigglytuff]

In the case of the Herbag, there would be nearly as much work involved as making a Kelly. If it were all hand-done then the cost of the bag would be thousands.

(....also I'm not trying to be right, I'm merely providing input and thoughts. Being right doesn't bother me in the slightest)

no, sorry, i wasnt saying anything about you, and was going to ask my SAs about the bags you mentioned in particular which might not have been what they had in mind last time we talked about the issue. plus i will ask claude who i think will know about all of these technicalities...

 

[jaegerhomme]

It is true not all bags are hand-stitched but a leather artisan still uses their hands and expertise in guiding the sewing machine to create the stitches. Also, certain sections of the birkin are machine stitched and the rest of most parts are hand-stitched. When a portion of a bag's stitching needs repair, usually it has to be hand-stitched by then, regardless if the stitches that have to be repaired were originally hand-stitched or machine-stitched. The reason for this is it is easier for the artisan to run the new linen threads on original holes where the original stitches ran thru without accidentally creating new holes if it was repaired via machine.

These I have been told by a local H artisan who had worked in Pantin and has many years of experience in making and repairing a Kelly and a Birkin.

 

[wigglytuff]

Umm, there was no need for a comment like this.

i have better things to do than go back and forth with some posters, if that makes ME rude, than it is what it is. personally, i thought it was very polite considering, but whatever.

 

[ms piggy]

Would like to remind everyone to be mindful of posting/internet etiquette. Treat everyone equally. If that is not possible, there is always the ignore button. Thank you.

 

[golconda]

One way I have been able to tell the difference in hand stitching and machine stitching is the unfortunate circumstance of a loose or worn out stitch. On a very old Birkin, I have a stitch that just wore out near the flap, BUT no other stitches are involved because it it the hand saddle stitch.
On an Azap that had stitches come loose, several sort of "ran" like machine stitching in clothing. If you have used a sewing machine yourself you know what I mean here.

Love the saddle stitch !!!!!

 

[ouija board]

It is true not all bags are hand-stitched but a leather artisan still uses their hands and expertise in guiding the sewing machine to create the stitches. Also, certain sections of the birkin are machine stitched and the rest of most parts are hand-stitched. When a portion of a bag's stitching needs repair, usually it has to be hand-stitched by then, regardless if the stitches that have to be repaired were originally hand-stitched or machine-stitched. The reason for this is it is easier for the artisan to run the new linen threads on original holes where the original stitches ran thru without accidentally creating new holes if it was repaired via machine.

These I have been told by a local H artisan who had worked in Pantin and has many years of experience in making and repairing a Kelly and a Birkin.

Great info. I totally agree with your first sentence, but you said it better than I could have. There's machine sewing in an assembly line, and then there's machine sewing by an expert craftsman. The latter is nothing to scoff at, and I trust the judgment of the craftsmen to know when a machine stitch is adequate and when the trusty saddle stitch is required. And frankly, if the Birkin or Kelly were hand stitched for every last seam, I don't know I'd I could afford the enormous price tag (even more than it is now ) that would surely be attached!

 

[gracekelly]

I agree with Jagerhomme's description as spot on!

My family had factories that made leather brief cases and musical instrument cases. Each case was hand made by individual leather workers. They used machines to do the leather stitching, stitch in zippers etc., but each case was stitched by one person and they considered their finished product to be hand made. This was not assembly line work and neither is Hermes.

As a testament to how well these cases were made, there are 60+ year old cases for resale on eBay at very good prices! A well made product will stand the test of time.

 

[Baja]

Hand finished silks, mainly in Mauritius now, but done by hand

Bienchen : I didn'nt know that- I was thinking all the silks where made in Lyon

 

[Jadeite]

I actually saw videos of the workshop and the leather is handsliced, even for bags!

Cashmere is made in Mongolia.

cashmere is made in mongolia? But printed somewhere else I assume?

 

[birkinmary]

I saw a bag made in front of me during an event in Monoco, seems bags are made by hand, other items? no idea Espadrilles are made by Castannier in Spain

Yes, Castañer makes "alpargatas" (espadrilles) for Hermès, YSL and LV among others. There was an amazing article in Vogue Spain (april issue) about the history of Castañer, incredible craftsmanship!

 

[Baja]

Very interesting thread - so informative