H leathers getting thinner?

[biscuit1]

Dear Group,
This most likely is not Hermes stretching to make them thinner. They just don't make cows like they used to . Years ago , the meat industry found it worked best for them to knock off the cow by 2 years of age. You could get the meat, the leather and not have to continue feeding the source. Grain has become incredibly expensive. We do not see the mature hides like we did years ago. So many tanneries have gone out of business and hides are not tanned the ways of old. Hermes used to have a source for their leather which then guaranteed fewer scars and markings. Looking at their leather now- I wonder if they still have it.

 

[cherlynk]

I bought a Picotin GM ( clemence ) in January and have not used it before. Last week I took it out of the box and the bag's really slouchy. It's probably worse due to the broad base of the bag so when it sits there on the table, the body just slouched down when I took the stuffings out.

 

[jmen]

I bought a Picotin GM ( clemence ) in January and have not used it before. Last week I took it out of the box and the bag's really slouchy. It's probably worse due to the broad base of the bag so when it sits there on the table, the body just slouched down when I took the stuffings out.

Tis the nature of clemence and the Pico to slouch. Whether the new ones slouch more than older ones of the same size, I don't know.

Interesting to read the entire process has changed and not necessarily for the better. Ain't it always about the money and how fast can something be harvested. (Is that why my SO came in 10 weeks, mea culpa perhaps I should carry a hemp purse and when times are tough . . .

 

[MYH]

Dear H experts - I got my first gold togo kelly a couple of weeks ago so started reading more about Kelly and Birkin bags on the H forum. I have read quite a bit about recent togo leather being "thin" as opposed to "thick" and that many have experienced the quality of H leather declining in recent years. Do all the new bags have thin togo or are some thick and some thin? And how do I tell if I have thin togo?

Thanks in advance to those who are knowledgeable about H leathers and can shed some light on this situation.

 

[texasgirliegirl]

Dear H experts - I got my first gold togo kelly a couple of weeks ago so started reading more about Kelly and Birkin bags on the H forum. I have read quite a bit about recent togo leather being "thin" as opposed to "thick" and that many have experienced the quality of H leather declining in recent years. Do all the new bags have thin togo or are some thick and some thin? And how do I tell if I have thin togo?

Thanks in advance to those who are knowledgeable about H leathers and can shed some light on this situation.

I think it's pretty random.
No way to really tell unless you stand it next to another bag.
Sometimes it's very difficult to discern Togo from Clemence, even for experienced SA's.
These are natural, organic substances.
Are you worried about the quality of your Kelly bag?
Do you seek a very structured bag? If so you might be happier with Epsom.

 

[MYH]

I think it's pretty random.
No way to really tell unless you stand it next to another bag.
Sometimes it's very difficult to discern Togo from Clemence, even for experienced SA's.
These are natural, organic substances.
Are you worried about the quality of your Kelly bag?
Do you seek a very structured bag? If so you might be happier with Epsom.

Yes, a bit. I have two Picotins and both are clemence. One is blue orage and one is orange. I bought both of them within 2 months of each other. The blue one has much thinner leather and slouches already. The orange one has thicker leather (visible to the eye since Picos are unlined) and stands up straight when I set it down. I'm hoping my gold togo Kelly is not a thin one because I don't like the slouchy look at all. And as a side note, if I'm being really picky, the stitching looks pretty uneven on the back part where the strap is sewn onto the back panel.

 

[Fabfashion]

My new clemence K that I got recently seems thinner than the clemence SoK I got the year before. My only concern is the thin K strap. I'm afraid it's going to stretch and not in a good way.

 

[twinkle2]

Reading the threads here really made me scrutinizing my H bags more and more each day. After reading about smelly bag, I was off sniffing my bags. Thank gdness, no issue esp I'm staying in a sunny and humid country.
I identified other issues and now talking about leather, I've just noticed my K clochette's leather grains looks much bigger than the body part of the bag. Luckily bag was direct from boutique and it has been 1+yrs old without me questioning about the quality of this bag. Probably I was too happy and blinded by it to notice the big different in the leather grains. Do you think, I'm being picky?

 

[cherrycookies]

I think it depends on the leather. My Togo K feels softer & thinner than my Epsom k but it's just different leathers. Both direct from the same H store.

 

[MYH]

Reading the threads here really made me scrutinizing my H bags more and more each day. After reading about smelly bag, I was off sniffing my bags. Thank gdness, no issue esp I'm staying in a sunny and humid country.
I identified other issues and now talking about leather, I've just noticed my K clochette's leather grains looks much bigger than the body part of the bag. Luckily bag was direct from boutique and it has been 1+yrs old without me questioning about the quality of this bag. Probably I was too happy and blinded by it to notice the big different in the leather grains. Do you think, I'm being picky?

Hi twinkle - the different size grains wouldn't bother me.

 

[twinkle2]

Hi twinkle - the different size grains wouldn't bother me.

The clochette's leather also feeling/ looking much thinner compare to the luscious looking body part of the bag & straps.

 

[chicinthecity777]

Dear H experts - I got my first gold togo kelly a couple of weeks ago so started reading more about Kelly and Birkin bags on the H forum. I have read quite a bit about recent togo leather being "thin" as opposed to "thick" and that many have experienced the quality of H leather declining in recent years. Do all the new bags have thin togo or are some thick and some thin? And how do I tell if I have thin togo?

Thanks in advance to those who are knowledgeable about H leathers and can shed some light on this situation.

I think it's pretty random.
No way to really tell unless you stand it next to another bag.
Sometimes it's very difficult to discern Togo from Clemence, even for experienced SA's.
These are natural, organic substances.
Are you worried about the quality of your Kelly bag?
Do you seek a very structured bag? If so you might be happier with Epsom.

What texasgirliegirl said! Each animal is different therefore the hide is different. There is no definitely answer as to which one is thicker.

 

[texasgirliegirl]

Reading the threads here really made me scrutinizing my H bags more and more each day. After reading about smelly bag, I was off sniffing my bags. Thank gdness, no issue esp I'm staying in a sunny and humid country.
I identified other issues and now talking about leather, I've just noticed my K clochette's leather grains looks much bigger than the body part of the bag. Luckily bag was direct from boutique and it has been 1+yrs old without me questioning about the quality of this bag. Probably I was too happy and blinded by it to notice the big different in the leather grains. Do you think, I'm being picky?

Yes.
You can easily order a new clochette, however.
These are handmade items from organic substances.
Baring issues re quality, I see the subtle irregularities as part of the bag's charm.
While I fully appreciate the anxiety that stems from spending so much money on a handbag and the high expectations that come from that, I suppose it might be a good idea to take ones time and scrutinize the bag while at the boutique prior to purchasing it. If there is a legitimate defect the manager will send the bag back. You can request a new clochette, questions/ concerns ca be answered , etc.
I hope that you are able to relax and enjoy your bag.
A gold Kelly is a timeless classic.

 

[sparklelisab]

Hello my TPF Friends,

Has anyone heard about the changes in leather from Hermes as of late? (Other than stinky bags)

My SA told me that Clemence and Togo are looking more similar in relation to the size of grain and veining.

With my own new bag that is Togo (large grained and little veining) and some others I have seen, I too am wondering.

Any news? Insight?

(Mods if you think this should be somewhere else, please move...)

 

[birkel]

i have been seing a new sort of changing trend bags are again harder to get at least to me but im happy because the ones that i have gotten lately seen and or purchased are in better shape togo is veiny clemence is sturdy the heat stamps HErmes mande in france i mean are perfect and no smelly bags sooo this makes me happy because it seems they are taking more care again hw is beautiful and again fully covered and im loving the new attitude at my shops both got new managers and soemthing is right !!!!!!