that’s interesting, the stores I shop at most are always encouraging me to get swift! Lol. I love the feel of swift and it is really luxurious but I must admit that scratches really do bother me so unless it’s a KP or a color that only comes in swift, that’s the only time I would take it....
Hermes preferences across regions
- Thread starter louise_elouise
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Why does H push Togo and Epsom? Are they easier to produce than other leathers? I know Mysore is limited because it’s goatskin, but I am not knowledgeable enough to understand why/how H chooses to produce more of certain leathers over other leather types. For example, you also mentioned swift. It seems like it’s raining swift in clutches, when many would prefer Mysore or epsom (not in bags but in clutches bc you will be touching it a lot). Curious what’s H’s thinking process.
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I shop in the US and abroad and find it interesting that epsom is not that popular on this forum. my SAs have told me the most requested leathers are Epsom and Togo. And of course chevre but thats only via special order. The demand for Swift/Jonathan/barenia B&Ks are much lower so it’s a lot easier to get ime....
Excellent observation- epsom may appear to be less popular, but we certainly see LOTs of epsom bags being showcased. Perhaps the peer pressure factor?
But I would say, that does NOT make Swift/Jon/Barenia easier to get. Yes there is less demand, but they are produced in significantly less volume in quota bags I think. So I continue to wait........
I think Epsom is very popular! Especially for those who prefer their bag to not show signs of use, to appear pristine, like new and impeccable - which is part of some Asian cultures & maybe one of the factors helping its popularity there.
Besides things like culture and climate (which I totally agree plays a role), I think social media is also increasingly playing a part. I open RED (the Chinese Instagram) and I see post after post of young girls with their shiny new Hermès purchases (obviously there are other types of posts on there too; my discovery page is influenced by what posts I’ve viewed before which tend to be H related). For better or for worse, these bags *are* symbols of status and wealth, the harder they are to get the more alluring they become. Small bags are all the rage nowadays, and because they are the most difficult size to get they become more desirable to get, as some people care about showing what they managed to “score” (I really do not like that word). There is a word for this effect that I’m blanking out on - the idea that because something is popular and hard to get, it will further cause people to try to get it, and it’s basically a feedback loop. This happens in many other areas too.
Interestingly I’m now also seeing posts here and there that praise the “heritage leathers” and the more special pieces / push offers on RED, and I wonder if the same thing is going on there - the fact that those are the rarer pieces and reserved for established clients...are going to help make them more desirable. Of course, the fact that these are more limited and less produced will mean that they will never be as widely seen in the streets...but their “desirability” is not low.
Besides things like culture and climate (which I totally agree plays a role), I think social media is also increasingly playing a part. I open RED (the Chinese Instagram) and I see post after post of young girls with their shiny new Hermès purchases (obviously there are other types of posts on there too; my discovery page is influenced by what posts I’ve viewed before which tend to be H related). For better or for worse, these bags *are* symbols of status and wealth, the harder they are to get the more alluring they become. Small bags are all the rage nowadays, and because they are the most difficult size to get they become more desirable to get, as some people care about showing what they managed to “score” (I really do not like that word). There is a word for this effect that I’m blanking out on - the idea that because something is popular and hard to get, it will further cause people to try to get it, and it’s basically a feedback loop. This happens in many other areas too.
Interestingly I’m now also seeing posts here and there that praise the “heritage leathers” and the more special pieces / push offers on RED, and I wonder if the same thing is going on there - the fact that those are the rarer pieces and reserved for established clients...are going to help make them more desirable. Of course, the fact that these are more limited and less produced will mean that they will never be as widely seen in the streets...but their “desirability” is not low.
Perhaps the term you were blanking on is "Veblen good?"
I find it so interesting how they (such goods) can completely defy the law of demand and basic economic logic.
I can only speak to my personal observations.
Hermès in the US seems to be most popular in big cities, and in the more monied parts of those cities, and their vacation spots (NY Upper East Side/the Hamptons, Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, etc.). These places are raining Birkins and to a much lesser extent Kellys. Evelynes PM and TPM are very popular day bags. In NYC it’s 30 and 35 cm Birkins, in LA it’s 25 and 30.
In the UK I’ve never seen a Birkin outside of London unless it’s at someone’s country place, so very much the same as in the US. But Londoners definitely carry Hermès. It is not all tourists. I don’t see a lot of exotics in London and tend to see classic colors, Gold seems really big in London. I see a lot of non B/K bags like the Roulis or Bolide in London.
In France, again, same, mainly in Paris and parts of the southern coast, but definitely a bit more classic colors and tons of black, I rarely see, say a Lime bag except in the south. I see more Kellys in Paris than in most cities, and again, lots of the under radar bags. Hop to Monaco and it’s all Birkins and Kellys, usually small ones at night and medium during the day, and so many exotics!
Big East Asian cities are the same, Birkins and Kellys, but the bags are smaller and brighter colors. So many mini Kellys esp at night!
In the Middle East it’s raining Birkins again, more Kellys than in the US but still mainly Birkins and I mostly see small and mid sizes (25, 30 Birkin, 25, 28, 32 Kelly). Dark colors for day and I see more brights at night, also a ton of exotics.
In Russia I mainly see Birkins, and usually at night or inside, like in a restaurant, as opposed to seeing as much street eye candy. B30 seems really popular. And definitely exotics at night.
Epsom and Togo seem popular everywhere. Box shows up usually on the more formal dressers. I have almost never seen Barenia in the wild in a B or K, which is fine by me - more for me!
Hermès in the US seems to be most popular in big cities, and in the more monied parts of those cities, and their vacation spots (NY Upper East Side/the Hamptons, Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, etc.). These places are raining Birkins and to a much lesser extent Kellys. Evelynes PM and TPM are very popular day bags. In NYC it’s 30 and 35 cm Birkins, in LA it’s 25 and 30.
In the UK I’ve never seen a Birkin outside of London unless it’s at someone’s country place, so very much the same as in the US. But Londoners definitely carry Hermès. It is not all tourists. I don’t see a lot of exotics in London and tend to see classic colors, Gold seems really big in London. I see a lot of non B/K bags like the Roulis or Bolide in London.
In France, again, same, mainly in Paris and parts of the southern coast, but definitely a bit more classic colors and tons of black, I rarely see, say a Lime bag except in the south. I see more Kellys in Paris than in most cities, and again, lots of the under radar bags. Hop to Monaco and it’s all Birkins and Kellys, usually small ones at night and medium during the day, and so many exotics!
Big East Asian cities are the same, Birkins and Kellys, but the bags are smaller and brighter colors. So many mini Kellys esp at night!
In the Middle East it’s raining Birkins again, more Kellys than in the US but still mainly Birkins and I mostly see small and mid sizes (25, 30 Birkin, 25, 28, 32 Kelly). Dark colors for day and I see more brights at night, also a ton of exotics.
In Russia I mainly see Birkins, and usually at night or inside, like in a restaurant, as opposed to seeing as much street eye candy. B30 seems really popular. And definitely exotics at night.
Epsom and Togo seem popular everywhere. Box shows up usually on the more formal dressers. I have almost never seen Barenia in the wild in a B or K, which is fine by me - more for me!