Hermes Special Order Bags

Since this thread is now huge and the internal links to frequently asked questions no longer work, here is a brief FAQ for newcomers to the Hermes Special Order process.

What are the current choices for "a la carte" Special Order bags?
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What is an Hermes Special Order?
Each year Hermes gives select clients the opportunity to customize a classic bag in a made-to-order a la carte process. This thread is only for bag A La Carte orders (please use the separate threads for watch SOs and shoe SOs). "A la carte", "SO" (special order), and "HSS" (horse shoe stamp) are used interchangeably on this forum.

When is the Special Order season?
Currently, there is one SO season each calendar year, opening around the beginning of February and closing when slots run out or the end of December, whichever occurs first. New SO menus are typically leaked in February and remain constant until the following calendar year. Individual stores have complete discretion on when, within this window, they offer SO appointments to their clients.

Which specs can I customize?
Hermes defines which specs can be customized and these specs can change each SO season. Generally these specs include: leather type, leather color, and hardware color. At your SO appointment, your SA will present you will the limited menu of choices including bag types and sizes (Birkin 25, Kelly 28, etc), pre-set combination designs (line, verso, multico, etc), leather choices, leather colors, hardwares, and a map for which options can be selected for which bag type and size. Not all leathers and hardwares are allowed for all bag types and sizes.

Can I make physical changes to a bag definition during SO?
Sometimes clients would like to change a physical aspect of a bag, like increase the handle drop or add a pocket or a strap. Unfortunately, Hermes does not allow any type of alteration to the bag definition during SO. For extensive changes like these, a client would need to pursue a “Horizon order” which can be read about here.

How long will my SO take?
There is no way to predict how long a SO will take from placing the order to receipt of the finished product. Although Hermes has recently put forward efforts to fulfill a la carte orders within a year, it isn’t uncommon for bags to arrive in just a few months or also much longer than the year estimate.

Can my SA give me status my existing SO?
Unfortunately, the info that can be seen by SAs at the local store is very limited. They can generally see if the order is still outstanding (ie hasn’t been cancelled) but do not get status updates beyond that. Some stores will update clients when they get notice that a bag has been shipped from Paris but other stores wait until the bag is physically in store before alerting the client.

Do I need to place a deposit for SO?
In most regions of the world, a deposit is not required for SOs. However, some Asian and Middle Eastern locations do seem to request at least a partial deposit. Deposits may also be required in other regions if the SO selections are very personalized (ie if you have your personal initials hot stamped onto the bag) such that selling the bag to a different client, if the original client declines the bag, would be difficult.

Do I receive confirmation of my SO after placing my order?
In most regions of the world, the client gives their specifications to their SA and that is the last they hear about it until the bag arrives. Paris stores seem to be an exception to this and send the client a confirmation email within a few weeks of placing the order.

Is there a premium for a SO bag?
No, there is no premium price for SO bags. Their price is the same as any other standard stock bag of the same specifications at the time of delivery.

Is my SO a quota bag?
SO bags are generally counted toward a client’s two-bags-per-year limit at the time that the bag is received and paid for. If a client has already maxed out their quota bag allocation for the year, some stores will allow an exception to purchase your SO as a third bag for the year while other stores will require the customer to wait until a new calendar year before receiving the bag. These policies are subject to be changed per store at their convenience so it is always wise to check with your specific SA.

Where can I get ideas for my SO bag?
This thread shows unique combination bags and this thread shows contrasting stitching bags. Please consider posting your bag there once it arrives!

Where can I see historical SO menus?
2023 on post 19,874 page 1325 Feb 3, 2023
2022 on post 17,729 page 1182 Sept 13, 2021
2021 on post 15,439 page 1030 Aug 16, 2020
2020 on post 13,222 page 882 Aug 8, 2019
2019 on post 10,472 page 699 Sept 10, 2018
2018 on post 7,687 page 513 Sept 15, 2017
2017 on post 4,749 page 317 Sept 26, 2016
 
Yesterday I placed my SO, I went for a mini Kelly multicolor noir and nata chevre leather with gold hardware..

For the stitching I choose the option what Hermes usually use..

I only want to ask did anyone experienced choosing this option and the stitching was not tone on tone ?

Before going placing the order I as determined to choose inverted stitching, but the store manger on convinced me to choose this option as he said that it will be too much .. first it’s black and white with gold and shine in the leather it will be over whelming
I think your SA is right. That's a lot on a tiny bag. But, it's your bag and you should get what you want.

To answer your first question, sometimes artisans make changes in SOs (happened to me with hardware) but usually ton sur ton stitching does arrive as tonal.
 
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Hello everyone. New to H for only about 1.5 years. Got one QB from current SA. Wanted to see how everyone got your SO quota? did you ask for it or it was just a surprise from your SA? and generally how many QB you got/ how many years you've worked with SA before you got the SO? Thanks
My H journey had only been 6 months long when my SA surprised my with a SO! My journey hasn’t been so long that I haven’t even receive my first wish list QB yet. My friend also found that super fast. I think there are several factors. I’m a steady (but not huge) spender, and built rapport quickly. She’s a newer SA without a ton of VIP I think. I’ve asked for a few non QB recently she was never able to offer me, and I felt she was sincere. Perhaps because she’s newer so she doesn’t have as much ‘weight’? Even non QB seems a bit out of her control. But offering which client a SO is within her control. So I think perhaps that’s why she wanted to use an SO to assure me and give me a confidence boost to continue working with her. I was of course ecstatic! Now I just need to wait.
 
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My H journey had only been 6 months long when my SA surprised my with a SO! My journey has been so long that I haven’t even receive my first wish list QB yet. My friend also found that super fast. I think there are several factors. I’m a steady (but not huge) spender, and built rapport quickly. She’s a newer SA without a ton of VIP I think. I’ve asked for a few non QB recently she was never able to offer me, and I felt she was sincere. Perhaps because she’s newer so she doesn’t have as much ‘weight’? Even non QB seems a bit out of her control. But offering which client a SO is within her control. So I think perhaps that’s why she wanted to use an SO to assure me and give me a confidence boost to continue working with her. I was of course ecstatic! Now I just need to wait.

Just enjoy and forget analysing.

When one gets an offer of a SO is different for every scenario. I got an offer quickly and before I'd ever bought a bag too, but I know that's not the usual in my store. I think it helped my mother had a profile and my friends (as far as the SAs could tell) all carried H. I actually didn't take-up the offer because the bag I wanted was available as a PO and not as a SO.

I still maintain that if someone shows a genuine interest in the brand and development/process of all sorts of H products, it appears that you will become a longterm client, and that's what SAs/SMs prefer.
 
I think your SA is right. That's a lot on a tiny bag. But, it's your bag and you should get what you want.

To answer your first question, sometimes artisans make changes in SOs (happened to me with hardware) but usually ton sur ton stitching does arrive as tonal.
Thanks dear.. maybe I was convinced with the SA opinion because I had some doubts.. I always wanted an black and white bag with gold hardware and inverted stitching but it always was as size 25 either a B or K.. but as I have a black B25 with gold hardware and mini 24/24 in black with silver hardware.. I decided to for a mini Kelly as it’s very hard to be offered .. and here when I didn’t know if I wanted inverted stitching or tone or tone or even only white stitching!
 
My H journey had only been 6 months long when my SA surprised my with a SO! My journey hasn’t been so long that I haven’t even receive my first wish list QB yet. My friend also found that super fast. I think there are several factors. I’m a steady (but not huge) spender, and built rapport quickly. She’s a newer SA without a ton of VIP I think. I’ve asked for a few non QB recently she was never able to offer me, and I felt she was sincere. Perhaps because she’s newer so she doesn’t have as much ‘weight’? Even non QB seems a bit out of her control. But offering which client a SO is within her control. So I think perhaps that’s why she wanted to use an SO to assure me and give me a confidence boost to continue working with her. I was of course ecstatic! Now I just need to wait.
Where are you located? If you don’t mind me asking :smile:
 
My H journey had only been 6 months long when my SA surprised my with a SO! My journey hasn’t been so long that I haven’t even receive my first wish list QB yet. My friend also found that super fast. I think there are several factors. I’m a steady (but not huge) spender, and built rapport quickly. She’s a newer SA without a ton of VIP I think. I’ve asked for a few non QB recently she was never able to offer me, and I felt she was sincere. Perhaps because she’s newer so she doesn’t have as much ‘weight’? Even non QB seems a bit out of her control. But offering which client a SO is within her control. So I think perhaps that’s why she wanted to use an SO to assure me and give me a confidence boost to continue working with her. I was of course ecstatic! Now I just need to wait.
Congrats! I think we’re in the same country and it’s just the best :graucho:
What are you getting, if you don’t mind sharing?
 
Congrats! I think we’re in the same country and it’s just the best :graucho:
What are you getting, if you don’t mind sharing?
I didn’t have time to plan ahead as it was a total surprise. But probably a good thing, otherwise I probably couldn’t sleep for days. I went safe. Simply I haven’t seen a multicolour option that I like. I chose B30 verso with gris tourtelle outside and gold inside. Though I almost went with rose Mexico or lime inside. That would have been more fun I guess. But I simply went with my favourite colors on the list. Rose gold hardware. I’m a sucker for rose gold. It will be a very subtle SO, but the benefit of selecting a Birkin is that the horse shoe stamp will be directly visible.
 
Just enjoy and forget analysing.

When one gets an offer of a SO is different for every scenario. I got an offer quickly and before I'd ever bought a bag too, but I know that's not the usual in my store. I think it helped my mother had a profile and my friends (as far as the SAs could tell) all carried H. I actually didn't take-up the offer because the bag I wanted was available as a PO and not as a SO.

I still maintain that if someone shows a genuine interest in the brand and development/process of all sorts of H products, it appears that you will become a longterm client, and that's what SAs/SMs prefer.
You’re probably right. Yesterday I heard a YouTuber said that H is starting to expand the SO offer to newer customers so more people can experience this exclusive offer. That’s amazing!