Influencers and Hermes

[QuelleFromage]

I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and it's crazy how many Instagram era actually post carrying a birkin or a Kelly, and it's not just the basic colours. They post in mauve or magnolia or others that are quite interesting.

Im curious but how is this possible? For some reason, it makes me disappointed with how many people have it on social media that makes me wonder about the legitimacy of the "exclusivity". It's more common online than other luxury brands. So either their posting fakes or they just got easy access to it because of their social media following? Please enlighten me and thoughts on this as well.

Because you can buy a full set fake "mini Kelly" to your specs for $800 that will pass muster through a webcam, probably $400 so long as you don't get too close to certain details.
That's how "influencers" turn up with 10,000 pink MKs while actual Hermès buyers with real store relationships patiently wait for pretty much any color.

There are also quite a few folks who have family money and want to be influencers, so they buy like crazy to build their unboxings, etc., and what they can't get at boutique they buy at resale. They're never going to tell you they paid Madison Avenue Couture $35K for that HSS bag - they're going to give you a big song and dance about the special order experience.

I disagree that H is more common online than Chanel or LV. The influencer world is particularly riddled with Chanel, which is *much* easier to buy at boutique and also heavily and unfortunately realistically faked.

 

[880]

I am older and my only social media outlet is TPF. When I see so many popular neutral colors in popular bag sizes on TPF, I don’t think they are too common bc so many members here have them. Buy what you love that works for your personal life.

Re your disappointment that many influencers focus on Hermes. It’s part of a business model. Hermes, like other premier luxury brands, courts influencers, not for bags, but for the trickle down effect. The younger demographic, who do use social media, may never be able to obtain a bag, but they can have a small piece of the brand right now from entry level priced goods like cosmetics, perfumes, and first floor items. A nail polish doesn’t really negatively impact the experience of a QB or piece of RTW. Chanel already demonstrated it’s possible to profit from separate tiers. Premier luxury brands are big business (There are many articles like the Bloomberg one below, and influencer placement is simply a part of this growth plan) No matter the cost of their highly coveted items, they are arguably no longer highest luxury.

At Hermès, a $67 Lipstick Could Hint at Big Ambitions

Hermes International unveiled its first products from a new beauty division, adding $67 lipsticks to a brand better known for $9,000-plus Birkin bags and $400 silk scarves.

www.bloomberg.com

You mentioned H plates. The wait and difficulty of obtaining certain plates may be as long as bags. I gave up on H plates as i didn’t want to wait. I ordered elsewhere. Definitely better quality and customized to my preference. (Herring Berlin and Marie Daag)

HERING BERLIN

custom tableware New York

www.thesilverpeacock.com

Marie Daage Porcelaine Tableware Collection | Legle Limoges Dinnerware

The Silver Peacock Inc. offers a luxurious Marie Daage Porcelaine Tableware collection for your dining. Contact The Silver Peacock Inc. for Luxury Tableware.

www.thesilverpeacock.com

If you want something truly exclusive and better crafted, go for bespoke.

Duret bag

My journey for an exotic bag started a couple years ago. I spent enough time on my research. I found loads of information on this forum and I am very thankful two ladies Tracey SH and 880 who helped me enormously in this journey. The bag that appealed to me was on the Duret site. I liked her...

forum.purseblog.com

 

[Caramelus]

First, a lot of them can be fakes
Second, if you have friends with Birkins/Kellys in their closets, you can borrow them, put pics on insta/videos on Youtube and nobody knows that its not yours....i wouldn't be surprised if thats the case for lots of influencers

Yes and also why H boxes, ribbons, dustbags and even shopping bags are purchased on the resale market .... to dress up a borrowed bag or replica as brand new.

 

[Caramelus]

In regards to influencers, IMO, it is unfortunate that Victoria Beckham flaunted her collection of Hermes bags as a means to garner publicity. A genius tactic at the time that was unique and different from the usual papparazzi celebrity pics - and subsequently copied by the Kardashians. From a business POV, it is understandable for celebrities dependent on social media to drum attention to remain relevant since their ability to generate wealth is dependent on their social media presence. However from an H consumer POV, I personally disliked an elegant brand like H associated with someone known for her infamous tapes . And after leveraging H for media attention, pretty sure they rarely use their bags again.

 

[lorihmatthews]

A related story: Many years ago, there was a tPF member who posted many, many fabulous bags. Only those of us who have been here for a long time will know this story.

As it turned out, she was a cleaning person and she was passing off her client's bags as her own. After a while the client saw her bags on tPF and subsequently fired her.

True story.

 

[PrincessSoFear]

I was scrolling through IG and a reseller is live streaming.
She explaining that some influencers/youtubers bought H bags from her to do unboxing videos and then sell it back to her.
It's their way of making contents, they earned views and gain some incomes through their channels.
Looking at them as a business: buy a bag from reseller, unboxing, then sell it at some loss, repeat.

 

[7th House]

In regards to influencers, IMO, it is unfortunate that Victoria Beckham flaunted her collection of Hermes bags as a means to garner publicity. A genius tactic at the time that was unique and different from the usual papparazzi celebrity pics - and subsequently copied by the Kardashians. From a business POV, it is understandable for celebrities dependent on social media to drum attention to remain relevant since their ability to generate wealth is dependent on their social media presence. However from an H consumer POV, I personally disliked an elegant brand like H associated with someone known for her infamous tapes . And after leveraging H for media attention, pretty sure they rarely use their bags again.

I definitely get what you're saying. Although not *yet* a customer of H, it's also part of the reason why I ask questions about the brand. For a lot of people it seems to be the top of the top (and that's how I see it too!) so understanding the clientele is part of it. And it's why I feel (and this is just me) influencers who have access to it kind of makes an impact on how people like myself see the brand. Mel in Melbourne, Isabelle styles - - they can afford it as Mel is in realestate and Isabelle is a dentist so I can see how they are associated with the brand. But some... I find highly questionable. so I'm really trying to understand.... Is it the brand for me or is it now an influencer brand?

 

[7th House]

A related story: Many years ago, there was a tPF member who posted many, many fabulous bags. Only those of us who have been here for a long time will know this story.

As it turned out, she was a cleaning person and she was passing off her client's bags as her own. After a while the client saw her bags on tPF and subsequently fired her.

True story.

That's insane

 

[7th House]

I was scrolling through IG and a reseller is live streaming.
She explaining that some influencers/youtubers bought H bags from her to do unboxing videos and then sell it back to her.
It's their way of making contents, they earned views and gain some incomes through their channels.
Looking at them as a business: buy a bag from reseller, unboxing, then sell it at some loss, repeat.

I see that. I guess it takes a lot of commitment to do that to become an influencer.

 

[FaubourgTropical]

Is it the brand for me or is it now an influencer brand?

For a lot of people it seems to be the top of the top (and that's how I see it too!)

Only you can answer this. I am personally not bothered by 'images' that come with a brand (cheap, prestigious, mass market, exclusive,etc) because I wear things for me. Influencers are marketing arms. Of course they have to create an image of a life or a persona which may or may not be the reality.

Still related to image, as a few posters above have mentioned (@880 and @papertiger if I am not wrong), there are tops on top of the tops (sorry… ) but Hermes apparently has maintained its image so successfully that most people believe it.

I can only speak about my experience. I have loved Birkin for 20 years due to the shape and leather and can only afford it now. Am I annoyed that it's so 'common' and 'not exclusive'? Am I happy that I am now so 'exclusive' that I am at par with the celebs? Not really. I am just happy that I can tick another box in my life goals.

 

[7th House]

Only you can answer this. I am personally not bothered by 'images' that come with a brand (cheap, prestigious, mass market, exclusive,etc) because I wear things for me. Influencers are marketing arms. Of course they have to create an image of a life or a persona which may or may not be the reality.

Still related to image, as a few posters above have mentioned (@880 and @papertiger if I am not wrong), there are tops on top of the tops (sorry… ) but Hermes apparently has maintained its image so successfully that most people believe it.

I can only speak about my experience. I have loved Birkin for 20 years due to the shape and leather and can only afford it now. Am I annoyed that it's so 'common' and 'not exclusive'? Am I happy that I am now so 'exclusive' that I am at par with the celebs? Not really. I am just happy that I can tick another box in my life goals.

That's actually a great point and worth thinking about. I guess it will be part of my self discovery journey - - what style I want that will be my "timeless" fashion and whether considering a birkin or Kelly as my end goal is really for me or if I'm maybe a Moynat or Delvaux or Valextra woman

 

[jellyv]

But some... I find highly questionable. so I'm really trying to understand.... Is it the brand for me or is it now an influencer brand?

This sounds like purely a mental exercise unrelated to seeing the goods and caring about its history and quality, which are well documented. I continually ponder, Who GAF about influencers in figuring out their own style (not to mention budget)? Really? The history and clientele of Hermes is easily 99.99% prior to the existence of Instagram.

Sometimes people pretend to be auditioning Hermes or whatever, and eager to supply reasons why it's not a fit. Ok then, find what does work and have big fun doing so.

 

[classicgirll]

I definitely get what you're saying. Although not *yet* a customer of H, it's also part of the reason why I ask questions about the brand. For a lot of people it seems to be the top of the top (and that's how I see it too!) so understanding the clientele is part of it. And it's why I feel (and this is just me) influencers who have access to it kind of makes an impact on how people like myself see the brand. Mel in Melbourne, Isabelle styles - - they can afford it as Mel is in realestate and Isabelle is a dentist so I can see how they are associated with the brand. But some... I find highly questionable. so I'm really trying to understand.... Is it the brand for me or is it now an influencer brand?

Isabelle is a dentist and has no dependents - she's living for herself essentially, no kids. hubby (or fiance haven't kept up) probably makes good money too. DINKs go far, financially!

Mel in Melbourne is well established and probably has been saving and investing her and hubby's $$ for 25+ years (she is likely ~20 yrs older than Isabelle... there really is no comparison between them)

It is all about who prioritizes what. I don't ever question it anymore. People might be renting and buying H instead of putting down $ on a house. They might send their kids to public school instead of private, and spend the money saved on H. It's their money, not ours so we shouldn't judge them on how they choose to spend it, or use it as a benchmark to compare ourselves with others.
Regardless, H is a brand for anyone who has the $ to blow (whether willy nilly or after saving) and appreciates craftsmanship, heritage, and tradition. It's pretty much the only well-known house who still makes bags BY HAND!
Other, less common brands do too - but I personally can't justify their cost & they don't tickle my fancy like H bags do.
Just my opinion.

 

[7th House]

This sounds like purely a mental exercise unrelated to seeing the goods and caring about its history and quality, which are well documented. I continually ponder, Who GAF about influencers in figuring out their own style (not to mention budget)? Really? The history and clientele of Hermes is easily 99.99% prior to the existence of Instagram.

Sometimes people pretend to be auditioning Hermes or whatever, and eager to supply reasons why it's not a fit. Ok then, find what does work and have big fun doing so.

That's why this forum exists. To ask questions, gather thoughts and help in making sound decisions. ‍♀️ (just wondering why your responses are actually quite aggressive - - or am I just reading too much into it? Your first response in my post was "You are not an H customer, correct? Why, then, you would be disappointed?" and "Sometimes people pretend to be auditioning Hermes or whatever, and eager to supply reasons why it's not a fit. Ok then, find what does work and have big fun doing so." this gives me the impression you don't like anyone asking about the brand.)

Anyway, no one's actually forcing you to respond. If you feel I'm asking dumb questions then please feel free to ignore. I'm sure there are much better discussions on here that will make you more cheerful.

 

[7th House]

Isabelle is a dentist and has no dependents - she's living for herself essentially, no kids. hubby (or fiance haven't kept up) probably makes good money too. DINKs go far, financially!

Mel in Melbourne is well established and probably has been saving and investing her and hubby's $$ for 25+ years (she is likely ~20 yrs older than Isabelle... there really is no comparison between them)

It is all about who prioritizes what. I don't ever question it anymore. People might be renting and buying H instead of putting down $ on a house. They might send their kids to public school instead of private, and spend the money saved on H. It's their money, not ours so we shouldn't judge them on how they choose to spend it, or use it as a benchmark to compare ourselves with others.
Regardless, H is a brand for anyone who has the $ to blow (whether willy nilly or after saving) and appreciates craftsmanship, heritage, and tradition. It's pretty much the only well-known house who still makes bags BY HAND!
Other, less common brands do too - but I personally can't justify their cost & they don't tickle my fancy like H bags do.
Just my opinion.

I agree with everything you said. I mentioned both as I kind of see myself with more similarity to them than other influencers (more matured, maybe a bit Conservative style, working woman and both admittedly said they saved a lot over the years and have investments which is the phase I'm in. We're frugalAF as a couple which, seeing Mel in Melbourne - - I know the effort will pay off one day haha! ) and when I look at them with H, it makes me think yup. I want to represent myself the same way as well. It's great to hear what you appreciate about the brand. ❤️