Volynka Russian Leather

[allanrvj]

Absolutely

By the way, have you seen the book "Cuir de Russie, memoire du tan: avec Elise Blouet" ? I wanted to buy it on Amazon but it's sold out.

Yes, I have a copy. I bought it 3 years ago when I was researching for this thread
I don't speak French so I used google translate and evernote to translate the entire book.

There's still some available from the publisher here:

Cuir de Russie – Éditions d'art Monelle Hayot

www.editions-monelle-hayot.com

I think if you buy a Volynka bag from an H store in France, they give you a free copy. The guy I saw on instagram was given a copy of the book when he bought a Plume Volynka from the Sevres store. Also, some Volynka listings from resellers include the book:

 

[allanrvj]

Absolutely

By the way, have you seen the book "Cuir de Russie, memoire du tan: avec Elise Blouet" ? I wanted to buy it on Amazon but it's sold out.

I forgot to mention that I wrote to Elise Blouet because when I finished it, it didn't say what part Hermès played in the current version of the Russia leather (if they were the ones who funded the research, if it was them who wanted to bring the Russia leather back, etc). This is what she wrote to me:

"As for Hermès, they have been following my research since the beginning and showed in increasing interest in it.
The entire project was independent but, as we managed to get some good results, Hermès asked me if Baker tannery could sell them some of this leather. We worked hand in hand to define exactly what Hermès needed and this lead to the Volynka leather. It is, of course, Russia Leather but with a precise color, grain and "hand" exclusive to Hermès."

 

[allanrvj]

Volynka HAC 50 in the AW 2019 campaign
(probably why it was sold at crazy price in a Sotheby's auction)

 

[allanrvj]

On the AW 2019 runway

 

[duna]

Now I'm really curious to smell all the various Cuir de Russie perfumes.....!

 

[allanrvj]

Now I'm really curious to smell all the various Cuir de Russie perfumes.....!

I recommend Le Labo's Patchouli 24. It's closer to Russian leather than Chanel's Cuir de Russie, which to me smelled a bit more soapy than leathery when I tried it.

 

[duna]

I have re-read this thread from the beguining and I'm so enamoured with this leather

I have read several posts of members saying they don't like it because it's similar to Epsom: funny thing is I HATE Epsom, but LOVE this Russia leather! I don't think ALL embossed leathers are ugly: I like Courchevel, predecessor of Epsom, of which I have a Kelly, bought in London Sloane St. Hermès in 1991.

 

[periogirl28]

I have re-read this thread from the beguining and I'm so enamoured with this leather

I have read several posts of members saying they don't like it because it's similar to Epsom: funny thing is I HATE Epsom, but LOVE this Russia leather! I don't think ALL embossed leathers are ugly: I like Courchevel, predecessor of Epsom, of which I have a Kelly, bought in London Sloane St. Hermès in 1991.

Have you had a whiff? You will be instantly hooked. The scent is like a drug and the texture becomes irrelevant.

 

[duna]

Have you had a whiff? You will be instantly hooked. The scent is like a drug and the texture becomes irrelevant.

No, not yet: I'd love to smell it but I can't find any!

 

[allanrvj]

I have re-read this thread from the beguining and I'm so enamoured with this leather

I have read several posts of members saying they don't like it because it's similar to Epsom: funny thing is I HATE Epsom, but LOVE this Russia leather! I don't think ALL embossed leathers are ugly: I like Courchevel, predecessor of Epsom, of which I have a Kelly, bought in London Sloane St. Hermès in 1991.

I've had an epsom bag and it doesn't feel like epsom. Epsom to me feels like embossed cardboard. Russia leather feels softer, more plush, and yields when you press it.

 

[periogirl28]

I've had an epsom bag and it doesn't feel like epsom. Epsom to me feels like embossed cardboard. Russia leather feels softer, more plush, and yields when you press it.

Yes it’s definitely not as stiff as my Epsom bags and the pressed grain is finer and shallower.

 

[doni]

I think if you buy a Volynka bag from an H store in France, they give you a free copy. The guy I saw on instagram was given a copy of the book when he bought a Plume Volynka from the Sevres store. Also, some Volynka listings from resellers include the book:

Was it a Plume briefcase or a Plume-Plume?

 

[allanrvj]

Was it a Plume briefcase or a Plume-Plume?

this plume, a Plume Fourre-Tout 40:

It's one of the first three bags that H made with Volynka leather.

https://www.hermes.com/dk/en/story/126096-volynka-russian-leather/

Btw, a bit of trivia: the Plume is one of the oldest Hermès bag designs. If I'm not mistaken, it appeared in during the 60's and was originally intended to hold blankets, like this one:



The handbag versions came in much later.

 

[papertiger]

Now I'm really curious to smell all the various Cuir de Russie perfumes.....!

Try Bel Amis (men's) for leather

Volynka smells quite tarry (which I think must be within the recipe for the tanning process) rather than just leathery

 

[papertiger]

this plume, a Plume Fourre-Tout 40:

It's one of the first three bags that H made with Volynka leather.

https://www.hermes.com/dk/en/story/126096-volynka-russian-leather/

Btw, a bit of trivia: the Plume is one of the oldest Hermès bag designs. If I'm not mistaken, it appeared in during the 60's and was originally intended to hold blankets, like this one:

View attachment 5179241

The handbag versions came in much later.

It's much older.

Originally it was a large blanket case. It was the mid'60s when it was miniaturised to a 32cm handbag for Catherine Deneuve