What leathers are considered heritage? I am aware of box and barenia but surely there are more. Does anyone have a list?
Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place.
Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place.
What leathers are considered heritage?
- Thread starter CMilly
- Start date
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That is a great idea for an informative post. Perhaps some of the expert long standing members (like @docride or @perlerare ) can add their thoughts.
Excellent thread. Sent the same question to one of the Mods a few days ago so I am eager to learn from this.
Cheers!
Skipper Buffle is my favorite, but it is no longer used, to my knowledge. It wears like iron and takes the dye in a beautiful and unusual way. For a reason I cannot explain Skipper Buffle Birkins were lined in Buffle rather than Chevre.
Just my theory, but I think some of the wonderful leathers have been abandoned due to the ramped up production of Hermes bags to meet the high demand.
Just my theory, but I think some of the wonderful leathers have been abandoned due to the ramped up production of Hermes bags to meet the high demand.
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It's only about 10 years old.
Have a look at our vintage ref thread and add-in a few rarer discontinued leathers that were around for a very long time. Some young others have already mentioned and others here will know better than me.
Barenia
Box
VN
Peau Porc
Ardennes
Courchevel
Gulliver
Clemence (has also been around a very long time)
Fjord
Chèvre de Coromandel
Chamonix
Barenia
Box
VN
Peau Porc
Ardennes
Courchevel
Gulliver
Clemence (has also been around a very long time)
Fjord
Chèvre de Coromandel
Chamonix
I think you are right but also trends that follow what many customers (think they) want also plays a part. Formal bags in more casual leathers that don't scratch, show marks or slouch like Togo means that more interesting leathers have become rarer. This is why some of my favourite bags are vintage.
Vintage bags are among my favorites especially Kellys in box..
I was just reflecting about my green Courcheval Kelly that I purchased in the 70's
from the H boutique when it was on E. 57th st.
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A little off topic perhaps - but I have a habit of saving the official hermes.com descriptions on leathers whenever I see one for my study purposes 
you know the little section that shows up when you click product details...they include what year the leather was introduced in. Obviously you can't find all the leathers on hermes.com and they will only have what's still current so no discontinued ones...but here's a list of what I've grabbed so far sorted by year they are introduced. Obviously not a lot that I'd call heritage but I guess some tangentially related information!
1920s box
1920 ostrich
1990s mysore goatskin
1992 taurillon clemence
1997 togo calfskin
1998 hunter cowhide
2002 negonda calfskin
2004 swift calfskin, epsom calfskin, evergrain
2005 milo lambskin
2012 country cowhide, evercolor
2015 novillo
2016 barenia faubourg
2017 sombrero II
2018 allegretto calfskin, chamkila goatskin, monsieur calfskin, grained monsieur calfskin
you know the little section that shows up when you click product details...they include what year the leather was introduced in. Obviously you can't find all the leathers on hermes.com and they will only have what's still current so no discontinued ones...but here's a list of what I've grabbed so far sorted by year they are introduced. Obviously not a lot that I'd call heritage but I guess some tangentially related information!1920s box
1920 ostrich
1990s mysore goatskin
1992 taurillon clemence
1997 togo calfskin
1998 hunter cowhide
2002 negonda calfskin
2004 swift calfskin, epsom calfskin, evergrain
2005 milo lambskin
2012 country cowhide, evercolor
2015 novillo
2016 barenia faubourg
2017 sombrero II
2018 allegretto calfskin, chamkila goatskin, monsieur calfskin, grained monsieur calfskin
Doublis (suede). And I guess most exotics would be heritage? Also, I realize toile and crinoline are not leathers, but they are heritage.
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A little off topic perhaps - but I have a habit of saving the official hermes.com descriptions on leathers whenever I see one for my study purposes
1920s box
1920 ostrich
1990s mysore goatskin
1992 taurillon clemence
1997 togo calfskin
1998 hunter cowhide
2002 negonda calfskin
2004 swift calfskin, epsom calfskin, evergrain
2005 milo lambskin
2012 country cowhide, evercolor
2015 novillo
2016 barenia faubourg
2017 sombrero II
2018 allegretto calfskin, chamkila goatskin, monsieur calfskin, grained monsieur calfskin
Great idea. I would be very interested to read more of the descriptions.