If you are one of the most loyal customers of the Hermès brand and you have followed the path of the atelier for years, you have surely dreamed of the day when you can order a bag in your favorite model, leather and colors.
Fortunately, this is something that comes over time and through building a close relationship with sellers in official stores. Well, they are the ones who can offer you this opportunity. If in recent years you have purchased different Hermès products, including some Trinity bags, the chances are that your moment is getting closer and closer.
When this day arrives, you will need to be sure of each step to take and how to prepare to create your ideal bag, that way you will receive the expected result and you can feel satisfied that you got just the bag you were looking for.
Next, we will show you the details you need to know to be 100% prepared and start thinking about the components of the bag of your dreams. Pay attention!
- What is a Hermès special order?
- How does the process work?
- Special order versions
- Expectations and results
What is a Hermès special order?
Hermès special orders are opportunities offered by the French atelier to its most loyal customers to order a bag with specific characteristics, which is then crafted by one of its expert craftsmen with all the details arranged by the customer.
Generally, sales assistants or sellers at official stores are the only ones who can grant this privilege to loyal customers of the brand.
There are multiple options to create special orders in the Hermès atelier, but today only the following bag models are used:
- Birkin
- Kelly
- Constance
- Bolide
- Sac à dépêches briefcase
- Plume
- Jige
When creating the special order, it is allowed to choose the model, size, leather, external and internal color, side panels, handles, clochette, color of the seams and types of hardware.
How does the process work?
As mentioned above, special orders begin with a customer’s recurring attendance at official Hermès stores, where they purchase various accessories such as: scarves, ties, footwear, gloves, household items, clothing, and more.
In addition to these items, the customer must also have purchased some exclusive bags, especially those belonging to the Trinity: Birkin, Kelly and Constance.
With the passage of time and a good relationship with a single sales assistant or seller, this person will suggest to the customer to place a special order. If the offer is accepted, a meeting is arranged with the seller to choose the details of the order.
Sometimes the dates for the meetings are quite prompt, that is, you won’t have to wait too long, so it is important that you take into account how you want the bag that you are going to order to be.
However, sometimes the atelier works with certain types of leathers and colors available at the time, so it is not always possible to know if what you want to order will be available among the options at the moment of the meeting.
When it is time for the meeting, the sales assistant shows the different colors, options of hardware and leathers, so the client can assemble their ideal bag of any of the aforementioned models.
Upon completion, the seller sends the order to Paris for future approval by the atelier. This can take a few weeks, so be patient. If your order is approved, the seller will contact you to let you know.
Special order versions
When making the special order and choosing the components of your Hermès bag, you must bear in mind that there are different versions to create one of these orders depending on the bag model you have chosen. Here we show you what they are:
Birkin bag versions
To create a special order for the Birkin bag there are 5 versions:
- Version 1: the same as a common Birkin, the seams are the same color as the leather used, and this is the same on the inside and outside of the bag.
- Version 2: the leather on the outside of the bag is a single color, but the interior leather and the seams are in different colors.
- Version 3: the outside of the bag is in a specific color, but the inside, the seams and the piping are in a different color.
- Version 4: it is the same as the third version, but this time the handles, straps and clochette are the same color as the inside of the bag and the piping.
- Version 5: it’s the same as the fourth version, but the side panels of the bag are the same color as its inner skin.
Kelly bag versions
There are currently 5 versions of special orders for the Kelly bag; 3 for Kelly bags type Sellier (with a more rigid structure on the outside), and 2 for Kelly bags type Retourné (with a soft and slightly flexible structure). Here are the versions:
- Sellier and Retourné version 1: similar to the original versions of these models but a different color seam is applied.
- Sellier and Retourné version 2: the outer skin of the bag is one color, and the seams and interior are another color.
- Sellier version 3: the leather on the front, back and inside panels are the same color, but the handles, side panels, strap, clochette, handle rings and seams are in a different color.
- Retourné Version 3: the outside of the bag is in a specific color, but the inside, the seams and the piping are in a different color.
- Retourné version 4: it is distributed exactly the same as the third version of the Sellier model, with the addition of the piping.
Constance bag versions
The Constance bag can be ordered in two versions:
- Version 1: same as a common Constance, but the seams are done in another color.
- Version 2: the exterior of the bag comes in one color, and the interior and seams are done in a different color.
When stitching in a different color is applied to all three bags, you can choose from a variety of colors that contrast with the exterior. When choosing a clochette of a different color, it will always be the same as the color of the leather inside the bag.
Expectations and results
The process of crafting a special order can take from one to three years, sometimes the order is carried out faster, but it is not always possible to predict when it will be ready.
For this reason, we recommend that you relax and try to forget about the special order after confirming its delivery. It is the best technique to avoid resorting to anxiety and frequently asking the seller about the destination of the order. In this way, you can hold the excitement for when you arrive at the official store and can see your bag for the first time.
It should be noted that in some cases the special orders do not remain exactly the way you visualized them in your mind, there have been cases in which customers are not satisfied even after waiting 3 years. Just as you read it!
But the best thing in these cases is that the delivery of the order has no cost, and once it has been created and delivered, the client has no obligation to pay for it if it is not to their liking. So, you will only pay for it if you are completely satisfied with the result.
Are you ready to create your special order? We bet you are!
We hope we have informed you correctly with this short guide on Hermès special orders. Now you will feel more secure at the time of the meeting with the seller and while waiting for your custom luxury bag.
If you are interested in acquiring a conventional Birkin, Constance and Kelly models, without waiting lists and from the comfort of your home, we invite you to enter our online store, where you will find exactly the bag you are looking for, with elements that prove 100% of its authenticity.
Do you want to know more about us? Check out this article.
Trust the luxury experts and immerse yourself in the world of Hermès!
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