Slouchy Birkin - Long Overdue post! (How to store your Birkin )

A few moons ago, when i told my friends and clients that I was bringing in a gorgeous Clemence Birkin .. They all went " No!"  

I wondered why and they elaborated "It's too soft! It's grains are too big!"

Some went on to tell me, Clemence is out of the consideration condemned like box calf in Asia. 

Needless to say, this erks me. My love for the alternative to popular leathers is no secret. 

Anyways, when they saw the Clemence, they were pleasantly surprised. At 10 years old, it was stiffer then some less then a year old Togo . They have seen my other Clemence pieces and are amazed at how fine and consistent the grain can be.. It's all about the storage and the individual leather piece.

Anyway, this is not a piece to cause a revolution. Instead, I want to help everyone keep their Birkins and Kellys in shape for decades to come.

Prevention is better then cure, although there is no Hermes that's beyond cure if you know the right Doctor. 

The main contributor to our bags losing shape, getting mold, stretching..etc is improper storage. I will do another piece on use and much later, on leathers that suit your personality and use.

Your Hermes SA will tell you their version of how to store your Birkin, a bag care specialist will tell you another story... You'll now hear my version and form a decision on what works best for you. Do take note that what applies to the climate here in Singapore might not apply to the climate in Australia or Europe. This I believe is the reason for our differences in advice.

If you are lucky enough to have your Hermes Box , open it and check for spots of yellow mold. If it's present, either throw the box away or leave it in the sun. 

Only the box!  Sun every inch of it over 3 days.. This should help kill the mold. Any tissue wraps in these yellowed boxes should be discarded and renewed.  If your box shows no signs of these spots you are safe and have just saved yourself a ton of work.

Dustbag - if your box was spotted, I would advise that you rinse your dustbag, in cold detergent and subsequently in detol , before a final rinse in clear water and Sun it till very dry. If box is pristine or never kept in box, check the areas around it, cabinet, shelf etc. If no sign of mold is present, there is no need to rinse your dust bag. You must keep your bag in some protective dustbag. One that breathes is best. 

Get a dehumidifier sachet or if you have many Hermes pieces, get a container of it and put it where you store your bags. These can be found at any reputable camera shop. Don't get those that turn into water. Those may do more harm then good. Change dehumidifier when crystals change color.

Put these into your box or into your bag( if you have no box), ensuring that the substance (crystal) never touches your bag. This prevents mold and excess moisture seeping into the leathers and expanding it. 

Going onto the bag proper , 

Store your Birkin or Kelly open. Do not close the top flap. This is easier in a Birkin but a little more challenging in the Kelly as the top flap will require some support. If you have the existing felt piece, use it to protect the metal hardware without folding it into the bag. Sometimes the felt interacts with the edging or piping of the bag, ripping it off. 

Stuffing

Loosen the tongues to your bag. Never store it locked on the turn key. Stuff the bag with wrapping tissue or bubble  wrap easily found in diaso or any hardware shop. Do not over stuff! It should just support the bag, not budge it in any way.

In the case of the Birkin, a piece is required for in between the handles. 

Bags should always be stored laying down. If in a box, ensure some wrapping tissue between box and dustbag. If outside, the option is to put a wrapping tissue or similar light material between dustbag and surface or bag and dustbag. This helps prevent transference of any color from area of storage onto the bag. 

Where you store your boxes and bags is another factor. Never too near a window where temperature fluctuates or rain could get it. Not too near the air-con as well. The lower you store your bag, the more moisture there will be. 

These storage tips are useful for those pieces that might be stored for 2 months or more straight. 

Clean your Hermes once a year. For exotics, once every 3 years. Don't know how, send it to Spa or a reputable bag cleaner.

If your bags are rarely used, you can prolong the above. Cleaning prevents staining, I would recommend cleaning it prior to any long storage ( long in my dictionary is 6 months) 

I hope these tips help

My next targeted purchase...Medor 29 Clutch

Everyone has a list of items to acquire ... My list changes constantly. 

After procuring my personal Rouge Hermes Box Sellier at a premium my hunt is on for a no longer in production Hermes Medor 29 Clutch.

Hermes Clutches are more rare then their Birkins or Kellys . This Clutch was only produced for a very short period. 

Owned by every whose who... An avid Hermes Lover would have at least one in her closet! This large clutch grabs your attention and adds just the right edge to any ensemble. Great with Jeans, pants,shorts or dresses.

Keen in one of these? Drop me a message, I have found a few in my client's closets but just not in the color combination that I have in mind. 

Have one to rehome? Write to me and perhaps you are holding onto my next purchase!

Note that the size 29 is not for the faint of heart, love the look but don't want to turn as many heads, fret not, Hermes still produces the size 23.

August Give-Away

August is my month! As such I am sharing the joy of receiving a gift by giving away 1 Brand New Hermes Twilly !! Yay

To participate, all you have to do to get this Vibrant Cordages Twilly is,  go to Swanluxe's Instagram page, like and comment on the post #Freehermestwilly  or #Tagtwilly you may also access our page via this link. http://instagram.com/swanluxe

Under comments just tag your friends. The individual with the most tagged friends will stand to win 1 twilly! 

Tag ends 11th Sept 2359Hrs. 

Only 1 winner will be announced on 12th of Sept, postage is not included.

Please refrain from repeated tagging. Have Fun! 

* Perceived Color of twilly Might be different from color on screen. Actual color is a bluish purple.

Petit H - Limited Edition Art with Class and Conscience

The Petit H line has a great array of variety; from jewelry, ornaments to bag charms. Petit H objects are as expensive as they are rare. Each item is either unique or produced in very limited quantities. 

Usually whimsical, they are made from shelved projects, discontinued leathers or colors and items that do not stand up to standards to carry the name Hermès.

This "new life" line gives rejected leather pelts, broken bits of porcelain, decapitated crystal goblets and strips of silk scarves the opportunity to shine.

This "new" line is the brainchild of Pascale Mussard. Started a few years ago, she, the great-great-great-granddaughter of company founder Thierry Hermès, was in the factory when beautiful fabrics, products and leathers that did not "cut it" and were doomed to be destroyed, felt a deep desire to do something. 

She started keeping bits and pieces and engaged Gilles Jonemann, a jewelry designer working under his own name who held no awe for Hermès bags or silk scarves to aid her.

They worked on it secretly for a year, creating about 100 prototypes. She then took the concept of selling Petit H goods to her family, the lawyers and previous artists that owned the designs of the "parent" product. I am so thankful that she did what she did. Her line has brought new joy to Hermès Lovers. 

As always, these items live up to the expectations and scrutiny of the house of Hermès. The artisans on this line are very experienced and were selected by Ms. Mussard to join the Petit H atelier after proving themselves at Hermès's larger factories. 

Petit H "expresses the values most dear to Hermès," says Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Hermès's artistic director and Ms. Mussard's cousin. He adds that it remains "faithful to the artisan spirit of the house using exceptional discarded materials to create and reinvent beautiful objects full of fantasy which are unusual."

Petit H also allows Hermès to boast—as the company does on its website—"We don't throw anything away." 

So next time you are considering an Art purchase or a Hermès? Get both !

Independent Hermes Authenticators

I was at a gathering some days ago and a close friend asked me a question point blank.

" I was telling my friends about you and they asked, with all the recent scams, how can they tell if a bag is Authentic?"

I get that a lot, and it's tough explaining the meticulous attention to detail and various factors going into an authentic Hermes especially a vintage piece.

To most, unseasoned eyes, it's understandable to apply the rule of thumb on new pieces to vintage pieces but, many enthusiast are unaware that the Hermes Logo, Zipper, Shoulder strap and dustbags have changed over time. Thus rendering that guide partially useless. 

The conversation continued ... " My friend got cheated, a Hermes staff highly recommended a reseller and confirmed that the bag was real, sometime later, when she wanted to sell it, another reseller refused to accept that bag, telling her it was fake. " In such a scenario, which reseller is telling the truth? Sadly, the bag turned out to be fake.

There are other horror stories where they asked a friend to purchase a Brand New In Box with Receipt Piece and it was fake too. Thus my lack of stock on the availability of receipts.

I really feel for these people.

I personally scrutinize every bag for authenticity and go further then most resellers by providing an internationally reputable authenticity cert.

There are many well known providers for such a service,

However, it is my company's policy to only accept and use Bababebi. We are not affiliated in anyway.

Over the years of sourcing for Hermes bags and looking at authenticity certificates. I have found flaws and errors in many certificates. I have been completely satisfied with her level of scrutiny, service and after service. She maybe more pricey then the others, but definitely worthwhile.

Here are some samples of her work.

Accessories

Hermes Popular Accessories

Personalize your Hermes Bags with their range of exquisite accessories.

It's my personal recommendation to wrap all Birkin and Kelly handles with a handle protection product, beneath a twilly. 

Silk naturally has anti- bacteria properties but is not absorbent, moisture still gets onto the handles after use. 

These are some accessories that we carry. Email me for enquiries.

Feminine Understated Hermes Bolide

The Bolide is one of Hermes most understated but iconic bags. Around since1922 made at the request of the wife of Hermes’s owner Emilie-Maurice Hermès, to carry in a new invention at the time – the automobile . The Bolide was born and christened  “Bugatti”. It was also the first bag to incorporate a zipper on the outside. 

Hermes, of late has started giving them newer fresher colors and greater variety of leathers, thus some named the relax bolide. 

This previously over looked bag by young yuppies is now turning heads. It's spacious interior and feminine chic outlook is regaining popularity.

Available in an array of sizes. There is one for everyone.

... More Photos coming up ;)

Another photo illustrating the different look.

Pre Y2K Kelly on the left, post Y2K Kelly on the right. 

Kelly with double loops

Kelly's made after 2000 usually come with double loops. 

Here is an image of a 32 Nior Sellier in Box made after 2000. 

Below is an image of a pre 2000 Kelly, slung on shoulder. 

Hermes still produces Box Calf leather bags. For the curious, Hermes can change your Kelly from a single loop to a double loop for a pretty fee. 

Value

Sometimes, buyers ask how we price an item.

Why is a Sellier Kelly more expensive then a Retourne ?
Why a Fjord is priced differently from a Gulliver... Etc etc etc

Well, the simple answer to these questions are..... Supply & Demand with one additional component Condition.

In a Kelly , on average there are much less Selliers then Retournes, thus the price difference with everything being constant, it is at least $2,000 more.These bags only increase in value as less are produced and some get eroded by lack of proper care, maintainence and time.

Limited production leathers or designs command a premium as well. Limited edition leathers are touched on slightly in another post that I am constantly working on.

Condition is a big factor.  From requiring massive repair to wearable to excellent. Price points can vary tremendously. Even where the repairs are needed, affects prices.

As a gauge , to replace parts of a Kelly ( based on rough estimates, Hermes will give you a more accurate price list of jobs required)

Clochette $300+
Handles $500+
Strap $900+
Tongues  $500+ per Tongue
Hardware $300+ per item
Lock & Key $600+

The above is Excluding spa price. 

Time taken for repair is anything from 3 months to 12 months.

For anything else, unless the bag truly calls to you , walk away.

Here is a photo of an excellent condition black Kelly Seiller (Back) from the 1980s. I have seen similar condition bags from the 1970s & even the 1960s. There are people who argue that bags made in that era were made better. They have, at auction gone up to SGD $16,000+

We guarantee Authenticity for every bag we liberate and place in your good care.  

Looking for a particular Hermes Bag? Email or IMessage me your wish list. Condition and budget. 

We will locate the bag for you and bring it in at a 50% refundable deposit for non -exotic leathers. Ts&Cs apply. 

Swanluxe@gmail.com

Hermes Picotin lock

The Hermes Picotin Lock bag is an update of the previous Picotin. 

It now features a beautiful palladium lock that changes it's look dramatically. 

Its a fun bag for all occassions. 

It comes in PM (20), MM(22), GM(24) & TGM 

The Picotin, true to Hermes Heritage was inspired by their equestrian roots, resembling a feed bag, the Picotin is sturdy and versatile.

The PM is ideal for a night out with friends, where all you need are your lipstick, small wallet and keys. 

The MM is great for everyday use, but will not fit over your shoulder.

The GM fits nicely over your shoulder and is great for the modern day lady with our tablets and mini IPads 

The TGM are for the true fashionistas that know how to match it up and travel in style. 

If you are considering getting a Picotin and wondering how much one is, the PM is SGD $2XXX and it works up from there.

My personal preference in leather for the Picotin is Clemence , in any color but white. 

Just because my everyday bags ( Picotin & Evelyn ) must stand my callousness. It is one of the Hermes leathers that can be refurbished to almost as good as new. 

How to spot a Fake Birkin

Often when we are purchasing pre-loved bags, the question  ' Did I get ripped off ?'  Comes to mind.

So just how do you know if you've got yourself a good deal or a FAKE deal.

1st - Do you research, check that dimensions match. Colors, textures and prints.. With the easy access to lots of images on the internet, ensure pictures are not edited or plagiarised. Check reviews etc etc.

2nd - Try and get the item from someone you know or a friend's friend.

3rd - Bring a friend with similar bag or one that's fimilar with the Brand / Collection. I am personally more an LV nut. Perhaps to the learned eye, spotting a fake Louis is 2nd nature.
Perhaps there are less "good" LV fakes as the profit margin on those knock offs just aren't as lucrative.

4th - Trust your instinct... When unsure, pass it off.. Wait for it.

Hermes Knock Offs are out there. I've seen them on eBay, on people that are oblivious to their purchase.

I found this article really useful for any beginner looking at their Hermes Birkin. The more experience buyers have even more secrets to tell.

http://thebaghagdiaries.com/warning-fake-hermes-birkin-resellers/

I will post other sources and write ups for the other models. Do take note that vintage pieces have variations throughout the years and verifying those require a fine study of the Item.

Hermes Herbag Zip Bag

Walking around town, I realize that many young fashionistas are spotting the newer Herbag Zip bag. 

Guys are carrying it, lasses are slinging it. 

The Herbag Zip bag was released in 2009 after Hermes discontinued their Herbag range.

For the lasses vying for a Kelly and getting repeatedly thwarted ( I know how it feels) or perhaps for someone who wants a Kelly but doesn't fancy a full leather bag. The zip bag 31 is the ideal companion. 

It's trapezoid body shape, back zip and interior pouch make this a functional stylish bag with easy access to our phone and wipes . 

For the men... The cabin size is a functional all around bag that you could carry to work or school? Great for holding portfolios! 

The Zip bag comes in 3 sizes ( 31,39 & 52)  not to mention, a brilliant array of colors. 

A brand new Zip bag size 31 sets you back just over SGD$3300 .  It's really a great way to tease yourself in preparation for your other Hermes to come. 

The Hermes Evelyne Bag

There is not enough thanks that can be bestowed on Evelyne Bertrand for her gift to the practical, flippant and yet fashion savy individuals.

The Evelyne has to be the hardest and easy to carry everyday bag.
Compared to it similarly designed sling bags from the other fashion houses.

I can safely say. Nothing is as light ( in leather) and comfy to carry.

It's wide cloth like shoulder straps and exquisite leather conforms to you.
The simple and elegant wide variety of monotone colors and might I add, fairly affordable.

This is definitely The Hermes Bag to have in our sunny, rainy and humid South East Asian weather. The Iconic H allows the bag to breathe and as long and it is kept out of its box.... Almost nothing can destroy this bag.

If you are looking at a bag to trash about in.  Wrestling at a Sale, Pick kids, go to school, or even walk the dogs!! There is no better bag you can do this in style with, but the Evelyne.

Check in with me again as I highlight the differences in the various Evelynes I - III