If you’re a fan of luxury leather goods, you’ve probably heard of Hermès. This French fashion house is renowned for its high-quality leather products, and one of its most iconic materials is box leather.
But does Hermès still make box leather? Let’s take a closer look.
What is Box Leather?
First, let’s define what we mean by “box leather.” Box calf, or veau box in French, is a type of smooth leather that has been treated with a special tanning process to give it a distinctive shine and durability. The name comes from the fact that the leather is often used to make boxes and other small objects.
The History of Box Leather at Hermès
Hermès has been using box calf for its leather goods since the early 20th century. In fact, one of the company’s most iconic products, the Kelly bag, was originally made with box calf when it was introduced in the 1930s. The material became so closely associated with Hermès that it’s sometimes referred to as “Hermès box” or simply “box.”
Over the years, Hermès has experimented with other types of leather for its products, such as Togo and Clemence leathers for its Birkin bags. However, box calf remains an important part of the company’s heritage and is still used today for certain items.
Does Hermès Still Make Box Leather?
The answer is yes! While it may not be as widely used as it once was, Hermès continues to produce box calf for select items in its lineup. For example, some versions of the Kelly bag are still made with box calf.
However, there are some factors that may make it more difficult to find Hermès products made with box calf today. For one thing, the tanning process used to create this type of leather is time-consuming and expensive, which means that it may not be as cost-effective for the company to use it for all of its products. Additionally, the popularity of other leathers like Togo and Clemence has led to a greater focus on those materials in recent years.
Conclusion
So, does Hermès still make box leather? The answer is yes, but it’s not as prevalent as it once was.
While box calf remains an important part of the company’s history and heritage, Hermès has also embraced other types of leather for its products. Whether you’re a fan of box calf or not, there’s no denying that Hermès continues to produce some of the finest leather goods in the world.