On Friday, something interesting was brought to our attention on Twitter – Hermes now has one very particular exotic bag for sale on its website. In our memory, as well as our tipster’s, this is the first time exotic bags have been so widely accessible from the notoriously insular brand, and the Hermes Double Sens Croco Tote it may be an indicator of the inevitable future of luxury shopping.
Hermes has an interesting product category on its website called “Surprise!” that is updated periodically with new pieces that range from breathtaking to oddball. It currently contains a marble horse-head sculpture that retails for over $7,000 and a crocodile mini saddle that will cost you in excess of 20 Gs. Most interesting to us, though, is this simple little reversible tote, covered on one side by either Porosus crocodile or Mississippiensis alligator, depending on the size you choose.
Hermes exotics are beyond legendary, and while the crocodile version of this bag doesn’t quite crack the ceiling to make it the most expensive exotic bag on the Internet (the alligator version, which is smaller, will set you back $26,900 to the larger crocodile’s $38,000), the presence of this one for sale online, directly from the brand, represents another step forward in the luxury business’ tentative embrace of online shopping. With Forbes reporting that online sales saw a significant spike while brick-and-mortar sales lagged this holiday season, the writing may be on the wall for even the most staid of designer brands.
The iconic French design house has long offered a limited selection of its products for sale on its website, but like Louis Vuitton, Hermes has always kept the exclusive pieces off the Internet. Although this bag’s online presence is likely a result of its basic design, and products in the “Surprise!” section generally don’t stick around for long, that Hermes would offer a piece from its most exclusive product category on its website says a lot about where the industry is headed.
Hermes Double Sens Chiffon PM Bag
$26,900 via Hermes
Hermes Double Sens Chiffon PM Bag
$26,900 via Hermes
Hermes Double Sens Chiffon GM Bag
$38,000 via Hermes
