The Skins of Hermès
What truly defines Hermès is craftsmanship, detail and leather.
Unlike any other brand, Hermès uses different types of leather and colors for each bag, This means your Hermès Birkin or Kelly is one of a kind. Whether you're deciding what type of leather will be your dream bag, or trying to identify the leather type of your Hermès item, it's a one-of-a-kind.
Hermès Togo
Released in 1997. Togo leather is a textured, scratch-resistant, hammered calfskin . 
Togo is lightweight yet holds its shape. Togo has a defined, soft, pebbled finish that appears raised and feels smooth yet grainy.
From a distance, Togo appears to have vertical grain and reflects light. This is the most popular leather for Hermès Birkin bags.
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Hermès Clemence
Released in the mid 80's. Clemence is a natural grained leather and 
This scratch-resistant variety is made from a bull calf and is officially called Veau Taurillon Clemence. The grains are larger than those of Togo. The grain is shallower than that of Togo, resulting in a more "matte" effect.
Note that Togo has a slight sheen and smaller cells, while Clemence appears "dull" and has larger cells.
Fiord by Hermès
Fjord is structured, matte, scratch-resistant and is obtained from an adult bull.
It's more durable than Togo or Clemence, even waterproof! Fjord has a light velvety feel and a matte texture. Fjord has a highly visible grain. It has a wider, flatter grain than Togo or Clemence. One of Fjord's most common characteristics is that it has vertical grain when viewed from a distance (sometimes vertically across the entire bag). The amount of grain can vary depending on the hide. It's possible to have a Fjord bag without grain. It's also one of the heaviest leathers.
Hermès Evergrain
Evergrain is a stiff leather with a grain. Evergrain is actually the embossed version. 
of the smooth "Evercalf". It has a very soft touch and scratches buff out very easily. The colored version of Evergrain is called "Evercolor".
Hermes Epsom
Released in 2003. Embossed leather. Epsom replaced Courchevel in 2003. Unlike other leathers, the pattern is pressed into the leather, giving the bag a laminated, rigid, and textured look. Epsom does not scratch easily and is also very easy to clean. Epsom is still used by Hermès today.
Hermès Smooth Grain Calfskin
Discontinued in 2003. Embossed leather. Veau Grain Lisse is a pressed leather worked in glass. 
known to be slightly thin and shiny.
It's scratch-resistant, slightly shiny, and lightweight. Sometimes referred to by Hermès collectors as "VGL," Veau Grain Lisse has less angular and rounded grains. This leather is stiff and holds its shape quite well.
Hermès Courchevel
Discontinued in bags in the late 1990s and early 2000s. 
Used in accessories until 2003. Embossed leather. Courchevel was the predecessor of Epsom, and is now completely retired. Courchevel is a printed leather with a very uniform grain throughout. Courchevel has a slightly shiny sheen and is darker at the top of the grain. It is lightweight, scratch-resistant, and easy to clean.
Hermès Grain d'H
Released in 2012. Veau Grain d'H is a leather 
Printed and textured calfskin with a finely textured, pressed look and luster. Veau Grain d'H is a shiny leather with a crosshatch embossing.
Hermès Swift
Released in 2006 (formerly called Gulliver which was discontinued in 1999). The Swift skin is semi 
Smooth , soft, semi-matte. Swift is a soft leather with a fine grain. One of its best qualities is that it absorbs dyes very well, and the most vibrant colors come to life in this leather. The fine grain seems to reflect light in such a way that the colors almost appear to change color.
Hermès Box Calfskin
Classic smooth calfskin. The box is rigid, smooth, and highly polished. 
This leather has a visible fine grain, a stiffer structure than grained leathers. The leather will show scratches more than textured leathers, but over time it will develop a beautiful, mirror-like patina. With proper care, Box calfskin can last for generations. Hermès fans love Box leather because it can be restored by Hermès, regardless of condition, in the "Hermès Spa." This is the oldest type of Hermès leather and often appears in Kelly bags or vintage belts. The name comes from an English shoemaker from 1890, Joseph Box.
Hermès Chamonix
Chamonix is a variant of the skin 
Smooth calfskin, which has very similar properties to box calfskin, but is matte rather than shiny. Often paired with white stitching. It is distinguished by the natural "Hermès Made in France" blind stamps instead of the usual printing technique. Chamonix is often used on the underside of leather belts and leather jewelry.
Hermès Barenia
Barenia is buttery smooth and has a matte finish. 
Like "Chamonix," it is often paired with a white top stitch and is commonly distinguished by the natural "Hermès Made in France" blind stamps. Barenia is commonly used in saddles, small leather goods, and occasionally handbags. Barenia is very delicate and prone to scratches. Barenia is also a softer leather, and handbags will lose their shape after a while. This leather is double-tanned with chromium and vegetable dyes and then immersed in a blend of nine different oils over a 5- to 6-week process. Barenia will develop a patina over time because it has no aniline finish and can absorb oil. Barenia may be available in colors other than Natural (also called Fauve)—such as Black, Olive Green, and Indigo.
Hermès Vache
This is another of Hermès' classic leathers, 
This type of leather appears in vintage pieces over 50 years old. It's a smooth, untreated, and very delicate cowhide. It develops a patina over time, darkening the material. Vache Natural, when new, appears very light. It's very similar to Louis Vuitton's vachetta leather. Available only in Natural and Black.
Hermès Tadelakt
Tadelakt calfskin is smooth and semi- glossy, almost like box leather. It's most commonly used in leather jewelry and small leather goods. Tadelakt is prone to scratches, a characteristic of the leather because the dye is transparent. Tadelakt resembles a cross between box calf and swift calf, appearing softer than box but shinier than swift. Furthermore, it has no visible grain, giving it a completely smooth and stunning appearance.
Hermès Vache Hunter
Natural Vache Hunter leather is a type of cowhide used primarily as a trim on Hermès bags such as the Etriviere and the Herbag. Vache Hunter is very stiff and prone to scratches. It typically has a rough, unfinished underside.
Hermès Evercalf
The soft, smooth matte version of Box calfskin. It has a smooth, velvety finish with no visible grain. Evercalf has a slight sheen and a softer texture than Box. Evercalf is VERY soft to the touch.
Hermès Chevre Leather
Made of goatskin. This leather is structured and therefore scratch-resistant, but it is also shiny and rigid. Ultra-lightweight. A very attractive leather, more expensive than calfskin. Bags made entirely of goatskin are very rare. The lining of Hermès bags is typically made of Marocain goatskin (Moroccan goatskin). There are two different varieties of goatskin: Mysore goatskin and Coromandel goatskin.
Hermès Chevre Mysore
Released in 2002. A goatskin with a more defined grain than its cousin, Coromandel goatskin. It is lightweight and scratch-resistant. Chevre has a pronounced sheen and reflects light very well. Mysore goatskin typically has no visible spine.
Hermès Goat of Coromandel
A soft, lightweight, and scratch-resistant goatskin, Chevre de Coromandel has a visible spine in the center, a slightly iridescent sheen, and a visible grain. Since spring 2008, Chevre de Coromandel is now available in "Souple," which has less visible spine, less sheen, and is much more flexible.
Hermès Vache Liège
Released in 2004, Vache Liegee is a natural grain leather. The leather is supposedly stretched in eight different directions and has a two-tone grain. It also has a subtle sheen and luster. Vache Liegee is known for being the thickest and most durable of Hermès leathers.
Hermès Ardenne
Vachette Grainee des Ardennes is a pressed leather obtained from a malf calf raised in the Adrenne region (northern France to southern Belgium). Ardennes leather is very sturdy and holds its shape surprisingly well, complete with large pressed grains and a light sheen. Vache Ardennes is quite dense and textured (it doesn't crease or bend) and is resistant to water and scratches. It doesn't have the "soft" feel of Clemence, and the grains are slightly raised. Many Hermès collectors consider this leather a "workhorse" and it can stand the test of time, but the dye tends to fade over time. This leather is very difficult to find and is no longer produced. Vache Liegee has replaced Ardennes leather.
Hermès Negonda
Released in 2007. Made of calfskin. 
Mature bull with a coarse grain. This type of matte leather is completely waterproof. It has a matte and dry feel. Negonda is primarily used for garden party bags.
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Hermès Buffalo
Water buffalo leather. This leather has the interesting characteristic of absorbing the darkest dye in the center of the grain. Buffalo is known for its softness and rough grain. Buffalo leather is currently used as a lining in some bags made primarily of fabric. Due to its water resistance, it is commonly used in bags like the Garden Party line.
Hermès Grizzly
Grizzly leather is a raw calfskin, also known as suede outside of the Hermès leather world. This suede has a velvety finish.
Hermès Veau Sikkim
Veau Sikkim leather is buttery soft. It has little to no grain, which gives it its ultra-soft feel. Sikkim leather tends to lose its shape and therefore softens very easily. Sikkim is used in the "Relax" versions of the Bolide and Kelly, as well as in the Double Sens bag.
Hermès Vache Trekking
Released in 2012, Vache Trekking is a textured calfskin leather distinguished by its compactness. It is primarily used for garden party bags.
Hermès Vibrato
People often confuse vibrato with fabric, but it's actually stacked leather. Vibrato leather is created by applying pressure to strips of leather and suede. The stacked leather creates a texture that resembles stacked leather cross-sections. Vibrato is difficult to maintain, but it is durable and scratch-resistant. It's a very rare leather and is considered more expensive than other leathers. Vibrato often comes with an "eraser" to renew the leather. Vibrato bags are very hard to find and showcase the highly skilled craftsmanship of Hermès.
Hermès Exotics
Nilotic Crocodile Matte and Glossy (Lisse)
Crocodile skin from the Nile River region of Africa in Zimbabwe. It has a larger scale pattern than the Porosus. Crocodile skins have small "pores," which look like small dimples in each cell of the scale. The dimples are sensory pores that help crocodiles detect changes in water pressure and locate their prey. Crocodiles have these spots throughout their bodies. The polished version (lisse) is created by continuously polishing until it displays a sheen. The Hermès emblem on the bag will include two apostrophes ('') to identify it as "Niloticus."
Crocodile Porosus Matt and Glossy (Lisse)
This crocodile is farmed in Australia and Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore. Considered by many to be the first Hermès leather, it is known for its exquisite symmetrical scale pattern. Its sheen comes from the leather's constant buffing with a stone until it shines. The Hermès logo will include the ^ symbol to identify it as "Porosus."
Hermès Matte and Shiny Alligator (Lisse)
The alligator that Hermès
The alligator skin is "Alligator Mississippiensis" and is farmed in Florida. Alligator skin has an umbilical scar, an irregular, elongated shape with a webbing pattern, often prominently placed on products to demonstrate the skin's authenticity. This means the alligator scale pattern is not uniform. Alligator skin has small, rectangular scales in the center and smaller, oval-shaped scales along the sides (shown here). Alligator skin is commonly dyed in a variety of colors. The Hermès logo will include a square symbol to identify it as "Alligator."
Varanus Salvator water monitor lizard
This stunning exotic is made from the skin of a water monitor lizard. Due to the skin's size, it is primarily used in 25cm Birkin bags, smaller handbags, and small leather goods. The smaller scales give this skin a sheen or iridescence. The Hermès logo will include an equals sign (=) to identify it as a water monitor lizard.
Varanus niloticus water monitor lizard
The small scales of this leather are taken from the Nile River monitor lizard in Africa. It provides a shiny appearance. The Hermès logo will include a dash (-) to identify that it was a Nile River monitor lizard.
Hermès Ostrich
Ostrich leather comes from Struthio camelus, raised in South Africa. This is a dynamic skin that will darken when touched and also lighten with exposure to light. Ostrich leather is known for its distinctive "polka-dotted" appearance, caused by plucking the quills. Ostrich skin is very delicate and rare.
Hermès Peau Porc
Made of pigskin and very lightweight. The pores are small, and this leather is typically caramel in color and develops a patina over time. This is one of Hermès' classic leathers, but it is no longer produced due to controversy over the use of pigskin.
Other Hermès materials
Hermès Linen
Linen woven in a herringbone or chevron pattern. Used in dust bags and some handbag linings.
Hermès Canvas
Linen, usually combined with leather for bags. The texture is similar in strength and appearance to fire hose material. Commonly used for garden party bags.
Hermès Canvas
Canvas is a heavy fabric that is treated and usually combined with other leathers. It is commonly used in herbag.