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THE KELLY bag developed further to a more boxy, elegant of the Princess. Like all Hermès bags, each Kel-
BAG IS NOW A ladies bag which could be fastened with one ly is made by hand by the same craftsman who
STATUS SYMBOL. hand and stand on it’s own little feet. The birth signs it with an identification number so that
ORIGINALLY A of the myth goes back to the origins of the Fren- it is always possible to trace he who produced
SADDLE HOLDER, IT ch maison: the handbag was originally designed it. The seams are made with the classic saddler
WAS REDESIGNED as a saddle-case bag (sac haut à courroie) to use stitch carried out by using cross-needles. This
SEVERAL TIMES during hunting trips. On that, Emile-Maurice savoir faire guarantees the maximum strength
BEFORE IT WAS
POPULARIZED Hermès, grandson of the founder of the Maison, of the seams. Today, Kelly is declined in various
BY AND THEN Thierry Hermès, decided to intervene: in 1930, sizes, from mini Kelly to Kelly 40 and every se-
NAMED AFTER he reduced its size and transformed into an ele- ason it comes in different colours and precious
THE ACTRESS AND gant woman’s bag. leathers, like the ostrich, crocodile, lizard, calf
MONEGASQUE Chic and elegance, but also comfort and practi- and many more. Unlike the Kelly Sellier, the Kelly
PRINCESS GRACE cality, due to its trapezoidal shape with rigid bot- Retourne has a softer feel because, once finished
KELLY. tom protected by four little feet. It is the perfect the step of sewing, the bag is completely folded
bag for travelling and, as real luggage, it has lock back (such as a glove) so that the seams remain
and padlock, which characterizes it still today. It inside. Its metallic lock has become an emblem
was 1956 when Grace Kelly, pregnant Carolina, of the House and an inspiration for many other
unwilling to make official the news, tried to hide products. Dedicated to the most elegant and
her belly to photographers with this bag. All new- charming woman of the last century, the Hermès
spapers reported that photo, which had an enor- Kelly bag continues to make the women of the
mous impact and marked the beginning of the world dream: it is an object of desire, not only
success of “Kelly”, an international success never to wear, but above all to collect and pass on to
denied. Since then, the bag was renamed by the future generations.
fashion house with the name of Kelly in honour www.italy.hermes.com

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