It’s hard to overstate the importance of the Hermès Himalaya on fashion and art. Only a handful of these handbags are made each year, meaning demand far outstrips supply. Influential celebrities tote these beautiful handbags around, adding to their value as the ultimate status symbol. Various Himalaya bags have broken records by being the most expensive handbag to ever be sold at auction, earning them a reputation as the rarest, most sought-after bags in the world.

A Collector's Piece

In 2017, the world record of the most expensive bag ever sold was broken with a Matte White Himalaya Birkin 30 featuring diamond-encrusted hardware, selling for around $412,500. A few years later, a 2019 Matte White Himalaya Niloticus Retourne Kelly 25 with Palladium hardware was sold for around $437,300, breaking the record again.

The appetite for these handbags has soared during the pandemic perhaps because, as Carrie Bradshaw famously said, “I like my money right where I can see it: hanging in my closet.” Due to the insatiable appetite for these pieces of art, the price is likely to continue to rise, making the Hermès Himalaya a better investment than gold. The rarity, exquisite material, delicate process of dyeing and the level of artistry that goes into a Himalaya are the reason why these handbags are the most desirable in the world.

The History of the Himalaya

The idea for the Hermès Himalaya originated in the 1990s with the Vert Celadon Natura, an extremely scarce and beautiful colorway of green to brown gradation, only ever produced in the Kelly bag line. At the time of its release, it was almost impossible to remove the natural pigment from a bag, and the natural color of the skin can be seen on the bag. Hermès continued to refine and revisit its gradation processes over time. In the late 2000s, Hermès created the White Himalaya Birkins and Kellys, made of matte Niloticus Crocodile, denoted with a “..” diaeresis symbol next to the bag’s Hermès stamp. A later addition to the collection was the Matte Gris Cendré Himalayan. Himalayas are still being produced–in very minimal numbers–and we have a brand new 2021 edition in stock, here.

The Himalaya is named after the majesty of the mountain range. Its ombre smoky greys and browns fade to pure white, evoking the extraordinary beauty of the rocky, snow-capped landscape of this region. The most coveted versions of this bag are the ones where the brown is pronounced and subtly gradated.

The delicate beauty of the White Himalaya is the result of Hermès mastering this dyeing technique. Artisans pick the lightest skins to process before embarking on a lengthy process of dry salting, cleaning, liming, pickling, tanning, shaving, degreasing and re-tanning until the skin is ready for dyeing. Achieving the pure white color and subtle gradation seen on this bag is known to an exceptionally difficult and time-consuming process and remains a well-guarded secret. This alliance of exquisite materials and Hermès craftsmanship makes the Himalaya a true piece of art.

“The Himalaya is named after the majesty of the mountain range. Its ombre smoky greys and browns fade to pure white, evoking the extraordinary beauty of the rocky, snow-capped landscape of this region."

The Rarest Handbag in the World: The Himalaya Kelly

The Himalaya Birkin, available in 25 and 30 centimeters, was instantly adored by collectors. In response to the enormous demand, Hermès crafted a very limited number of Himalaya Kelly too, in 28 and 35 centimeters. The Himalaya Kelly is arguably the most beautiful Kelly ever made. Meticulous coloration in combination with the timeless elegance of the Kelly transforms it into a piece of art.

Hermès sustains its exclusivity by crafting a very limited number of its iconic handbags. Master artisans employ labor-intensive methods to produce handbags in a process that can take several days. This dramatically impacts the number of bags produced, and that is especially true for the Himalaya Kelly, which is made in extremely limited numbers.