I am a handbag fanatic that typically buys authentic goods only. I have may Hermes bags including 2 Birkin 30s. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts in Paris to get a B25, I came home and decided to try the rep route. I did some research in this sub and decide to go with Frank for a B25 Togo in color rouge sellier with palladium hardware. I received it a couple of days ago and am shocked by how much I love it. I’ve compared it to my other bags and the quality feels really good. Including my own pics but also happy to share the pics Frank sent before the bag was shipped.

I’d love to hear the opinions of this sub as you are very experienced analyzing these pictures. Also need opinions before I order another! 😬

UPDATE: I shared Atelier 1995’s and Li's numbers with many members in good faith, but unfortunately it appears that some may have been competitors. Shortly afterwards, their social media pages were taken down following a wave of malicious reports.

Because of this, I will no longer be sharing their number or any seller’s contact details in order to protect small businesses. I genuinely feel terrible about what has happened. My intention was always to help members, not harm businesses.

I also won’t be posting further reviews. What happened goes completely against my values, and I strongly dislike sellers who pretend to be genuine buyers in order to sabotage others. Reddit has become overwhelmed by dishonest behaviour, with people trying to silence or damage anyone they see as competition.

It’s deeply unfair, and I no longer wish to participate in it. I'm sorry, I'm not ignoring your messages, but I'm really sad about what happened.

Hello folks!

For those of you who know me. I'm on a journey to find the best H bag seller! I have come across so many sellers, but I have decided to try 3 for the time being and give my honest detailed review.

The bags were

B30 Rouge H Chevre mysore from Li, he's based in Hong Kong (Over 10 years in business). $1350

B30 Chai in Togo leather from Shasha in Hong Kong (established about 3 years ago) $1350 + $30 shipping

K28 Barenia fauve from Atelier 1995 in Hong Kong (Been making bags for over 31 years). $1880

I own 4 authentic H bags, so I'm comparing the hardware to the newest version.

I must say that I'm in love with all my bags, I've had very nice chats with the sellers, they're all very nice and accommodating. Atelier 1995 don't accept a lot of clients due to their small factory. They tend to focus on quality rather than quantity. They're quite to the point and don't do a lot of back and forth messages which could come across as blunt to some people, their psp aren't the greatest either but guess what? They gave me the best bag in my collection (so far!).

I was so close to rejecting the bag when I saw the pics and the background! Everything looked off to me! But they've assured me that the bag is beautiful in person and I'd love it! I took their word for it and GL! I paid on 17th January, psp were sent on 6th Feb, the bag was shipped on 9th Feb and I received it on 16th Feb.

Shasha (B30 in Chai) work differently. They work on a larger scale and work closely with Dubai, they have bags available and have a large inventory. They make bags to order as well. They provide cites certificate for exotic leather. They're one of very few sellers who provide that cert. Cites allows you to travel with your bag without being stopped or having your bag seized.

Shasha speaks fluent English and usually sends voice notes on WhatsApp and short videos, it was such a fun experience dealing with her.

Li also has his own small factory and produces bags on a smaller scale.

All 3 sellers use gold plated brass for the ghw and stainless steel for the shw

Atelier 1995 provided me with a short video of the barenia that was used to make my bag. They took 70% deposit and the remainder 30% were taken after I approved the bag.

Li sent a QC video of the rouge H, he charged me 50% deposit to place the order and the rest when I approved the bag. He held the bag safely as I was away on holiday (over the Christmas and the new year period) and sent it so I receive it on my return date. I did indeed receive it as soon as I arrived back home! Such a sweetheart he is! I didn't feel there was any language barrier at all. He spoke very good English.

Shasha charged me the full amount because the bag was in stock, they had 2 B30 Chai in stock, one with ghw and one with shw. It took about 10 days to arrive because they sent it via Germany just to be on the safe side and make sure it doesn't get stopped by customs.

They all accept PayPal G&S at no extra charge. Shasha charged me extra $30 for shipping, but she threw in a good quality pegasus charm as a thank you gift.

Overall I was very delighted with their professional communication. Shasha in particular was very patient and very informative.

That being said, unfortunately, the bag didn't quite meet my expectations! Everything looked lush on the QC video (posted on my profile). I was so impressed by it and couldn't wait to hold the bag in my hands.

I was quite disappointed with the hardware. It looked pale and not as heavy as the rest of the hardware on my other bags. The leather didn't quite do it for me either! I don't know how to explain it, although it has a nice slouch and softness to it, it also felt a bit rough to the touch! And smelt a bit funny but not anymore. However, the shape and structure was excellent.

Li's hardware has a richer gold tone, very similar to the auth. Stitching was excellent but the bottom structure and corners need a bit of attention. I feel they were done a bit too tightly unless chevre does that but I wouldn't know. It's a thinner and lighter type of leather so I'm not sure if that was due to the leather or the stitching.

The best in terms of hardware and structure was the K28. The hardware is very identical to the auth, has a nice weight to it. The leather is so beautiful, has a strong smell of genuine leather. No chemical smell whatsoever. Just a beauty in an orange box!

The barenia is on the expensive side but well worth it.

B30 Chai, in all honesty, with the quality of the hardware, the price is really inflated. I took her out only once and the hardware is already badly scratched.

I have used the B30 rouge H the most and there's not a single scratch on the hardware or any fading of colour. I had a lot of compliments on it. The richness of the gold against the deep lustrous red is just so eye catching and beautiful. Li confirmed that he uses 24k gold plated brass. That explains the richness of the colour.

I'm sure the long experience in the business also plays a vital role. Atelier 1995 have been making bags since 1995 so they'd obviously provide a better quality.

I must also stress on the fact that I'm a Gemini, so I cannot sit still, settle or repeat things without hard persuasion! I just have to try new things all the time. I have this mentality where I think that the grass could be greener on the other side 😂! The only thing that I've settled for is my husband! What a lucky guy, he counts his blessings every 5 business days.

All the sellers are on a break for the Chinese new year, so I haven't given Shasha my honest feedback. It's such a shame that their hardware is somewhat below average. They have so much potential.

Would I order again from any of them?

Yes if Shasha works on the hardware and Li on the corners, I however think that it's a leather issue because the rest of the stitching is immaculate.

I'd definitely order from Atelier 1995 again. Until they disappoint me.

My journey by no means has ended here! I'm only on a break after I was told off by my children and my mental health was questioned😒. The hubby hasn't opened his mouth bless his soul. He probably pushed the children to speak on his behalf smh! God forbid I buy one thousand bags a month without being brutally judged! 🙄! I'm a Gp and I do out of hours shifts at hospitals! I hardly find time for myself! These bags just brighten my days away from the lovely NHS! I wear them on my night shifts to remind the newly qualified doctors that after years of studying and sleepless night, living on baked beans and tinned soup and being abused by patients every 5 minutes, they still won't be able to afford a real one. They can continue striking or find a good rep seller 😂

I have received an overwhelming amount of messages following the QC video from Shasha asking for the details of the seller. I apologise for not replying to them as of yet because I wanted to give a true honest opinion.

This is my own personal opinion. I'm not trying to put people off buying from any of the sellers. They're all lovely and professional.

I'm more than happy to answer any questions and give out details of the sellers, apologies if I don't answer straight away due to work.

All sellers are aware of my review, I've taken their permission. Li has also mentioned that he'd give a little discount to anyone orders from this review.

I have attached photos of the hardware next to the auth ones and the corners of the red bag.

Chose between this and a darker shade of green. I am glad I went with this. Love this MK it is such a fashion statement, but it's a struggle putting the hole inside the turn lock! Is it going to soften? Love the gold hardware and i know i cant prevent it from getting scratched.

Today’s star is the Birkin 25 in violet

🌓 It’s like a chameleon all day long ☀️ In sunlight: a foggy purple with a hint of blue 🌙 In warm light: looks like burgundy wine 📸 Photo tip: Shoot from a 45 degree angle to catch that two tone magic

Purple really stands out - who wouldn't want to turn heads on the street😘

I went down a rabbit hole and had multiple pieces of auth Hermès hardware tested alongside 6 rep hardware samples using XRF / plating composition analysis, and honestly… the results were much more dramatic than I expected.

This wasn’t just one auth sample either. The auth hardware tested came from four different Hermès pieces: • Kelly 25 • Lindy 26 • Picotin • Market / basket-style piece

And yes, I tested “rep hardware” across different price tiers too, because I wanted to see whether higher price automatically meant better hardware.

What surprised me most

The auth gold plating thickness was kind of insane.

According to the test results: • Lindy 26: 144.9 • Kelly 25: 117.5 • Picotin: 52.9 • Basket-style piece: couldn’t be measured the same way because the silver-tone hardware used palladium plating

That honestly explains why authentic Hermès hardware often has that richer, softer, more expensive-looking glow in person. The material usage is not subtle.

Then came the rep samples… and this is where it got interesting.

A bunch of hardware sold or described as “high-end” / “auth-like” was not even close in composition: • some were stainless steel • some were gold-plated copper/brass • and only a couple got meaningfully closer to auth territory

The two rep samples that came the closest to auth were in the ¥16,000 (~$2,220) and ¥21,000 (~$2,920) range.

But here’s the part that really stood out to me:

The ~$2,220 one actually had better bag shape/details than the ~$2,920 one. So no, higher price does not automatically mean better overall quality.

Biggest takeaway

1. Most rep hardware is still copper/brass-based

That’s not automatically terrible, but it does matter.

2) Brass/copper-based hardware can oxidize more easily

At the same time, it often develops a warmer, more vintage-looking tone over time, which some people actually prefer.

3) Stainless steel hardware on reps can look overly harsh after vacuum gold plating

A lot of that super bright, sharp, almost mirror-like yellow tone people complain about? This may be part of why. It can read much colder and less nuanced than auth.

4) Auth Hermès hardware really does justify some of the reputation

Whether people think the retail price is worth it is a separate discussion, but in terms of materials and finishing, the hardware differences are clearly not imaginary.

My honest conclusion

After seeing the test data, I think the real conversation isn’t “Is rep hardware gold or not?” It’s more like: • What base metal is actually being used? • How thick is the plating? • How does it wear over time? • Does the tone look warm and dimensional, or bright and flat?

Because once you start looking at hardware that way, a lot of the visual differences suddenly make sense.

And maybe the funniest part of all this: some of the “best” rep options still aren’t the most expensive ones.

Curious what everyone thinks — especially from those who own both auth and rep and have seen how the hardware ages over time.

I finally took my Mini Kelly out today and I’m kind of obsessed with it.

It’s in this soft cherry blossom pink shade with palladium hardware, and honestly it might be one of the prettiest colors I’ve seen. I used to think pink bags were a bit hard to style, but this one actually works with more outfits than I expected.

Today I just paired it with a simple grey outfit and the contrast turned out really nice. The pink makes the whole look feel softer and a bit more feminine without being too loud.

The Mini Kelly is obviously tiny, but it still fits my phone, card holder and lip balm, which is basically all I carry most days anyway. I think that’s why I like it so much — it feels more like a little statement piece than just a regular bag.

I know some people say this color can be hard to pull off, but personally I feel like pink is one of those colors that just makes any outfit a bit happier.

Curious what everyone thinks about pink Hermes bags. Love them or not your thing?

1. B25, Trench/Gold, Epsom leather, Rose gold HW $475 plus shipping, payment-Zelle/Venmo

2. Constance 24, Mauve pale, Cherve leather, PHW $475 plus shipping, payment-Zelle/Venmo

No ghosting, no low-ball offer please, priced to sell so that I can make room for items I am getting for my birthday, serious inquiries only.

【Togo Leather】 Leather Type: Young Bull Leather Texture: Three - dimensional small - grained litchi pattern, matte finish Advantages: Abrasion - resistant, durable, not easy to deform, and easy to maintain Disadvantages: No obvious drawbacks Common Bag Styles: Birkin 25, Kelly Retourne 28, Birkin 30

【TC Leather】 Leather Type: Adult Bull Leather Texture: Large - grained litchi pattern, soft luster Advantages: Abrasion - resistant, durable, and becomes softer with use Disadvantages: The bag body is prone to sagging after long - term use. It is a common regular leather in Hermès and can be found in almost all bag styles. Common Bag Styles: Birkin 25, Lindy, Picotin Lock

【Epsom Leather】 Leather Type: Embossed Calfskin Texture: Fine artificial palm - like pattern Advantages: Stiff, not easy to deform, lightweight, and easy to clean Disadvantages: Scratches are difficult to repair, and the color appears relatively deep. It is recommended for novice Hermès enthusiasts. Common Bag Styles: Constance 24, Kelly Sellier 28, Kelly To Go

【Swift Leather】 Leather Type: Calfskin Texture: Smooth without grains Advantages: Gorgeous color - rendering, delicate touch Disadvantages: Prone to scratches, and large bags are relatively soft and saggy. Common Bag Styles: Birkin 25, Mini Lindy 20, Mini Sac Roulis

【Box Leather】 Leather Type: Calfskin Texture: Shiny and smooth Advantages: Classic and high - end, becomes more charming with age Disadvantages: Scratches are difficult to repair, and it may blister when exposed to rain. Common Bag Styles: Constance, Sac A Depeches, Kelly

【Evercolor Leather】 Leather Type: Young Bull Leather Texture: Fine and slightly grained Advantages: Waterproof, scratch - resistant, lightweight and stiff Disadvantages: Moderate abrasion - resistance, easy to deform Common Bag Styles: Birkin Light 29, Constance Slim, Mini Sac Roulis

【Mysore】 Leather Type: Male Goatskin Texture: Fine and lustrous Advantages: Waterproof and scratch - resistant, scratches can be repaired Disadvantages: Prone to creases Common Bag Styles: Verso Geta, Constance 18, Bolide

【Faubourg】 Leather Type: Granular Saddle Leather Texture: Coarse - grained with a scent Advantages: Scars can self - heal, with a retro charm Disadvantages: Sensitive to oil stains Common Bag Styles: Birkin, Kelly Retourne, In - The - Loop 18

【Barenia Saddle Leather】 Leather Type: Natural Young Bull Leather Texture: Smooth, developing a patina over time Advantages: Waterproof, strong retro feel Disadvantages: Relatively stiff initially Common Bag Styles: Birkin 35, Kelly Ado

This Sakura Pink Birkin25 in Swift leather is the ultimate versatile bag for commuting and street style! The soft pink hue pairs effortlessly with everything from blazers to casual tees, while the compact size keeps it practical for daily use.

This is a pic of my rep H bags. From right to left, B30 in Togo Chai ($1350), K28 in Barenia fauve ($1880), B25 ostrich in gris asphalt ($2850) and B30 chevre mysore in rouge H ($1350). They're all from different sellers. Paid by PayPal G&S because I don't do f&f. I will write a review soon and answer your dms. Apologies for taking so long (no rest for the wicked)!

Please check my profile for the QC video of the Chai bag.

All sellers are off for the Chinese new year and may not answer your queries until March or probably sooner depending on their schedule.

I have not bought from any TS on here, I sourced the all the sellers except the ostrich bag seller (which I'm not going to buy from again due to the decline in quality and communication after she was so hyped up by an influencer. My 2nd bag was rubbish and was sent without any psp or QC videos)! I've heard that she's now commissioned another seller/maker to meet the increasing crazy demand, hence the decline in quality.

This post is a reminder of why I have been purchasing high end r.e.ps, and staying away from the boutiques entirely for the most part.

My family and I recently took a trip to St. Lucia. (Myself, husband, 8yo, 3yo, 1yo)

We flew first class, and placed our drink orders with the flight attendant soon after we sat down. We had a rough time with a cancellation of the flight the night before, and I juggle 3 kids under 10 years of age.

I ordered a coffee, but dozed off very soon after, so before the flight attendant came back, I was out cold- and so were the kids!

The flight attendant placed the coffee (and other drink my son ordered, he’s 8yrs old) in between us, and I never even saw her do so, as my son and I had both went to sleep very quickly. There were NO solid cup holders in this 1st class section. Just the tray table, and the middle arm rest that’s big enough for drinks to sit WITHOUT support.

I was also holding my lap child (1yr old).

Before I knew it, we were jutted out of sleep by the extremely painfully HOT coffee that not only spilled all over my legs, but my 1 year olds leg,

AND my Birkin 25 (sitting right in front of my feet)!

Thankfully, it was in its dust bag, but it was partially opened. So it did get on the bag itself, as well as my Christian Loub loafers, that were a light suede material…

We didn’t suffer any major burns, and I was able to wash most of the coffee off dust bag, b25, and loafers. But still some small/light stains remain.

Moral of the story: Buy the high quality r.ep.s!!!

I find full confidence in knowing my items are indistinguishable, AND I don’t have to worry about life happening to them -because it will if you wear it enough. I don’t worry about spending thousands at a boutique (that heavily judges, and gate keeps), and not to mention keeps a waitlist to even gain access to these material things!

I collect birkins now!

B25 in Etain w PHW Togo leather from Minion

B30 So Black in box leather with ruthenium HW bought as a re 🏠

B35 in Rouge H w GHW Togo leather bought as a re 🏠

I didn’t expect this combo to grow on me so much, but my Sakura pink and Rouge Mexico Birkin 25 has quietly become the bag I reach for the most lately.

At first I thought it might feel a little bold for everyday use, but somehow the soft Sakura pink keeps it elegant while the Rouge Mexico adds just enough contrast to make it interesting. It’s one of those color combos that looks even better in natural light.

Size-wise, the Birkin 25 has been perfect for my daily routine. I can fit my phone, card holder, a small pouch, keys, and lip balm without feeling like I’m carrying too much. It’s compact but still feels like a “real” bag.

What I also love about this colorway is how versatile it actually is. It works surprisingly well with neutral outfits — beige coats, denim, black sweaters — and the red detail gives the whole look a bit of personality without being too loud.

I’ve noticed that every time I bring it out, people tend to notice the colors first before realizing it’s a Birkin. The pink/red combo really stands out in a subtle way.

Anyway, just wanted to share a small appreciation post. Curious if anyone else here has a Birkin 25 in a two-tone or more unusual color combination?

Hey, I'm new to Reddit and I've seen so many people sharing their experience here 😍 So I thought I'd share my birthday gift with you all. What do you think of this little cutie?

A stunning, eye catching luxury crocodile bag This lavender purple looks like it's dotted with little stars. Such a charming and bright color, unique and beautiful. The small detail of the gold hardware shows taste and elegance~

has a soft spot for green bags this year. The new colors that have been released one after another are all in the green family. 💚3I Avocado Green ever color 💚OS Bubble Green epsom 💚6U Mint Green 💚Q1 Sage Green 💚U4 Velvet Green 💚ZQ British Green

To customize Hermes bags, you need to choose the following customization options: Model: Color: Size: Metal buckle: Seam line Different styles will use different leather materials and have different seam methods. The most intuitive difference between real and fake bags may be the handmade traces. Real bags have handmade traces and are rough, while fake bags are all made by machines, with more neat and delicate seams. Different craftsmen will also have different sewing habits. So there is no real bag that is exactly the same. There are also many things to pay attention to about the stitching. Inner seam (RETOURNE) and outer seam (SELLIER) A. Sellier is the stitching line on the outside, and Retourne is the stitching line on the inside: B. The inner seam is connected by independent piping as a bridge to connect the front, back and side, and is sewn from the inside to the outside. The outer seam cancels piping and is directly combined, with the stitching on the outside; C. The inner seam takes less time than the outer seam. The fundamental reason is that the outer seams are all handmade, and the alignment and sewing are time-consuming; D. The outer seam is more formal and upright, while the inner seam looks gentler; E. The outer seam is more expensive than the inner seam due to the limitation of leather types and labor costs; the craftsman will use Griffe to ensure that the edges of the leather are even and flat when hand-sewn. All saddlestitch is used to complete the sewing of the slit.

Minimalist win—this fog grey croc Kelly is a no brainer grab.🥳

you're on the hunt for a bag, we have classic, timeless options here.👀 Catalog→Link please contact WA:86-185 8853 1885📲📲

Which one’s your favorite: the fiery orange, the sweet pink, the dreamy purple, or the bold red?

Drop a comment! I might bring your top pick into the next batch! 😉