The Hermès Bolide Bag: The Original Travel Bag
Learn how the Hermès Bolide Bag set the standard for luxury travel with its innovative design and its lasting influence on modern luxury bags.
Hermès Bolide Inspiration From an Unlikely Source
The Hermès Bolide bag is not just a handbag; it is a piece of history that revolutionized luxury travel accessories. Its origins trace back to 1916, when Émile-Maurice Hermès, the grandson of the fashion house's founder, embarked on a trip to North America. During his visit to Henry Ford's automobile factory, he encountered an innovative fastening mechanism—the zipper. Recognizing its potential, Hermès secured exclusive rights to use the zipper on leather goods in France and, in 1923, introduced the first handbag to feature a zipper closure: the Bolide. Originally named "le sac pour l'auto," it was designed as the ultimate companion for automobile travel, catering to the growing demand for elegant yet functional travel accessories. Later renamed "Bolide," a term derived from a 16th-century French word for a comet, the bag paid homage to the burgeoning sports car industry and the excitement of modern travel.
From its inception, the Bolide bag was designed for transcontinental journeys, aligning with Hermès’ broader range of travel essentials, including driving gloves, custom trunks, and road map wallets. Over the decades, the Hermès Bolide bag has remained a staple of the brand, maintaining its reputation for sophistication and utility.
Signature Features of the Hermès Bolide
The Bolide's design is a harmonious blend of practicality and elegance. Its signature dome shape offers a streamlined, aerodynamic aesthetic, reminiscent of the sleek automobiles that inspired its creation. The bag features a single zipper closure for security, a removable shoulder strap for versatility, and a distinctive oval leather patch on the exterior, traditionally used for monogramming. Inside, the Bolide offers a spacious compartment, ensuring ample storage for travel essentials.
The bag is available in two structural variations: the Mou and Rigide styles. The Mou variation is crafted from soft, pliable leather, giving it a relaxed, slouchy silhouette, ideal for a casual yet chic appearance. In contrast, the Rigide style features firmer leather construction, maintaining an upright and structured form, offering a more polished and refined look.
Materials, Sizes, and Colors of the Hermès Bolide
The Hermès Bolide bag is commonly made from Clemence, Epsom, and Sikkim leather, each offering unique qualities. Clemence, one of Hermès’ most sought-after leathers, is soft, supple, and resistant to scratches, making it a popular choice. Epsom leather, a lightweight embossed calfskin, is durable and maintains its structured form with minimal maintenance. Sikkim leather is exceptionally soft and smooth, lending itself well to the Mou variation’s relaxed shape. For those seeking an exotic touch, the Bolide is also available in luxurious materials such as alligator and crocodile. Some versions incorporate mixed materials, including leather trims with pony hair or Toile canvas, adding unique textural contrasts.
The Bolide is available in four sizes: 27 cm, 31 cm, 35 cm, and 45 cm. The 45 cm variation is particularly favored for travel, offering ample space while maintaining an air of understated luxury. Additionally, Hermès’ mastery of color ensures that the Bolide is offered in a vast array of hues, from timeless neutrals to bold, eye-catching shades.
Newest Hermès Bolide
Hermès first released the Bolide On Wheels in 2022. It's whimsical design with luggage style wheels is nod to its history as a travel bag. The Bolide On Wheels retails for $15,900 and is selling on the secondary market for about $25,000 for a store fresh version. In 2023, Hermès introduced a new Bolide called the 1923 Bolide 25 en Desordre. It has a an exterior pocket and the oval exterior patch has been relocated to the bottom and is angled. Sotheby's sold a Bleu Saphir Epsom Bolid on Wheels Palldium Hardware for 20,320 USD in December 2023.
Hermès Bolide Secret
Hermès has continuously reimagined the Bolide, offering limited editions that push the boundaries of creativity. In 2015, the Bolide Secret was unveiled as part of the Hermès Fall/Winter collection. This variant introduced a hidden external pocket and a separate bottom compartment with a double-zipper closure, enhancing security and organization for valuables such as passports and jewelry.
Hermès Bolide Special Editions
Over the years, the Bolide has been a canvas for artistic and whimsical reinterpretations. Notable designs include the Shark Monster Bolide, featuring playful, animated motifs, and the 1923 Baseball Bolide 45, which pays tribute to vintage sports culture. The Barénia Osier woven rattan Bolide 25 showcases Hermès' dedication to craftsmanship, combining handwoven elements with luxurious leather. Another standout is the Bolide 1923 Chimeres Dragon, featuring embroidered dragon motifs created using a specialized tufting technique directly applied to the leather. The Au Bout Du Monde Bolide 1923 is an exquisite blend of premium leathers, incorporating Swift, Box, Alligator, Lizard, Sombrero, and Chèvre in a striking mix of deep blues, greens, and noir shades.
Hermès continues to innovate while honoring the Bolide’s legacy. The Tricolor Bolide 1923, introduced in the Spring/Summer 2022 collection, brought a fresh twist to the classic design, featuring three contrasting hues on the body, zipper, clochette, and leather trim. This vibrant interpretation reflects Hermès’ ability to balance tradition with contemporary trends, making the Bolide a perennial favorite among collectors and fashion enthusiasts alike.
Nearly a century after its introduction, the Hermès Bolide remains a testament to the brand's commitment to innovation, luxury, and functionality. What began as a pioneering travel bag inspired by the early automotive industry has evolved into a timeless icon, beloved by collectors and travelers alike. Whether in its classic form or as a daring special edition, the Bolide continues to embody the spirit of adventure and elegance, ensuring its place in the pantheon of luxury handbags for generations to come.
Advantages to Buying Hermès on the Secondary Market
1. Access
Sotheby's is able to provide access to a curated selection of Hermès bags from its long established global network of sellers. Sotheby's is a leading global marketplace that offers pristine Hermès bags in the most popular colors, materials and sizes along with rare Himalayan and Limited Edition Hermès bags. Our handbag specialists are always sourcing the more desirable Hermès bags from collectors around the world. Sotheby's also sells incredible private collections that include one of a kind Hermès bags.
2. Flexibility
Sotheby's provides multiple ways to purchase bags including auction, online, and in person in New York, Hong Kong, Zurich, Paris and London. Sotheby's also offers a concierge service if you need assistance sourcing a specific Hermès bag that isn't available at auction or online.
3. Value
While Hermès bags in pristine condition sell at a premium to retail, Sotheby's has bags for purchase at auction and marketplace in a range of the most desirable colors and materials. Secondary marketplaces like Sotheby's allow a buyer to purchase a store fresh pristine Hermès bag with the original box and all plastic still on the hardware without waiting for a call from an Hermès sales associate. While it is possible to purchase a Hermès Bag at a boutique, it is hard to predict how long it will take. Additionally if you don't have an existing relationship at the store, it is even harder to pick the exact bag including size, color and hardware. In many cases you may be offered a Hermès bag that may not be your desired color or size. Buyers also come to Sotheby's since they want to purchase more than two Hermès bags in a year. While we encourage you to build a relationship with an Hermès Sales Associate, Sotheby's can save you time when purchasing a Hermès.
4. Discovery
One of the best parts of a global luxury marketplace is discovering unique one of a kind Hermès or rare limited edition Hermès bags that are no longer available at Hermès. Sotheby's curated selection changes regularly and each auction has a unique selection of Hermès bags. You are likely to discover something new to you from Hermès.
Buy and Sell Hermès Bolide Bags at Sotheby's
Sotheby's always has a curated selection of the top Hermès bags available for immediate shipping. Sotheby's also sells Hermès bags at auction in New York, Paris, Zurich and Hong Kong. Expect to find rare and collectible Birkin and Kelly bags in every sale in addition to other popular Hermès bags in pristine condition in the newest colors and classic neutrals. Sotheby's handbag sales include rare and limited edition Hermès bags in exotic materials, custom color combinations and even diamond hardware.
Prices for entry level Hermès bags range from $3,000 to $5,000 for the Herbag, Garden Party and Evelyne TPM. Prices for the most sought after Birkin and Kelly bags start at around $20,000 and can exceed $100,000 for the rarest and most desirable limited edition Birkin or Kelly bags.
- Explore upcoming handbag auctions in New York, London, Switzerland, Paris, and Hong Kong.
- Speak to a Salon Associate in New York, Zurich, London, Paris, or Hong Kong to schedule an appointment.
- Contact a Handbag Specialist about selling an Hermès bag or submit your item here for valuation.
Trust our worldwide network of leading handbag specialists from a globally renowned auction house established in 1744.
