How Long Does it Take to Make a Hermes bag

A single artisan usually spends ~15–40 hours crafting one Hermès bag, depending on the model, size, leather, and construction. A Birkin can take up to ~40 hours; a Kelly is often ~15–20 hours (about 4 hours just to build the handle). “Some handbags take ~25 hours,” and Hermès stresses that one artisan makes a bag from start to finish.

Below, we break down real reported hour ranges “according to” trusted sources, explain why the work takes that long, and show how you can enjoy the same craftsmanship without the wait—via our Philip Karto Hermès Recycled & Upcycled pieces.

The quick version (for skimmers)

• Birkin: up to ~40 hours, according to Christie’s. 

• Kelly: ~15–20 hours (≈ 4 hours only for the handle), according to CBS 60 Minutes and Vanity Fair.

• Constance: ~14–18 hours, according to Sotheby’s.
  

• General benchmark: “Some handbags take 25 hours… Every artisan makes their product from start to finish,” according to Vogue Business (Louviers workshop).

This handwork—plus years of training and controlled workshop growth—explains why demand exceeds supply and why the icons are boutique-managed, not mass-produced.

Read more: Buying a Hermès Bag in 2025: The Smartest Places (Why Philip Karto)

Why the hours matter

Hermès does not build bags on an assembly line. Instead, one artisan cuts, prepares, stitches, shapes, glazes, and finishes the piece. That imposes a natural daily output limit. The brand’s signature saddle stitch uses two needles crossing in each hole; done properly, a seam won’t unravel even if one thread snaps—one reason vintage pieces survive decades of use.

Time isn’t just labor—it’s quality control. Parts are aligned to fractions of a millimeter; edges are skived and glazed; hardware is set carefully; and the bag is shaped under pressure so it holds its form.

Reported craft hours by model (with sources)

Birkin

“It takes a single expert craftsperson up to 40 hours to produce a Birkin.” — Christie’s.

Kelly

“The Kelly… takes up to 20 hours to complete,” and features 36 pieces of leather — Vanity Fair.
“The Kelly… can take 20 hours to complete—four hours for just the handle.” — CBS 60 Minutes.

Constance

“It takes an Hermès artisan 14–18 hours to create a Constance.” — Sotheby’s.

General benchmark (across models)

“Some handbags take 25 hours to make… Every artisan makes their product from start to finish.” — Vogue Business (Louviers workshop). 

Note: Exact hours vary by size (e.g., B25 vs B35), leather (Epsom vs Togo vs Barénia), construction (Sellier vs Retourne), and exotics, which often need extra finishing time.

Read more: is hermes bag a good investment

Table: Estimated Hermès Craft Times (guide, not a promise)

These are reported ranges from reputable sources; your bag’s build time can differ by size/leather/construction.

Read more: How to Authenticate a Hermès Bag

What fills those hours?

1) The hand saddle stitch

Unlike lockstitch machines, the saddle stitch passes two needles through each hole; the thread is waxed, tensioned, and locked by hand. Properly executed, a broken thread does not spell disaster for the seam. This is central to the brand’s durability claims.

2) Many parts, zero shortcuts

A Kelly includes 36 pieces of leather, plus numerous hardware components, all cut, skived, and assembled by one person. The handle alone can require ~4 hours of shaping and stitching.

3) Edge work and glazing

After stitching, edges are dyed and glazed multiple times, with drying periods and re-burnishing in between. This is painstaking but gives that clean, resilient edge you see on Sellier builds.

4) Fitting, pressing, forming

Panels are molded and pressed into the final silhouette. Sellier (outside stitching/edge) builds are typically more time-intensive to finish cleanly than Retourne (inside-out turned) builds.

Who makes them (and why training slows scale)

Hermès runs L’École Hermès des savoir-faire, an in-house apprenticeship pipeline (accredited in France) that feeds artisans into regional leather goods workshops. Coverage indicates ~200 apprentices per year can be trained from 2023, and reporting from the Financial Times notes around 18 months of training before artisans produce saleable work. This is why opening a new workshop doesn’t translate to instant volume.

Hermès recently opened new workshops (e.g., Louviers, Normandy) to grow capacity while keeping craft unchanged—and reiterated that each product is made start to finish by one artisan.

Read more: Why Are Hermès Bags So Expensive? 11 Real Reasons (Craft, Scarcity, Resale)

Time, availability, and price (how they connect)

• Build time (e.g., 20–40 hours) is only one constraint. Training, workshop layouts, QA, and boutique allocation policies also shape what’s available on any given day.

• Hermès confirms Kelly/Birkin/Constance are sold exclusively in stores; that controlled access preserves quality and pricing discipline. If you see “new” quota bags widely sold online by unknown sellers, be skeptical.

Care over decades: the “spa”

Because seams are robust and leathers are thick, after-sales makes sense: Hermès runs official maintenance and repair via boutiques—restitching, reglazing, color touch-ups, and more. This support turns the original build hours into decades of use. 

Love the craft but don’t want to wait? Our Philip Karto path

We share your respect for Hermès workmanship. That’s why we build on authentic Hermès foundations through two circular options:

• Hermès Recycled (restored/refreshed): We re-engineer edges and glazing, refresh leatherwork, and return the piece to crisp, wearable condition—in our own Private LAB.

• Hermès Upcycled (one-of-one): We artistically reimagine authentic foundations into unique pieces—keeping heritage materials in circulation while giving you a bag that’s truly yours.

On our site, the Hermès collection and individual Hermès recycled pages state clearly that our recycled & upcycled bags are hand-made in the U.S. and 100% authentic and certified. We publish specs up front (size, color, hardware), and many pieces are ready now—so you enjoy the craft today, not “someday.” 

Explore: [Hermès Recycled] and [Hermès Upcycled] on our website.

Buying tips (when hours actually matter to you)

1. Prefer clarity over mystery. Whether you choose boutique, secondary, or us, ask for complete specs and macro photos.

2. Sellier vs Retourne. If you like sharp edges and structure (often more time-consuming to finish), consider Sellier Kelly/Birkin; if you prefer softer edges, Retourne is friendlier to daily use.

3. Service history wins. A bag that’s been to the Hermès spa—or has documented professional refresh work—often wears and resells better.

4. Immediate availability. If your goal is to carry a specific size/color now, our Hermès Recycled & Upcycled listings let you filter by size (e.g., 30/35/40) and hardware in seconds.

FAQ

How many hours to make a Birkin?

• Up to ~40 hours for a single artisan, depending on size and materials.

How many hours to make a Kelly?

• About ~15–20 hours; expect ~4 hours just for the handle. According to CBS 60 Minutes and Vanity Fair.

How long for a Constance?

• Roughly ~14–18 hours per bag. According to Sotheby’s. Sothebys.com

Is each bag made by one artisan?

• Yes. Workshop coverage states every artisan makes their product from start to finish. According to Vogue Business.

Why can’t I buy a new Birkin/Kelly/Constance online?

• Hermès states these are sold exclusively in Hermès stores (availability is discussed in person).

Can Hermès repair older bags?

• Yes. Bring items to a boutique; after-sales will evaluate and service/restore where possible.

Where do we fit in (Philip Karto)?

• We recycle and upcycle authentic Hermès foundations in our Private LAB, listing size/color/hardware clearly and keeping many items ready to ship—so you enjoy the craft without the wait.

The real answer to “How long does it take?” is a lot longer than you think—and always by one artisan. That time is stitched into the product’s structure, comfort, and longevity, which is why Hermès keeps training small and growth measured. If you want the craft, the look, and immediate availability, our Philip Karto Hermès Recycled & Upcycled pieces offer a transparent, sustainable path—authentic foundations, in-house workmanship, and spec-clear, ready-now listings.