How to Create an Hermes Kelly-inspired Bag

Hermes is a well-known high-quality manufacturer of accessories, apparel, and other luxury products. Established in Paris in 1837, Hermes is now a household name among individuals throughout the world. Although Hermes purses are a popular commodity, many women are seeking a more affordable alternative to the high-priced leather bags Hermes has on the market. Fortunately, women do have the option of attempting to recreate such purses for a fraction of the retail price within their own home. The Hermes Kelly bag is one type of model that is imitated successfully. To create a Hermes Kelly-inspired bag within your own home, you must follow a specific process.


Identify and Purchase the Materials
The first step in creating the perfect Hermes Kelly-inspired bag is to make a list of all the materials needed for the project. This functions as a shopping list and includes all materials and tools you likely do not have lying around the house. The first item on the list is a blank canvas tote bag. The ideal size is 16 3/4 inches by 15 inches by 4 1/2 inches deep. A zippered closure is also an added bonus and can provide you with a sense of security when it comes to your belongings. Many canvas tote bags also come pre-dyed which is helpful if you want a specific color. Besides the tote bag, you also need to purchase four small brass hinges, a gold thin skinny belt, and a small brass padlock. If you prefer the look of silver accessories, consider purchasing silver hinges, a silver metallic skinny belt, and a small silver padlock instead.


Gather up the Tools
You also need a few tools in order to complete the Hermes Kelly-inspired bag. This includes a small sewing kit, inclusive of a hand sewing needles and sewing thread. An X-ACTO knife is also required. A craft cutting board is helpful as well when it comes to using the X-ACTO knife. Once you have gathered all the necessary tools and materials, find a location in which to lay everything out. To make the project easier, have all the items readily accessible for use.


Attach the Hardware
The Hermes Kelly-inspired bag begins to take shape with the addition of the hardware and other accessories. The first pieces to attach to the canvas bag are the small hinges. Place the hinges in the area directly below each handle. They should look as if they are responsible for keeping the handle attached to the bag. In order to attach the hinges, simply sew them on by hand using the needle and thread. If you are worried about the integrity of the thread, you can also use a small amount of glue to hold the hinges in place.

After attaching each of the four hinges, focus on threading the skinny belt around the outside of the bag. This requires making two small incisions on each of the four sides of the bag using the X-ACTO knife. It is wise to use a craft cutting board in order to avoid damaging household furniture during the cutting process. After making the incisions, weave the belt through each hole as you would through belt loops on jeans. Next, securely fasten the belt. The final step is attaching the padlock to the belt. After doing so, you can opt to either discard the keys attached to the padlock or keep them in a safe place for a future project.

Accessorize as Desired
After attaching all of the Hermes-inspired hardware to the tote bag, you may choose to accessorize the bag as you please. Many women do this by adding rhinestones or other gems to the bag. Generally, this process only requires a few extra drops of fabric-friendly glue. The addition of gems or rhinestones adds a further touch of flair especially to black tote bags needing extra pizzazz. Some women also opt to add eye-catching keychains or other dangly hardware to further personalize the purse.