Are you looking for the most affordable Hermès handbags to buy in 2023?
While the words “cheap” and “affordable” do not exactly describe Hermès bags, there certainly are a few handbags created and sold by this French fashion brand that “commoners” or those outside the top 1% of the world population can actually buy.
Now if you’re outside that top 1% and coveting an Hermès handbag, fret not. There are some types of handbags available within the luxury brand that you too can afford. Stick around to find out what they are.
Read: Most Expensive Hermès Handbags As Of 2024
Hermès has been producing leather items noted for their craftsmanship and top-quality materials since 1837. Hermès began as a harness workshop back in its early years, creating leather goods for horses and horsemen and other equestrian items.
Their earliest clientele included some of Europe’s most famous noblemen, such as Napoleon Bonaparte. It was in 1922 that Thierry Hermès, the company founder, created the first ever Hermès handbag in the Grands Boulevards quarter of Paris.
A hundred years later, Hermès still creates some of the finest and most expensive handbags in the world. It remains one of the best French handbag brands coveted by women across the globe.
Hermès bags are not impossible to own for those outside the privileged 1%. You can find an Hermès item that’s within your budget – and that’s where we come in.
READ MORE: Most Expensive Hermès Handbags As Of 2023
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6 Most Affordable Hermès Bags As Of 2024
Here is a list of the 6 most affordable Hermès handbags – below $4,000 – that you can own without having to drain your savings account.
1. Aline Grooming Bag – $1,150
Hermès’ Aline is a herringbone grooming bag in canvas pouch that can be worn over the shoulder. It has adjustable calfskin straps, saddle-stitched seams, and “Hermès Sellier” print.
The Aline bag, first created in 1971, is a casual-style bag worn in the shoulder. This Hermès classic was redesigned in 2014, decades after its first release. This new, updated version comes with a “Hermès Sellier” signature stamp on its front.
The Aline bag can be described as a tribute to the atelier’s beginnings as a harness workshop since the bag was conceived to make it easy for a horseman’s needs to carry his boots, saddles, brushes, and other riding items. It is made of tough canvas to make it modern, and yet the bag is deemed timeless as we know it.
If you are only starting to collect Hermès handbags, the Aline is a good entry-level bag you can use for the outdoors and during casual strolls around the city, or simply hanging out with friends at the mall. The exquisite quality of the bag will not disappoint; after all, it is still an Hermès despite the relatively low price!
2. Evelyne Bag – $1,800 and up
The Hermès Evelyne is not as widely recognized as the Birkin or the Kelly. However, it remains one of the most popular handbags ever produced and sold by the maison.
The Evelyne bag is ideal for everyday use and comes in different materials to choose from – all high-quality. It is one of the most affordable Hermès handbags available in 2023.
Each Evelyn bag is made with a simple design and functionality in mind. As a very popular handbag, we often see this Hermès bag in the arms of many celebrities. The Evelyne is a top choice among Hermès lovers who prefer more casual purses.
The Evelyn bag is perfect if you are looking for an entry-level Hermès handbag.
3. Garden Party Canvas Tote Bag – $2,200 and up
What sets the Garden Party canvas tote bag apart from most other Hermès handbags is the material used to produce this bag. The Garden Party is predominantly made of canvas. It is lined in canvas and features a single main interior compartment.
The canvas material makes it not only casual and practical but durable as well. This material also makes the Garden Party tote bag lightweight despite the large size.
The Garden Party tote has a clou de selle snap closure and an additional snap button on the sides which allows the bag to expand for an extra interior space that can accommodate bigger (or more) contents.
First released in 1964, Hermès Garden Party fast became one of the maison’s bestselling handbags. Thanks to its simplicity and generous size, this bag has easily earned “closet-staple” status.
4. Herbag Herbag Zip – $2,675
For the price point, the Hermès Herbag Zip is one the house’s most affordable handbags. While it is made as a practical travel bag, the Herbag posseses the classic elegance of any Hermès bag. As a matter of fact, this bag is often compared to the Hermès Kelly for its sophisticated design, hence the monicker “Kelly’s little sister.”
Hermès Herbag was discontinued in the mid-2000s. However, it was reintroduced in 2009 as the Herbag Zip, which comes with a few added elements to update the old Herbag.
The Herbag Zip is made from military canvas and Vache Hunter cowhide leather, with a palladium-plated clou de selle closure. Just like the old variation, the Herbag Zip has collapsible handles and a strap. It also features an external pocket for a quick and easy access to your necessities, a zip pocket, and a removable pouch in the interior.
5. Picotin Bag – $2,750
The Picotin bag is made of taurillon Clemence leather and comes equipped with a discreet palladium-plated Kelly lock closure. Just like the Aline grooming bag, the Hermès Picotin bag looks back to its equestrian roots as this piece is inspired by horse feeders.
Timeless and minimalist, the Picotin tote bag takes its name from an old French word for “ration,” as in picotin d’avoine (“ration of oats”).
Launched as a tote bag, the Picotin is the closest version of the bucket-style bag the maison has created. This unique style makes it different from the other luxury handbags and thus coveted by Hermès bag collectors.
While not as widely-known as the iconic Birkin and Kelly, the Picotin bag is a nice entry-level Hermès handbag with an impeccably executed design that will adorn your arm and impress your friends while you carry your essentials. You can as well attach leather straps for different looks. With these straps, you can carry the Picotin on your shoulder or wear it as a top-handle bag.
6. Jige Elan Clutch – $3,700 and up
Unless you’re looking for clutches in exotic leathers, the Jige Elan Clutch is pretty much the easiest Hermès item you can purchase at their boutiques.
The stunning Jige Elan is a day-to-night clutch bag designed and handmade using different materials such as canvas, exotic skins, leather, or a combination of those. The Jige Elan clutch is rectangular in shape, with the interior of made just one single open compartment that allows for easy access to your essentials, and features an H tab closure.
It is available in 4 different sizes; however, only the 29 cm. variety is currently offered by Hermes. If you’re looking for bigger sizes, you should check out the preloved market.
This exquisite clutch bag also comes in whatever color you may dream of! The ones you can easily find in Hermès stores are made of Swift calfskin leather. It is an Hermès staple piece you can call “affordable” by Hermès standards, which makes it a great entry-level.
The Jige Elan clutch bag suits every occasion and the materials and craftmanship are impeccable, so if you’re planning on buying one, rest assured that your money will be worth it!
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.