The Kelly Bag is among Hermès’ most famous pieces in its design house. One of very few purses named for a real person, the Kelly Bag evokes a type of old age glamour rarely seen today, and is designed with the highest quality of detailed precision from the French luxury fashion house.
What makes this indefatigable piece so enduring? Here, WWD breaks down the history of the Kelly Bag and the starlet that serves as the Hermès piece’s namesake.
When was the Kelly Bag originally made?
The Kelly Bag was originally crafted in 1935 by Robert Dumas, the grandfather of Hermès artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas and former president of the French luxury fashion house who worked alongside his father-in-law Émile Hermès.
The Kelly Bag by Hermès.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
The bag, originally known as the Petit Sac à Courroies, wasn’t initially a hit with consumers, according to the artistic director’s interview segment last December on “60 Minutes” by Sharyn Alfonsi. The bag offered more space and was crafted with a geometric style and sophisticated sensibility, noting cultural changes and shifts during the mid-20th century.
Hermès, which does not have a marketing department, relied heavily on consumers and the spontaneity of purchases from high-profile figures. After World War II, the bag regained traction thanks especially to a former American actress and newfound royal of the time.
Why is the Kelly Bag named for Grace Kelly?
Grace Kelly is credited for popularizing the Kelly Bag. The late Princess of Monaco, who died at the age of 52 in 1982 following a tragic car accident induced by a cerebral hemorrhage, memorably carried the bag in the 1950s as a key accessory in her royal wardrobe. Her infatuation with the piece, however, began on the set of an Alfred Hitchcock film.
Prince Rainier III of Monaco with Grace Kelly. Kelly holds the style of Hermès handbag that was named after her.
Bettmann Collection/ Getty Images
The Academy Award-winning actress starred in “To Catch a Thief” alongside Cary Grant. While filming Hitchcock’s 1955 thriller, costume designer Edith Head had Kelly carry the Petit Sac à Courroies by Hermès. The actress loved the bag so much, she continued to carry the style and was often photographed by paparazzi with the purse as she transitioned to life as a member of Monaco’s royal family, leaving Hollywood to marry Prince Rainier III in 1956. The bag was officially renamed for the royal in 1977.
How is the Kelly Bag made?
The Kelly Bag is among the most difficult bags to make in Hermès fashion house. The process starts with 30 distinct cuts of leather and can take 20 hours to complete. The handle alone takes roughly four hours to complete.
The Kelly Bag by Hermès.
Christian Vierig/Getty Images
When it comes to Hermès’ craftsmen, there are no directions or manuals of any kind. The artisans of Hermès rely on their training and muscle memory to make every bag, per Dumas.
How much does a Kelly Bag cost?
The price of the Kelly Bag and variations on the original design has grown over the course of the last few years. In 2025, the Kelly 25 in Togo leather and Retourne shape retails around $12,000 at Hermès boutiques, according to Sotheby’s. Based on Sotheby’s findings, Kelly Bag designs generally retail at or around an average price of $10,000 or more. Pre-owned Kelly Bags can run even higher prices.
Sofia Richie seen carrying the Kelly Bag by Hermès on Jan. 13, 2023, in Los Angeles.
Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Pierre-Alexis Dumas defended Hermès’ costly designs in the same “60 Minutes” piece on the French luxury fashion house. “The cost is the actual price of making an object properly with the required level of attention so that you have an object of quality,” Dumas said. “Expensive is a product, which is not delivering what it’s supposed to deliver, but you’ve paid quite a large amount of money for it, and then it betrays you. That’s expensive.”
