Hermès Constance Bags
Birthed in 1959 along with its designer’s daughter who shares the name, the Constance bag is considered the third side of the handbag pyramid, forever connected to and supported by the iconic Birkin and Kelly bags. The first four decades of Constance's were populated with both 18cm and 23cm versions. Both of these sizes were produced with either one or two gussets, which create bags with one or two interior compartments; the main differentiating factor between Constances. Today, all Constances are made with a double gusset construction. Around the turn of the millenium, Hermes phased out the 23cm Constance (and the 25cm Constance which was produced for a short period in the 1990’s) in favor of the 24cm double gusset version that is still produced today. The 2000’s saw limited production runs of other Constance sizes as well. The micro 15cm Constance has been produced sporadically since the 1990’s (and is occasionally still produced today), though the production runs of the Constance Elan, which elongates the design to a 25cm length, the 29cm Constance, which features an extra large H clasp and extra tick strap, and the 29cm Constance Cartable, which features a short handle rather than a shoulder strap, have all been discontinued.
Blog: The Hermès Constance