Hermès and Chanel are both iconic French luxury brands that have made a lasting impact on the world of fashion. However, which brand is more expensive?
In general, Hermès is more expensive than Chanel when it comes to the price of their handbags. Some Chanel pieces cost more than some Hermès pieces but overall in terms of ultra-luxurious limited creations and more accessible pieces, Hermès is more expensive.
Both brands have been influential in shaping the fashion world and creating enduring, iconic pieces that are recognized around the world.
The history behind Chanel
The French fashion house Chanel was established in Paris in 1909. It was founded by Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, who was orphaned young and taught to sew by her aunts.
Gabrielle Chanel (better known as Coco Chanel) opened a millinery in 1909 and her beautifully designed hats quickly became popular. In 1913 she began creating sportswear for women, marking the birth of Chanel as a couture brand.
Chanel’s desire to create innovative fashion that stepped away from the opulent styles of the time helped shape the brand’s offerings as elegantly simple and enduringly stylish creations. Chanel used unconventional materials and cuts in her designs and embraced black when other designers were embracing bright colors, creating the iconic Little Black Dress in 1926.
However, the Little Black Dress is not the only iconic Chanel piece that has left a lasting impression in the world of fashion. The Chanel suit allowed freedom of movement while retaining an elegant form.
Chanel’s debut fragrance, Chanel No. 5, was created in 1921 and revolutionized women’s fragrances, becoming one of the most well-known fragrances in the world. In 1955 Chanel also released the first handbag to come with a strap, known as the Chanel 2.55.
Karl Lagerfeld became chief designer for Chanel in 1983, twelve years after Coco Chanel’s death. Lagerfeld looked to Chanel’s archives for inspiration as he continued to steer the brand forward.
Today the fashion house creates offerings across clothing, fragrances, skincare, jewelry, bags, and more and retains its reputation as one of the most influential fashion houses in history.
The history behind Hermès
The French high fashion brand Hermès was founded in Paris in 1837. Thierry Hermès first opened a harness workshop to create saddlery for European noblemen.
The brand’s reputation grew over the decades and the workshop was relocated, along with a new retail store being opened, in 1880 by Hermès’s son. While the brand initially focused on made-to-measure harnesses and saddles, it ventured into new creations over the following years.
Hermès released their first leather bags in the 1920s, along with their first ready-to-wear piece (a golf jacket), as well as watches and jewelry.
The iconic Kelly bag was created in 1935 and named the Sac à dépêches but was subsequently renamed in 1956 to the Kelly bag when Grace Kelly was photographed carrying it. The brand also released its first silk scarf in 1937 and its first tie in 1949.
Arguably the brand’s most well-known bag is the Birkin, initially created for the singer and actress Jane Birkin in 1984. Birkin bags can vary significantly in cost from $7,000 to $300,000 (though occasionally even more) and each bag is the creation of a single craftsman.
Creating a Birkin can range from 18 to 24 hours but possibly longer if crocodile skin is used. Customers should also expect a long waiting list and potentially having to wait up to six years for a Birkin.
The brand has always maintained a strict consistency in its approach to design and expansion, both in terms of product creations and retail relocations. Hermès retains its dedication to high-quality craftsmanship, placing the design focus on artisanal craftsmanship and premium quality pieces that will stand the test of time.
Most Hermès products are crafted in French workshops and the brand remains a family-run enterprise today, prioritizing exclusivity and quality.
Comparing Hermès and Chanel bag prices
Since both brands are well-known for their bags, this category is a useful reference point in regards to which brand is more expensive.
In general, Hermès bags are more expensive than Chanel bags. This also holds true when comparing popular pieces such as the Chanel Maxi Flap and Hermès Birkin.
When considering the most expensive handbags in the world, there are more Hermès pieces in the top twenty than Chanel pieces, with three Hermès bags costing around $2 million while the highest-ranking Chanel costs around $260,000.
In terms of ultra-luxurious offerings and more accessible pieces alike, Hermès is more expensive in general. However, Chanel bag prices have been steadily increasing so the gap is slowly closing between the brands.
Both brands offer good investment pieces
Whether consumers prefer Chanel or Hermès, both brands offer savvy investment pieces. The Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags, as well as the Chanel Classic Flap and Boy Bag are all good investment pieces that will hold their value and in many cases increase in value over time, depending on the materials used and how they are made.