Introduced in the 2012 Fall/Winter collection, the Ghillies Birkin was an extension of the haute bijouterie jewellery collection produced in 2011 by Pierre Hardy, Artistic Director of Jewellery at Hermès. Alongside this equestrian-inspired collection, the house released the limited edition Ghillies Kelly, then the Ghillies Birkin and it also exists as Hermes Ghillies Kelly Wallet.
The Ghillies is only produced in limited quantities and specific colors. However, the Ghillies isn’t a bag itself, but rather a design element added to existing bags.
These bags are inspired by broguing, which are perforated details on Scottish dress shoes for men. These shoes are called Ghillies as well, hence the name of these iconic bags. The broguing techniques is used for the trims in the bags, incorporating tiny punctures and serrations. Originally Ghillies are from Ireland, but the bags are inspired by the Scottish version of the shoe. The perforations were meant to help the shoe to dry faster.
Some think that the menswear influence on the Ghillies style can lend a more unisex look to bags like the Birkin and Kelly. However, many Ghillies lovers ironically find that the trim makes the bags look more feminine and dressy.
The sizing is exactly like the sizes for the original Birkin and Kelly bags. Usually Ghillies bags are produced in sizes like B30, B35, K 28, and K32 and less commonly in the mini sizes. Larger sizes like the B35 have more surface area and help highlight the beautiful details of the Ghillies trim.
The Ghillies design can not only be found in Birkin or Kelly bags, but also on the Kelly Long Wallet. It makes this wallet stand out even more and many use it as a clutch, because it is too gorgeous to hide it in a bag.
