bags changing as people's lifestyles change: the story of hermes

As the century progressed and the horse began to be overtaken by more modern forms of transportation, such as the railway and the automobile, the Hermes family realize the company had to adapt in order to survive. The techniques for hand-crafting utilitaian saddle-stitched nosebags and saddlebags were used to make trunks, bags, wallets, and overnight cases that consolidated the company's reputation including the saddlebag inspired by the leather satchels that Argentinian gauchos used to transport their belongings when on horseback.

With the increased possibilities for travel, women needed a larger handbag to carry their personal items for daily use. Bags changed from dainty Edqardian reticules into more sturdy, substantial shapes, and, as shopping became more of a social event, they became a necessity for women who were staying out for longer periods during the day.

Hermes creased a whole series of saddle-stitched bags with elegant, minimalist libes, such as the Bugatti in 1925, a large handbag designed for women who rode in automobiles (it was later renamed the Bolide for legal reasons). Significantly, the Bolide also had a zipper running across the top for ease of closure; Hermes was the first firm to use the toothed zipper in its designs.

The company launched a whole series of luxury items to appeal to the fashionable motoring set, including a range that catered to the latest trend of picknicking. The practice of eating in open air had formerly been associated with the laboring man but with the advent of the automobile it became fashionable to drive to a beautiful spot and eat en plein air.
- Luxe Fashion book