Hermès Kelly Togo vs. Epsom: What's the difference?

The Hermès Kelly is an icon, but choosing the right leather can be a challenge. The Kelly Togo features a soft, pebbled leather that creates a relaxed, understated look perfect for daily wear, prized for its durability and scratch resistance. In contrast, the Kelly Epsom is defined by its rigid, embossed leather, offering a lightweight, highly structured silhouette with a polished finish ideal for more formal or professional settings.

Here's everything you need to know to choose the right leather for your style and needs.

Hermès Kelly Togo

The Hermès Kelly in Togo leather is celebrated for its perfect balance of luxury and practicality. Sourced from baby calfskin, this leather is known for its distinct pebbled grain and matte finish, which gives it a soft yet durable character. Its natural resilience makes it exceptionally good at hiding scuffs and scratches, positioning it as a favorite for those seeking an elegant bag for everyday use.

• What it is: An iconic Hermès Kelly bag crafted from Togo, a textured and scratch-resistant calfskin leather.
• Key features: Natural pebbled grain, matte finish, soft and pliable structure that develops a subtle slouch over time.
• Price: Price varies by size, hardware, and year, but is generally comparable to Epsom.
• Materials/Construction: Baby calfskin known for its resilience and visible, vertical veining pattern.
• Pros: Excellent durability that holds up to daily use. Textured surface makes scratches less noticeable. Soft structure feels comfortable against the body. Ages gracefully.
• Cons: Can soften and slouch over time, losing some of its initial structure. The natural veining can be pronounced, which may not appeal to everyone. Its aesthetic is more relaxed and less formal.

This is the ideal choice for someone who wants a versatile, practical, and slightly casual luxury bag that withstands the rigors of frequent use without sacrificing elegance.

Shop Hermès Kelly bags: hermes.com/us/en/category/women/bags-and-small-leather-goods

Hermès Kelly Epsom

The Hermès Kelly in Epsom leather is the ultimate choice for those who value structure and a pristine appearance. Unlike Togo, Epsom's cross-hatch grain is embossed onto the leather, creating a uniform, rigid, and lightweight material. This stiffness ensures the Kelly bag maintains its crisp, architectural shape perfectly, while its semi-matte finish offers a refined, polished look.

• What it is: A highly structured Hermès Kelly bag made from Epsom, a lightweight and embossed calfskin.
• Key features: Rigid shape that never slouches, fine cross-hatch pattern, lightweight feel, and scratch/water resistance.
• Price: Similarly priced to Togo, though sometimes commands a slight premium on the resale market due to its structured look.
• Materials/Construction: Stamped-grain calfskin with a man-made pattern, resulting in a consistent and durable surface.
• Pros: Maintains its original shape impeccably over years of use. Extremely lightweight. Easy to wipe clean and resistant to water spotting. Offers a highly polished and formal aesthetic.
• Cons: Corners can show wear or color rubbing with heavy use. The stiff structure can feel rigid against the body. Embossed texture feels less natural to the touch compared to Togo. A deep scratch can be more noticeable than on a pebbled leather.

This bag suits the buyer who gravitates toward a sleek, architectural silhouette for professional settings, formal events, or simply prefers a handbag that always looks crisp and brand new.

Shop Hermès Kelly bags: hermes.com/us/en/category/women/bags-and-small-leather-goods

Hermès Kelly Togo vs. Kelly Epsom Comparison

Material & Texture

The core difference lies in the grain. Togo leather presents a natural, visible pebbled texture that feels soft and malleable to the touch. This grain is part of the hide itself, giving each bag a unique character with fine vertical veins. The feel is supple and rich.

Epsom leather, in contrast, has a machine-pressed, uniform cross-hatch grain. This process creates a much firmer and more rigid material. The texture is fine and consistent across the entire bag, offering a less organic and more polished handfeel. It's built for structure and a sleek finish.

Appearance & Aesthetic

An Hermès Kelly Togo gives off a relaxed, understated elegance. Its matte finish and softer lines make it an incredibly chic daily companion that isn’t overly formal. Over time, it will likely develop a slight slouch, which many collectors appreciate as part of its character.

The Kelly Epsom is sharp, architectural, and formal. Its rigid structure means the lines of the Kelly bag remain crisp and defined forever. This leather has a subtle sheen that enhances color beautifully, making it appear more dressed-up and perfect for settings where a pristine look is desired.

Durability & Maintenance

Both leathers are famously durable, but in different ways. Togo is a true workhorse, its natural grain is excellent at hiding minor scratches and scuffs from daily wear. It’s a very forgiving leather.

Epsom is highly resistant to scratches and water, and because of its non-porous finish, it’s one of the easiest leathers to clean - a quick wipe often does the trick. However, due to its uniform surface, a significant nick could be more obvious than on Togo. The structured corners may also be more susceptible to showing wear over the long term.

Structure & Weight

Structure is the most significant differentiator. An Epsom Kelly will maintain its shape perfectly, whether it's full or empty. This makes it an incredibly reliable choice for those who dislike any form of bag sagging. It is also remarkably lightweight.

A Togo Kelly, while still structured, is fundamentally a softer leather. With time and use, it will gently relax and conform more to its owner. It isn't a slouchy bag by any means, but it doesn't have the rigid posture of its Epsom counterpart. It is also light, though Epsom generally feels a tiny bit lighter due to its firmness.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both are phenomenal bags from Hermès, but they serve different preferences and lifestyles.

Choose the Kelly Togo if:

• You want a durable bag for frequent or daily use.
• You prefer a softer, more relaxed aesthetic with a natural leather feel.
• You don't mind a bag that might develop a graceful, subtle slouch over time.
• You value a material that excels at hiding minor scratches and scuffs.

Choose the Kelly Epsom if:

• You prioritize a perfectly structured, architectural silhouette that will never sag.
• You want a particularly lightweight handbag.
• Your style is more polished and formal, or you want a bag for professional or evening events.
• You value a low-maintenance leather that is easy to wipe clean and is water-resistant.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the main difference between Togo and Epsom leather?

The main difference is structure and texture. Togo is a soft, pebbled, natural-grain calfskin that feels supple and has a relaxed look. Epsom is a firm, embossed-grain calfskin that is rigid, lightweight, and maintains a perfect architectural shape.

Which leather is more durable?

Both are very durable. Togo is often considered more forgiving for daily use because its textured surface effectively conceals small scratches. Epsom is highly scratch-resistant, but can show wear on the corners over time, and a deep scratch might be more noticeable against its uniform pattern.

Does Epsom leather scratch easily?

No, Epsom is highly resistant to scratches due to its firm, embossed surface. It's one of the most durable and worry-free options in the Hermès lineup.

Does Togo leather slouch?

Yes, over time and with regular use, a Kelly Togo will develop a subtle slouch due to its natural pliability. Many enthusiasts find this adds character, but if you prefer a perfectly rigid shape, Epsom is the better choice.

Which leather is better for a first Hermès bag?

This depends on your lifestyle. A Togo is often recommended for a first bag because it is so practical, versatile, and suitable for daily wear. However, if your personal style is more polished and structured, an Epsom is an equally fantastic first choice.

Is one leather more expensive than the other?

At the boutique, their prices are very similar. On the resale market, prices can fluctuate based on demand, color, and condition. Sometimes, a crisp Kelly Epsom might command a slight premium.

How do you clean an Hermès Togo vs. an Epsom bag?

For both, it's best to use a dry, soft cloth for dusting. Epsom is easier to clean as you can lightly wipe it with a slightly damp cloth if needed, thanks to its water resistance. For Togo, it is best to stick with a dry cloth only. For any major stains, an Hermès spa treatment is recommended.

Which leather is heavier?

Epsom is known for being one of the most lightweight leathers offered by Hermès. While Togo is also not considered a heavy leather, Epsom is noticeably lighter due to its firm, thin composition.