The Hermès Kelly 25 in grey Togo leather with Retourne (inside stitching) construction is also not easy to replicate. One of the key challenges lies in achieving the slightly yellow-toned grey Togo leather.

When handling the grey-yellow Togo leather required for the Hermès Kelly 25 Retourne bag (such as Etoupe or Gris Mouette), Shebag’s solution centers on precise raw material sourcing and customized dyeing techniques.

Togo leather is a natural calfskin, and its natural grain and softness are critical. Shebag typically sources undyed “crust leather” directly from top French and Italian tanneries such as Du Puy and Haas. These tanneries are the same upstream suppliers used by Hermès, ensuring that the base leather quality, oil content, and natural grain structure match boutique standards from the very beginning.

Grey shades with warm yellow undertones, such as Etoupe, are among the most difficult Hermès colors to replicate. They require a grey base infused with just the right amount of warmth (yellow or brown undertones), so the color appears refined and rich rather than flat or dull.

Shebag’s partner tanneries employ professional chemical engineers who conduct hundreds of sample tests based on Hermès reference color swatches. Using proprietary dye formulas, they carefully balance this subtle tone, ensuring that the color presents the same visual effect as the original under different lighting conditions.

The biggest issue with ordinary replicas is inaccurate color mixing, which often results in a cheap-looking “dead grey” or an overly cool, bluish tone. Shebag’s customized dyeing process successfully avoids these common mistakes.

The signature pebbled grain of Togo leather is formed naturally by tumbling the leather in large drums, rather than by mechanical embossing. This process also affects how the dye is absorbed. Because the Kelly 25 is relatively small, the Togo grain should be finer and more compact than that used for a Kelly 35. Shebag precisely controls the tumbling time and intensity to ensure that the grain size perfectly matches the original.

Retourne construction requires leather with a certain level of softness and drape. Shebag ensures that after dyeing and tumbling, the leather achieves the same supple, elastic hand feel as the original, rather than a stiff or board-like texture.

To ensure color consistency across the entire bag, including the body, handles, and shoulder strap, Shebag places single large-batch orders of the same color leather, avoiding subtle color variations between different production batches.