The new color for the Hermès Mini Kelly 2 bag, Ebony (Ébène), is a special black-brown—not a true black—and is an incredibly sophisticated color. Shebag has successfully produced it.

Shebag has conducted profound research on color consistency control, meticulously studying Hermès’ own processes. Color control cannot be mastered overnight; Shebag has spent 14 years learning this to achieve a level of color consistency control that matches authentic Hermès bags.

Hermès’ control over color consistency is a systematic engineering process that spans from leather procurement and tanning to the workshop production. The leather must come from the same batch and the same sequence of parts, and be crafted by the same artisan. The back of every hide bears a dye batch number and a cutting sequence code, ensuring that the color, texture, and future aging performance are completely identical. When creating Hermès replica bags, Shebag adheres strictly to this same process.

Top-tier European tanneries, either owned by or in deep partnership with Hermès, test color difference using a spectrophotometer after dyeing. They control the ΔE (Delta E) within the luxury-grade standard of approximately 0.8–1.0. Dye absorption uniformity and coating coverage consistency are also inspected; if the color difference in various parts exceeds the standard, the hide is immediately rejected.

During cutting, the “Pairing Principle” is emphasized: Belly is matched with belly, shoulder with shoulder, and back with back. Typically, one hide is used to make only one bag to avoid visual tonal shifts caused by differences in texture and bending reflection. If multiple hides must be used, they must be from the exact same dye batch.

The workshop environment utilizes Standard Illuminant D65 lighting equipped with a gray card background for comparison. Artisans check for changes in chiaroscuro (light and dark), contrast in polish gloss, and visual consistency of stitching shadows from different angles. Once a deviation appears, the leather is immediately replaced or scrapped.

Edge painting undergoes fine-tuning to correct visual color values, preventing dullness caused by light absorption at the edges. For different materials like Togo, Epsom, and Clemence, artisans adjust the paint amount, angle, and curing time based on the grain’s reflection characteristics to unify the gloss across the entire bag body.

In the finished product stage, color difference is detected at a minimum of four to six points using a spectrophotometer. The average ΔE value must be maintained below 1.0. Even if the overall metrics pass, if a jarring difference exists in a key visual area, the bag will be returned for rework.

Hermès’ high cost stems from an extremely high rejection rate and the pursuit of consistent aging. Shebag is the same. To pursue high quality, one must accept high costs. However, Shebag excels at controlling this from the source; the leather we procure is the highest priced among European distributors.

If the color difference of leather within the same bag is not controlled at the source, it will be further magnified over time by oxidation, light exposure, and oil absorption. Therefore, what Hermès pursues is not just “identical color at the factory,” but “consistent color even after years of use.”

This is why bags made from the same batch of leather maintain a unified tone in the secondary market, whereas fakes or ordinary luxury brands often show obvious discoloration on the shoulder straps, side panels, or handles after just a few months. Hermès achieves art-grade color consistency in its top-tier bags through strict standards across the entire supply chain.