97’ HERMES Vinyl Kelly Beach Handbag Orange SOUVENIR DE L'EXPOSITION

Width: 15.7in/ 40.0cm Bag Depth: 4.5in/ 11.5cm At first glance, the PVC Kelly bag may seem like a fun, summer twist on the iconic leather bag and the ideal tote for a day at the beach but, as with everything Hermès, there’s more of a story than meets the eye. In 1996, these PVC bags, complete with gold hardware, were sent out as eye-catching invitations to the Spring Summer show. The bags were a reaction to the devastating terrorist attacks on public transport the year before, in which 8 people were killed and 157 more injured. In response, security in France was tightened—particularly at high-profile events such as Hermès fashion shows—and this see-through Kelly bag breezed through security checks while memorializing the tragic events.