Hermès artisans claim they can recognize their handiwork on celebrities or pick out their own pieces from a line-up any day of the week — and I, for one, am willing to believe it. As for the workshop itself, the prevailing sentiment is one of enduring love: each bag is crafted by a single artisan from start to finish, which explains why they only turn out two pieces a week. No leather-worker is allowed to intervene in another colleague’s work, and each artisan has a personal set of tools, which they eventually take home upon retirement. It goes without saying that the mere suggestion of placing your bag — no matter its origins or price — on the floor to flex your tired muscles is considered a near-criminal offense!

It doesn’t take long to realize that the Hermès universe is ruled by discipline and precision, but that doesn’t mean it lacks imagination. Of all the bespoke beauties the workshop has produced over the years — from portable bars to machetes, aviator caps, Barbie clothes, and a leather-clad Leica — the green apple bag still holds a special place in their hearts. “The client wanted to gift it to someone who constantly ate apples,” recalls Parisian bag maker Valerie Benardeau. “The bag’s inner layer was made of beaten silver, and its exterior was leather. As the bag was being made, apples were constantly brought in to test whether the evolving design would fit perfectly!”