Ever wondered why the box calf of your favorite Birkins and Kellys are all so consistently luxurious?
What is box calf?
A chrome-tanned calf leather made from clean high-grade hides with tight grain and high polish.
Where does it come from?
Tannerie d’Annonay is a tannery from Rhone Valley known for producing high quality box calf. It supplies box calf to Hermès as well as to certain high end dress shoes brands.
Protected supply chain
Hermès actually bought over Tannerie d’Annonay back in 2013, which is widely regarded as a move not only to secure its own supply chain but also to ensure its savoire faire is protected.
As a result, almost all bags made out of Box from Hermès will likely come from the same source, regardless of the age of the bag. Same provenance, just different eras.
Conclusion
If you’ve ever wondered why Hermès box calf feels so consistently luxurious, now you know: provenance is king.