Exotic skins · Hermès
Alligator (Mississippiensis)
Also called Alligator
The American alligator skin Hermès uses, mostly on smaller bags.
PurseBop says Hermès has long used alligator skin from the Mississippiensis species, native to the United States. Alligators are much smaller than crocodiles (about 12 feet when full grown), which is why Hermès mostly uses the skin on small bags such as the Mini Kelly II, Kelly 25 and Birkin 25. The scales are smaller, without visible pores, larger in the centre and tapering to the edges. Hermès marks alligator bags with a square symbol beside the Hermès stamp, and offers three finishes: matte, shiny (lisse) and Boreal Satin.
- Origin
- United States
- Scales
- Smaller, no visible pores
- Finishes
- Matte, shiny (lisse), Boreal Satin
- Hermès mark
- Square (☐)
Compared in: Alligator vs crocodile (leather)
Care: how to care for it
Related: Boreal Satin, Crocodile Niloticus, Crocodile Porosus, Exotic skin symbols, Lisse (shiny exotic finish), Matte exotic finish
House: Hermès