The Haut à Courroies, or HAC, was the first bag Hermès made. Christie's and Sotheby's both date it to the early 1900s, when the house was still a harness and saddle maker, and describe it as a tall bag for carrying saddles, riding boots and other equestrian gear. Wikipedia credits it to Émile-Maurice Hermès. The name means 'high straps', after its high belted closure.
The HAC is the direct ancestor of the Birkin. When Jean-Louis Dumas sketched a bag for Jane Birkin on a flight in 1984, Sotheby's notes, he drew on the HAC's structured shape, double top handles and belted flap. The HAC remains taller, with shorter handles and its own hardware details, including a square-tipped spindle and tubular pontets.
Early HACs were made mainly in 40 to 60 cm sizes; smaller 32, 35 and 28 cm versions came later. Limited editions include the Rock HAC with chain details, and the HAC à Dos is a backpack version in Barenia Faubourg leather with canvas straps. A black matte crocodile HAC 40 sold at Sotheby's for US$94,000 in 2025.