The bag crafted by Shebag today is a high-end handmade replica of the Hermès Evelyne. We are going to talk about our sophisticated edge finishing technique, which is entirely different from that used on Birkin bags.

The edge finishing on the Evelyne in Togo leather is a distinctive technique featuring multiple ultra-thin coats applied and polished by hand. It presents a matte finish with fine grain and brushed texture, rounded edges and neat corners. While sharing the same craftsmanship origin as Birkin and Kelly bags, it is more understated and sheer.

The Togo leather we use is chrome-tanned hide sourced from calves under one year old. First introduced in 1997, it remains one of the most widely used leathers by Hermès. For the Evelyne, the leather thickness is normally 2.2 to 2.4 millimeters, slightly thinner than that of Birkin bags to strike a balance between structure and light weight. It features natural pebbled grain with irregularly sized granules arranged in an inverted triangular pattern. The surface is matte, slightly dry and marked with natural pores. Given its dry, matte and supple nature, thick, glossy or rigid edge coating will easily crack, peel off and ruin the overall look.

We adopt water-based resin edge paint exclusively used for Hermès goods. This material boasts high flexibility, low sheen and strong coverage, and we always apply paint from the same batch to ensure a perfect colour match with the leather. Typical characteristics include a sheer, matte look with fine grain and subtle brushed details, never a fully glossy mirror finish.

The leather is precisely cut first, followed by rough, medium and fine polishing in sequence to create smooth, burr-free and slightly rounded edges that feel comfortable to the touch. As Togo leather is relatively soft, we shape the corners with a round punch to prevent splitting at sharp angles.

Multiple ultra-thin coats of edge paint are applied, which is the core of the whole process. We normally apply three to five coats, and up to seven for premium pieces, with no excessive build-up at any time. Each coat is left to dry completely before hand polishing with abrasives ranging from 400 to 1200 grit, then the next coat is applied. The finished edge is sheer enough to reveal faint leather fibres and cut lines, with a fine sandy and brushed surface instead of a mirror shine.

Corners go through secondary polishing and additional thin coats to achieve a clean look free of excess paint, bubbles or dents. Edges around strap holes and hardware are neatly finished with no overflow or smudging.

The final product features a matte or semi-matte surface with soft diffused reflection under light, without the cheap plastic gloss. It feels smooth yet not slippery, with a subtle dry texture typical of genuine leather and no sticky residue. Visually, the edges are sheer and even, with smooth rounds, crisp corners and no excess glue, bubbles or cracks.

When comparing edge finishing on Evelyne and Birkin in Togo leather, the Evelyne features thinner, sheerer and more matte edges with more prominent grain and brushed effects, delivering a more restrained style. The Birkin has slightly thicker edges with a gentle lustre and fuller appearance, yet it never comes with a mirror finish.

Common flaws seen on ordinary counterfeits include overly thick and glossy edge coating that resembles nail polish. The surface is completely flat with no grain or brushed texture due to heavy paint coverage. Defects such as accumulated glue, bubbles, dents and rough edges often appear at corners. The colour also tends to be too dark or too light, accompanied by inconsistent gloss across the surface.