All tools deployed in the Shebag workshop are tailor-made and standardised for leather finishing. The rawhide mallet acts as the core striking tool for edge treatment. Constructed from solid compressed rawhide without any metal inserts, it compacts internal leather fibres upon impact without scratching the delicate grain side or leaving noticeable hammer marks. Each artisan is equipped with one such mallet, carrying forward age-old saddle-making techniques that have stood the test of decades. High-density solid oak planks or polished bone slabs serve as backing supports during pounding. Soft padding would dent leather surfaces, so rigid hard boards are essential to squeeze multi-layer leather thin and tight. Thin copper shims are prepared as auxiliary fittings, slid between stacked thick leather layers to stop delamination under repeated hammer blows.

The first operational stage at Shebag is pre-malleting on folded edges, executed before final edge shaping to create crisp, stiff fold lines. This process is widely applied to the structured flaps of Kelly Sellier models, bag perimeter trims and multi-layer rolled handles. Skiving forms the foundational preparation step.

Following Hermès uniform standards, craftsmen thin down the flesh side of folded edges to a consistent 0.3–0.5mm margin. Thick leather subjected to pounding without prior skiving inevitably develops bulges and split layers. A thin layer of specialised low-acid animal saddle glue is brushed onto the flesh side; workers align folded leather strips and press them firmly by hand for temporary fixation. Segmented light tapping is then carried out for shaping. Artisans alternate vertical and 45-degree angled strikes with the rawhide mallet, starting gently before slightly amplifying force through short, frequent taps rather than brutal heavy blows. Straight edges receive steady, even pounding along fold creases, while curved corners are shaped with small circular tapping motions. The leather piece is then left to rest for 30 minutes, allowing glue to form a complete bond and lock folded fibres into permanent compression that prevents rebound or lifted edges. This stage fundamentally shapes the sharp, rigid outline characteristic of authentic Hermès bag flaps.

The second signature Shebag process is seam malleting completed post saddle stitching, the most recognisable edge finishing technique that yields flawlessly smooth surfaces and flush thread lines. This step is compulsory for all fully hand saddle-stitched Birkin, Kelly and Lindy styles, and also serves as a vital benchmark for authenticity identification. Craftsmen never begin pounding right after stitching. They first trim surplus thread tails and dab tiny amounts of glue on the reverse face to secure loose threads. The leather workpiece is laid flat on a rigid backing slab, and the rawhide mallet glides parallel to the leather surface along the length of seams, rather than striking vertically down onto the stitches themselves. This method delivers two critical benefits. First, it embeds double saddle stitches deep into the leather body, resulting in a fully flush surface free of raised, abrasive thread ridges; genuine Hermès bags feel uniformly smooth along stitching lines when touched from the side. Second, it squeezes adhesive evenly between laminated layers to eliminate microscopic gaps, guarding against internal bubbling and edge splitting during long-term daily use.

Striking force is adjusted hierarchically according to leather varieties. Rigid exotic hides including alligator and lizard demand ultra-light, scattered brief taps to avoid cracking the delicate grain surface. Togo and Epsom cowhide are treated with medium pressure, with each seam receiving two to three full back-and-forth pounding cycles. For thick multi-layer rolled handles, thin copper shims are inserted beneath overlapping leather before malleting to achieve thorough compression of interwoven fibres. Corners with extra stacked thickness undergo supplementary targeted tapping, ensuring consistent thickness across the entire edge without visible uneven bumps or undulations.