Hello from Thierry Studio.
The bag we are comparing with an authentic example today
is the Hermès Garden Party 30 in Gold Negonda with palladium hardware 🙂
Which of these two do you think is authentic?
As always, let’s begin with proof of our authentic purchase.
We could not source a suitable Garden Party 30 directly from a boutique,
so we purchased this example through a resale platform.
Top: original purchase record / Bottom: translated purchase record
Here is the purchase record.
It is a 2023 bag with a B date stamp.
We bought it on June 26, 2024, for approximately US$4,620.
Our recorded total, including the currency-conversion fees charged at the time,
is approximately US$5,220 in USD-equivalent terms.
Before looking at the overall shape,
let’s examine a few details!
Here is the saddle stitching on the front handle.
The neat diagonal stitches are beautifully finished, aren’t they?
From the stitching alone,
you cannot tell which of the two is authentic.
The handle shapes and stitching around the opening
look so alike
that even I got confused when choosing the photos.
Now it is time to reveal the authentic bag.
Of these two,
the authentic one is on the right, with the tag!
The tag would have given it away,
which is why we saved the full-shape photos until now. Let’s take a closer look.
Left: Thierry Studio / Right: Hermès
Here is the view from the side.
Even with the side snaps undone,
the Garden Party retains its distinctive shape.
Left: Thierry Studio / Right: Hermès
This is how it looks with the side snaps fastened.
Top: Thierry Studio / Bottom: Hermès
Negonda may not look dramatically different,
but its feel is very distinct from Togo
or Clemence.
You do not need to be an expert to notice it by touch.
Negonda has an exceptionally matte finish and a very dry feel.
There is a clear reason
why it is so often used for the Garden Party.
The Garden Party was inspired by
a traditional picnic bag.
Designed for convenient use during outdoor activities
such as picnics and gardening,
it uses Negonda leather for its ability to withstand
a full day of rain and a thorough soaking.
Left: Thierry Studio / Right: Hermès
The base
Because the bag was designed
for convenient outdoor use, it has no protective metal feet.
Even without feet, Negonda itself is highly resistant
to the scratches and wear of daily use,
helping it stay in good condition over time.
Left: Thierry Studio / Right: Hermès
Looking at the handles,
you should be able to see the Negonda texture like this.
Top: Thierry Studio / Bottom: Hermès
Here is the interior pocket of the Hermès Garden Party.
The resemblance is very close.
Look closely at the Riri zipper tape:
even its diagonal weave has been reproduced.
Top: Thierry Studio / Bottom: Hermès
The interior base
Top: Thierry Studio / Bottom: Hermès
Here is the Hermès logo stamp inside.
Because of Negonda’s characteristics, the stamp
is less sharply defined than on Togo or Clemence.
To make it extremely sharp,
you would need to apply more pressure
when stamping, which could damage the leather.
That is why authentic bags are not stamped that way either.
Top: Thierry Studio / Bottom: Hermès
Here is the engraving on the Garden Party 30’s snap.
More than 90% of the products on the market
show a significant difference at this detail.
On an authentic Garden Party, the lettering is very fine,
almost as if scratched with a sharp point.
Most alternatives on the market do not have lines this thin.
Here is a photo of the authentic Garden Party placed alongside genuine Negonda leather.
You probably have not seen a photo like this before—and we doubt you will find one elsewhere!
That completes our comparison
with an authentic Hermès Garden Party 30.
We believe we are uniquely able to make a bag
that holds its own even when placed beside the original.
Please feel free to contact us anytime 🙂
