Etoupe, a gray-brown shade that straddles gray and brown, is the most common gray on the secondary market, comprising around 2% of all Hermès bags sold at auction. In production since at least 2004, Etoupe has become part of the permanent collection of Hermès colors, along with Black, Gold, White and Rouge H. The value of Etoupe bags at auction has remained below Etain’s, but Etoupe bags have steadily increased in value over the past year by about 4%.
Colors of Etoupe
As a neutral for all occasions, Etoupe is highly sought after by collectors and is often referred to as gray and brown. The white stitching on Etoupe bags emphasizes Hermès’ craftsmanship by contrast with the leather color. Etoupe bags’ tone varies entirely depending on their hardware. A gold bag has a warm, rich tone, while a palladium bag has a soft, steely tone. There is a difference in color between Clemence and Swift leathers, but Etoupe has not yet been produced as an exotic leather.
Etoupe in the Future
As part of the 25cm Shadow Birkin, Hermès released a version in Etoupe, which confirmed the shade’s continued popularity. Etoupe has also been used for the new 20cm Mini Kelly II bag, as well as the new Sellier Birkin bag, which displays more of the color’s famous contrast stitching than any Retourne Birkin bag ever could. There are almost no other bags that command a higher price on the secondary market than the Etoupe Togo Birkin and Kelly 25 bags in Etoupe Togo. For over two decades, Etoupe bags have been available in all shapes and sizes. The most popular leather for Etoupe is Togo, accounting for 48% of the auction market for the color. Nearly a third is Clemence, and about 13% is Epsom. Among the rare leathers found in Etoupe are Tadelakt, Swift, Novillo and Chevre.
Gray with a touch of color
Despite the fact that Hermès has only a few gray shades in their collection, some hues are prone to gray and have become particularly sought-after because of their multifaceted qualities. A combination of blue and gray, Blue Orage, introduced in 2013, evokes the tension of a storm, putting both on equal footing. A pale steely grey/blue, Blue Glacier was introduced in 2015. It is inspired by the cold, crisp air of an icy glacier. In recent years, Vert Amand has become a favorite gray among Hermes collectors.
The Amande color, named after fresh almonds, seamlessly blends green and gray into a fresh new neutral that is available just recently in 2019. Gris Meyer is one of Hermès’ favorite new neutral shades, compared to the dark clouds in a sky carrying storm. This shade has proven to be among the most valuable colors on the secondary market.
