Hermès launched its Bolide handbag in 1923.
The Bolide was created during a period when automobiles were transforming travel and daily life. Its rounded shape and secure zipped closure suited modern transport, helping it stand apart from many earlier open or clasped handbag designs.
The model is often associated with the history of the modern handbag because it was among the early luxury bags to use a zipper as a prominent closure. Hermès had access to zipper technology through its broader travel-goods and leatherwork activities.
The Bolide is sometimes confused with the brand’s later iconic handbags, especially the Kelly and Birkin. Those models became associated with famous women and distinct periods, whereas the Bolide’s origin is tied more directly to the rise of the automobile.