Most handbag handles sit neatly on top. The Lindy's sit on the sides. It seems like a small change until you lift the bag: its soft body folds inward and settles against you instead of sticking out.
Introduced to the public in Hermès' Spring-Summer 2007 collection, the Lindy brought a more playful approach to everyday luxury. Its name comes from the Lindy Hop, a lively swing dance. The connection feels right for a bag designed to move comfortably with its owner.
A few things worth knowing
The Lindy appeared in the Spring-Summer 2007 collection; some histories date its design to 2006.
Its handles sit on the side gussets, allowing the body to fold naturally.
The range has included 26, 30, 34 and 45 cm, followed by the compact Mini Lindy.
Lindys are offered in boutiques and may appear on the Hermès website, though availability varies.
Prices today
Updated October 18, 2026, from public resale listings read every day.
What is a Lindy actually listed for on the resale market? Choose a size and a condition: the figures and the chart follow.
Size
Condition
Median asking priceUS$10,000
Middle halfUS$8,000 to US$12,000
Listingsabout 190
Estimated sale priceUS$8,000 to US$9,000MyQuotaBag estimate: 10 to 20% below the median asking price
These are asking prices. They are what sellers ask on public listings, mostly in the United States, Europe and Asia, converted to US dollars. They include each seller's margin. Buyers often pay less: recent auction and resale reports put many bags between retail and about 30% below the asking prices seen here. The estimated sale price is a MyQuotaBag estimate, not a valuation of any bag.
Lindy 20
Classic leather. The chart follows the size and condition chosen; each column is a US$2,000 step, tap a column for its figures. Condition levels follow each seller's own grading, grouped by MyQuotaBag; All counts every listing, including those marked only « used ». Snapshot of 2026-10-18.
Arriving November 16, 2026
Asking prices over time. A second chart here will show how Lindy asking prices move week by week, for the size and condition chosen above.
Time on the market. How long a Lindy listing stays online before it is withdrawn. A withdrawn listing does not necessarily mean the bag sold.
According to Sotheby's, designer Frédéric Vidal noticed that traditional top handles could push a person's arm awkwardly away from the body. His solution was refreshingly simple: move the handles to the sides.
That one decision changed how the bag hangs, folds and feels. When the handles come together, the leather settles into a soft curve. When the bag is open, its interior feels generous and accessible.
A name with a little swing
The Lindy appeared on the runway during Jean Paul Gaultier's years as creative director of Hermès womenswear. Some published histories give 2006 as the design year and 2007 as its debut. These dates can coexist rather than contradict one another.
Hermès says the name pays tribute to the Lindy Hop, the energetic dance that developed in Harlem in the late 1920s. It's an unexpectedly joyful reference for a luxury bag and a good description of the way the design moves.
Where the sources disagree
Mini Lindy II measurements: dimensions and strap length come from collector guides, not from an Hermès specification sheet.
Why collectors love it
Comfortable by design
The side handles let the bag rest close to the body when carried on the arm. A shoulder strap connects to the handles and offers another way to wear it. The result feels more relaxed than a formal top-handle bag without giving up thoughtful construction.
Room where you need it
A double zipper opens the top and exterior side pockets make it easy to reach a phone or card holder. The interior is relatively open. For someone who wants an Hermès bag to carry frequently, these practical choices matter more than a complicated closure.
The design
From the front, the Lindy looks like a softly rounded rectangle. The two handles emerge from the side gussets, not the top edge. When lifted, the bag folds gently inward, a movement sometimes described by collectors as a rocking or tipping effect.
Across the top are two zippers with a small central turn clasp. Pockets on either side sit below the handles. The details are easy to overlook, but together they explain why the Lindy feels so different from a traditional handbag.
The bascule effect
Collectors often talk about the way the Lindy folds when it is lifted by its handles.
Because the handles are attached to the sides, the leather collapses gently inward. Some describe it as a rocking or tipping motion, a little like a seesaw.
That movement gives the bag its relaxed silhouette and makes it comfortable to carry on the arm. It is also why the Lindy is usually made in supple leathers that move well.
Sizes and versions
The original Lindy family has included 26, 30, 34 and 45. The 26 is a compact everyday choice, approximately 26 × 18 cm in collector guides. The 30, at roughly 30 × 19 cm, offers a little more room. The 34 can work for a full day out, while the 45 is an uncommon travel-oriented size.
The Mini Lindy, seen on the Fall-Winter 2019 runway according to collector sources, brings the idea to a roughly 19 to 20 cm body. Its longer strap allows crossbody wear, unlike the larger formats that are more commonly worn on the shoulder or arm.
A later Mini Lindy II makes small adjustments. PurseBop reports a somewhat shorter strap and possibly a body around 2 cm shorter at the base, although Hermès has not published a complete specification comparison. In October 2026, a US Hermès listing showed a Lindy II Mini at US$9,050.
Beyond the classic Lindy
Verso styles contrast the interior and exterior colors. Touch combines calfskin with exotic details, while Éclat adds contrasting accents around the handles or straps. Other limited interpretations include canvas, woven leather and rare exotic materials.
Leathers and hardware
The Lindy works best with leathers that can move. Clemence offers softness and a relaxed drape. Swift has a smoother surface and shows seasonal colors beautifully. Evercolor brings a fine grain and a supple feel. Rare examples appear in crocodile, ostrich and mixed materials.
Its hardware is restrained: the central closure, zipper pulls and strap attachments. Gold and palladium finishes are familiar, with other treatments appearing in selected versions. Classic neutrals such as Étoupe, Étain, Gold and Noir share the collection with colorful seasonal editions.
How do you buy a Lindy?
Unlike a classic Birkin or Kelly, a Lindy may appear on the Hermès website as well as in boutiques. Online stock can disappear quickly and individual sizes or colors are not consistently available.
Collector guides commonly describe it as a non-quota style, but that doesn't make every Mini Lindy easy to find. Hermès does not publish distribution rules or a formula for receiving a particular bag.
What does a Lindy cost at retail?
A Lindy II Mini was listed on the US Hermès site for approximately US$9,050 in October 2026. Sotheby's published a similar 2026 reference for the Mini Lindy and approximately US$8,700 for a Lindy 34 in Clemence. Prices depend on the model, material and market and boutique quotations take precedence.
The resale market offers another perspective on the Lindy. Some collectors turn to it for a particular color or size; others to find pieces no longer offered in boutiques. Prices vary widely, which is why a single price rarely tells the whole story.
Classic leather, by size
Median asking prices, October 18, 2026. US dollars, asking prices from public listings, not confirmed sale prices.
Size
Pristine, asking
Pre-owned, asking
Listings
Lindy 20
US$12,000
US$8,600
about 190
Lindy 26
US$10,900
US$7,200
about 80
Lindy 30
too few
US$6,900
about 110
Lindy 34
too few
US$5,000
about 40
Versions and special editions
All sizes and conditions together. A version with fewer than 20 listings says less about the market than one with several thousand.
VersionMedian asking priceListings
Exotic skinsUS$16,500fewer than 20
A Lindy in crocodile, alligator, ostrich or lizard. These skins are made in far smaller numbers and cost much more at the boutique. Crossing a border with one can require CITES paperwork and some countries restrict them.
VersoUS$9,400about 20
A two-color Lindy: one color outside and a contrasting color inside, on the lining and the inner side of the flap or straps. The surprise only shows when the bag is open.
Toile and canvasUS$9,000fewer than 20
Canvas, often Toile H or Toile Goéland, paired with leather trim. Lighter and more casual than an all-leather Lindy, it is often chosen for travel and summer.
ShoulderUS$8,200about 90
The Birkin Shoulder has longer handles so it can be carried on the shoulder rather than in the hand. It is made in larger formats and in small numbers.
Classic leatherUS$7,500about 950
The reference: a Lindy in one of the house's standard leathers, such as Togo, Epsom, Clemence or Swift, in a single color. Most listings fall here, which is why this median is the most reliable on the page.
Tap a version to see what it is.
Think of these figures as a snapshot of the market rather than a valuation of any particular bag.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Lindy introduced?
It debuted publicly in 2007; some sources date its design to 2006.
Who designed it?
Sotheby's credits Frédéric Vidal, working during Jean Paul Gaultier's Hermès era.
Why is it named Lindy?
Hermès says the name honors the Lindy Hop dance.
Why are the handles on the sides?
They let the bag fold naturally and rest closer to the body.
Can it be worn crossbody?
The Mini has a longer strap suited to crossbody wear. Larger Lindys are commonly carried on the arm or shoulder.
Which leather should I choose?
Clemence feels relaxed, Swift is smooth and Evercolor offers a fine-grained, supple finish.
What is the Mini Lindy II?
A revised Mini with small proportion and strap changes described by collector sources; Hermès has not published a full comparison.
Can I buy a Lindy online?
Sometimes, yes. Stock and availability vary.
What is the difference between the Mini Lindy and the Mini Lindy II?
PurseBop reports that the Mini Lindy II has a slightly shorter shoulder strap and may be about 2 cm shorter at the base.
Hermès has not published a full list of changes.
References
Hermès, Lindy collection and product pages.
Sotheby's, “Brief History of the Hermès Lindy”.
PurseBop, “What Is The Difference Between The Original Mini Lindy and the New Mini Lindy II?”.
Bagaholicboy, “Hermès: 10 Things To Know About The Iconic Lindy Bag”.
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About this guide
An independent reference for curious collectors.
MyQuotaBag brings together the stories, craftsmanship and market information behind some of the world's most recognizable handbags, to make them easier to explore and understand.
Resale figures come from publicly available asking prices. They represent listings, not confirmed sales or guaranteed future values. MyQuotaBag is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hermès.
How to cite: MyQuotaBag, « The Hermès Lindy », Hermès Bag Profiles, resale snapshot of 2026-10-18. https://myquotabag.com/bags/lindy/
