Two things trip people up about the Haut à Courroies: how to say it, and where it comes from. Here is both, properly — because understanding the HAC is understanding the origin of the most famous handbag in the world.
How to pronounce Haut à Courroies
Roughly: “oh-ah-koor-WAH”. “Haut” sounds like “oh” (the H and T are silent), “à” is a short “ah,” and “Courroies” ends on a soft “wah.” The phrase translates as “high with straps,” describing the tall shape and the two buckled straps across the front.
From saddlery to icon
Hermès was founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès as a harness and saddle workshop serving European nobility and their horses. As the business grew, it applied its saddlery craft — especially the hand saddle-stitch still used today — to travel goods.
The Haut à Courroies emerged in the 1890s as a tall carrier designed to hold a rider’s saddle and boots; the straps that give it its name secured the load. As the automobile replaced the carriage in the early twentieth century, Hermès adapted its equestrian expertise into luggage and fashion, and the HAC evolved from functional tack carrier into a coveted bag.
The HAC and the Birkin
In 1984, on a flight beside Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas, actress Jane Birkin remarked that she could not find a bag to suit her needs. The bag Hermès created for her was adapted directly from the HAC — softer, wider, easier for everyday — and became the Birkin. In other words, the HAC is the design DNA behind the world’s most sought-after handbag.
Why it matters today
Knowing the HAC’s story explains its character: the height, the straps, the structure and the top-handle carry are all inherited from a working saddle bag. Continue with our complete HAC guide or see how it stacks up against its descendant in HAC vs Birkin.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say Haut à Courroies?
Roughly oh-ah-koor-WAH. It means “high with straps” in French.
How old is the HAC?
The Haut à Courroies dates to the 1890s, making it nearly a century older than the Birkin.
Did the Birkin come from the HAC?
Yes. The 1984 Birkin was adapted directly from the HAC into a softer, wider everyday bag.
