Casual Luxury: The Underrated Hermès Bags You Should Know

HERMES CABAG 40

HERMES CABAG 40

HERMES CABAG 40

HERMES CABAG 40

HERMES CABAG 40

HERMES CABAG 40

Don’t you think my beat-up Carhartt and faded Hermès make the perfect match?

I got incredibly lucky and managed to score two old Hermès Cabags in black. If you know Soobaak, you know we sell just about everything… but this bag? I regretted selling it so much. 

At the time, I thought, I’ll just find another one later. But nope—turns out, getting a large size is nearly impossible.

So after years of hunting in Japan, the U.S., and Korea, I finally tracked down just two.

If someone told me to pick five Hermès bags, my list would be:

1️⃣ Cabag 40 (Black or Brown)

2️⃣ Herbag 39 (Black or Beton)

3️⃣ Birkin 40 (Black, Brown, or Red)

4️⃣ Fourre-Tout Cabas (the tall one)

5️⃣ Polochon (large size)

What’s the criteria? The most affordable Hermès bags (excluding the Birkin), all from the Margiela era, and some of the most casual designs from any luxury brand. And best of all? Bags that don’t scream Hermès at first glance.

Oh, and today’s photos were taken by Soobaak Manager, inspired by Ban Yoonhee’s style. As you can see, the big size works perfectly for women too—keep that in mind! Hope anyone who loves this bag gets to enjoy it.

🍉 Old Hermès Cabag 40

🍉 Width: 40cm | Height: 40cm

🍉 Well-loved condition

🍉 1,800,000 KRW

Made in France

PS: The previous owner bought it in Paris over a decade ago for around 4 million KRW.

#SoobaakVintage

#SoobaakTeam

#SoobaakOldLuxury

#OldHermes

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#SoobaakLuxuryResale

Warmth, Style, and Versatility: The Power of a Duck Down Vest

The one item that gives me the ultimate sense of satisfaction during the FW season (no doubt about it) is the duck down vest.

I’m not someone who works outdoors, but I do find myself constantly moving in and out throughout the day, and our basement shop isn’t exactly the warmest place. So, the duck down vest is just perfect for me.

With no sleeves, it offers great mobility, and let me tell you—nothing keeps your shoulders and neck warmer. Plus, layering it over a light jacket? It looks amazing. But apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks so. No matter the price, they sell out as soon as they hit the store, so I never get to keep one for myself.

The colors are also spot-on—deep green and orange (rescue color). They blend seamlessly with the blue (denim), gray (wool pants), green (fatigue), and brown (chinos) tones that most of us already have in our wardrobes. So, to whoever gets their hands on one—enjoy it for me!

🍉 00s Levi's 505 (34/32)

🍉 Regular fit

🍉 95,000 KRW

🍉 Royalties Paris NEMO Kaki Beanie

🍉 70% recycled wool / 28% polyamide / 2% other fibers

🍉 72,000 KRW

• Made in France

🍉 Sierra Designs x Beams Plus Reversible Duck Down Vest (L size, recommended for 100~105)

🍉 Chest 59cm | Length 73/80cm

🍉 Nearly new

🍉 SOLD OUT

#SoobaakVintage#DuckDownVestForTheWin

Soobaak Folk Art: Native African Mask

The highlight of my recent buying trip to New York was discovering a Native African supplier. While it would be amazing to bring back a full container of goods, that’s beyond Soobaak’s current scale. For now, our selection will include some vintage textiles and curated objects like this mask, carefully filtered through Soobaak’s lens.

Herbie Hancock Head Hunters (1973) album cover

Native African Wooden Mask

Native African Wooden Mask

Native African Wooden Mask

Native African Wooden Mask

Native African Wooden Mask

Native African Wooden Mask

Native African Wooden Mask

I have a heartwarming story from the buying process. I was so captivated by the Native African items that I selected them with reckless enthusiasm—only to realize I was about $1,200 short in cash. I asked the vendor if I could send the remaining amount later from Korea. To my surprise, he agreed without hesitation, trusting me with such a significant amount. I believe this trust stems from the credibility built by my past dealings with other Korean partners. It’s truly gratifying to feel that kind of recognition and trust.

At Soobaak, we like to balance spaces with a mix of products, artworks, and crafts—roughly in a 5:3:2 ratio. This balance keeps the space from feeling too predictable, adds just the right amount of commercial appeal, and creates warmth.

This Native African mask fits perfectly into the craft category. When selecting craft items, I lean towards pieces with a hint of modern DNA rather than something entirely traditional. This allows them to blend seamlessly with the furniture and artworks I already have.

This particular mask was traditionally worn by men during festivals, funerals, or when welcoming esteemed guests. As with many objects of this kind, its symbolism revolves around prosperity and protection. The horns and teeth signify a fierce determination to safeguard their people.

I had seen similar masks during visits to inspiring spaces, so when I spotted this one in New York, I didn’t hesitate to bring it back. Isn’t it just adorable? I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Thank you, as always, for your support.

🍉 Antique Native African Wooden Mask

🍉 Face only: Width 22.5cm | Height 25cm

🍉 Including horns: Width 22.5cm | Height 40cm

🍉 600,000 KRWFun Fact: A similar piece was auctioned at Sotheby’s in 2008 for $10,755 (approx. 14.5 million KRW).

P.S. The last photo is from a select shop in Osaka.

#SoobaakVintage

#SoobaakFolkArt

#NativeAfrican

#GolibauleMask

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