How the Hermès Birkin Bag Became Iconic?

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Considered one of the most coveted leather goods in the world, the Hermès Birkin bag has become over the years a fashion icon, even a Holy Grail. A piece with a timeless design that radiates the craftsmanship of the French house, and which sells for thousands of euros. From its creation to its arrival at the most prestigious auctions, here’s a look back at the story of one of the most emblematic bags in women’s fashion.

How was the idea of the Hermès Birkin bag born?

Like many couture house bags, Hermès chose to associate the name of a woman with its model created in 1984, and not just any woman.

The Birkin bag reflects in its name the very genesis of its birth, somewhat unexpected and original. Actress and singer Jane Birkin, to whom we owe the birth of the legendary eponymous handbag, explained in numerous interviews how the idea for this bag was born.

While she was on a flight, the young woman, sitting unknowingly next to Hermès’ artistic director and president, Jean-Louis Dumas, accidentally spilled some items from her bag. From this incident, a discussion began between the two passengers, as she recounted a few years ago, “He told me I would be better off putting my personal items in my pockets.” To this, Jane Birkin pointed out that if Hermès made a bag with pockets, she would take it. What followed was the unexpected reply from her neighbor “I am Mr. Hermès and I will add pockets for you.”

One thing led to another, the first sketch of the ideal bag imagined by the artist was drafted on a vomit bag in the middle of the sky on a day in 1981. The Birkin bag was initially designed to be larger than the Kelly bag and smaller than the Serge suitcase, offering adequate space to store both her belongings as a young mother and the numerous scripts related to her work.

Thus, in 1984, the artist received the new Hermès Birkin bag, which became the first it-bag of the house!

In 2011, Jane Birkin auctioned off this first piece to support Japan as it was dealing with the consequences of the tsunami. The Red Cross thus collected the 110,000 euros raised during the sale. The model is now in the collection of Catherine B, known for her collections of Hermès and Chanel bags.

Why has the Hermès Birkin bag become one of the most prized leather goods in the world?

With its design recognizable among thousands, the Hermès Birkin bag comes in a range of handbags available in several sizes (25,30,34,40cm), as well as a range designed for travel between 50 and 55 cm. The piece, mainly made of leather, is worked with details in gold or platinum plating, and comes with a numbered padlock, whose keys are placed in a leather strap attached to the handle.

Each piece is customizable, from the choice of its material to its accessories. Some colors are specific to a season, or collection, making the piece even more coveted. Some artists have even used it as a canvas to express their art.

What role have celebrities played in the popularity of the Hermès Birkin bag?

If all women have started dreaming about the Hermès Birkin bag, it is, among other things, due to the aura of the British artist who inspired women around the world. They, wishing to recreate her outfits, would in turn slip the famous bag onto their arm.

As the years passed, the model has continuously gained in popularity, with many female figures of our time collecting the Hermès Birkin bag, including, among others, Lady Gaga or Victoria Beckham.

The surge of social media has also helped maintain the myth surrounding the piece. The unboxing videos of the piece have garnered millions of views under the tags #hermesunboxing and #birkinunboxing. Recently, a 19-year-old woman shared her purchasing journey of a model worth €180,000 on TikTok, accumulating thousands of views.

Pop culture has also winked at it, partly through rap lyrics by artists like A$AP Rocky, but also through series. This was the case in Sex and The City, where Samantha learns about the famous waiting list to acquire a Birkin bag in… 5 years!

How has the limited production of the piece heightened the myth surrounding the bag?

Yes, if the bag has become so coveted, it is partly because of the famous waiting list leading to the prestigious bag. Produced in small quantities, a waiting list system had been in place for years to hopefully get one’s hands on a model. From the 2010s, these lists began to disappear thanks to a slightly higher production of the model. However, production remains low compared to the increasing demand (about 12,000 pieces produced per year), so there is still some waiting time before acquiring one’s Hermès Birkin bag.

The piece thus stands out as an exclusive item, attracting even more attention.

Rumors say that some customers, maintaining good relationships with store staff, can hope to be informed of new arrivals, or even, have the honor of being offered one! You know what to do on Wednesday afternoons…

Why is the second-hand market so lucrative for the Hermès Birkin bag?

Facing rare items in stores, the second-hand market flourishes to get one’s hands on a model as recent as it is from past collections.

The Hermès Birkin bag represents a real gold mine for owners, with an exponential increase in value. While we observe a constant increase in the price of items in stores, this is even more notable in second-hand items. Particularly due to the factor of rarity of the pieces. The value of a bag is positioned above that of gold and art objects.

This is how many auctions, including those by Chritstie’s house, see exceptional models passing through their hands with sale prices that can exceed €250,000.

Why is the Hermès Birkin bag one of the most expensive bags in the world?

Beyond the aspect of rarity that plays in favor of its price growth, it is mainly the craftsmanship behind the Hermès Birkin bag that justifies its high cost, placing it among the most expensive bags in the world.

Each bag is handmade in France, by a craftsman who dedicates himself entirely to one piece. Over the course of forty hours, the craftsman brings the bag to life from scratch, from cutting the materials to the finishing touches, with each model in the range having its own unique details.

A unique approach to craftsmanship, distinguishing the Hermès Birkin bag from other leather goods. Thus, a craftsman can recognize a bag he has made, and sometimes finds himself years later retouching the bag.

Repair is another point justifying the price of the Birkin. Indeed, if necessary, clients can have their bag repaired if it needs to be reinforced. Something that never happens before many years as it is so robust. And here we touch on a 3rd point: the quality of the bag.

Made with high-quality materials, selected with the utmost care, and assembled by hand with precision, the Birkin bag is one of the most durable on the market, and it is known to be an extremely long-term investment. And this is confirmed by the presence of thousands of models in perfect condition on the second-hand market, some of which have many years of existence on their record.

Why did Jane Birkin wish to no longer be associated with the eponymous bag?

While the Hermès Birkin bag attracts all eyes, one of the models in the range has drawn fire on numerous occasions. Following revelations by the PeTA association about the deplorable slaughter conditions of Crocodylus niloticus, whose scales were used by Hermès to create its Himalaya model (becoming the most expensive bag in the world), Jane Birkin herself wished for her name to no longer be associated with the model in 2015. And this, until measures were taken to improve the situation and manufacturing adheres to international standards.

The house stated that an investigation was being conducted on the farm and clarified that these skins were not used for the Birkins.

The British artist, who passed away last July 16, has thus marked women with her grace, and has offered them a new companion for life. If the piece does not fit into your budget, the English company ByRotation offers the Hermès Birkin bag for daily rental, ideal for dreaming for a day!