Hermès Birkin Bag
Design classic and status symbol: the Hermès Birkin Bag
The Birkin Bag by Hermès is a household name to anyone interested in exclusive fashion accessories. Produced in 1984 for the first time, it took the hearts of fashion-conscious women by storm. Of course, this legendary style icon is not easy to get: A Hermès Birkin bag is handmade by order in the exclusive Parisian studio - and the starting price is at 5,000 Euro.
Birkin meets Hermès - a classic is born
According to Hermès, the Birkin Bag owes its existence to a coincidence: Actress Jane Birkin and Hermès manager Jean-Louis Dumas met by chance on a Paris-London flight in 1983. Legend has it that Birkin dropped her handbag, a Hermès Agenda, on the flight, whereupon the contents spread on the floor and the actress complained that there was no spacious ladies handbag by Hermès. Dumas introduced himself and invited Jane Birkin to his studio, where the Birkin Bag was designed according to her wishes and desires. In 1984, the first Birkin Bag was launched - and with it began an unprecedented success story that continues until today.
Exclusivity is a top priority
Unlike an it-bag, which has already gone out of fashion after a season, the Birkin Bag has become an unprecedented success story of design and iconic value. Even the prices of used models reach dizzying heights. For example, the style icon Birkin Bag claimed the highest prices a bag has ever achieved at an auction: bidders bid more than 200,000 Euros for Hermès Birkin models – and more. This shows how in demand the design classic is not only an exclusive fashion accessory, but also an investment. The craftsmanship of carefully selected materials and the low number of pieces - and the fact that every Birkin Bag is uniquely handmade according to the wishes of the customer – add to the immense exclusivity of the bag. Thus, waiting times of several years for a Birkin Bag are not uncommon. In 2013 Hermès even had to temporarily close the waiting list until the waiting orders had been processed.
What distinguishes the Hermès Birkin Bag?
The Birkin Bag was designed by Hermès for women who are looking for a spacious, perfectly crafted and elegant handbag for every occasion from everyday shopping trip to weekend getaway. The Birkin Bag is available in various sizes from 25 to 55 centimeters, with the two largest sizes being designed as a travel bag. Only carefully selected leathers of the same color as the base can be used to achieve the best results when coloring. The search for the right leather can therefore take some time. Cutting and manual production take about twenty working hours, whereby highest demands are placed on the skills of the bag makers. The result is an exclusive status symbol of timeless elegance that thrills celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Lopez or Lily Allen – and fashionistas all over the world.
