The A-Z Fascinating Story of the Hermès Birkin Bag
You don’t need to finish saying “Birkin bag”, and millions of people will immediately know what you’re talking about. Ever wondered why the Hermès Birkin Bag is a word of mouth, highly sought-after bag and how it paved its lustrous way into the high-end fashion scene?
Far from ordinary, topped with top-tier craftsmanship, flashing eye-popping prices that keep going up, plus posing as a profitable catch in resale markets, the list of attributes goes on and on! Add to it as much as you want, but the Hermès Birkin is capped worldwide as an iconic It bag and has long been regarded as the epitome of prestige! So, let’s travel back to the interesting story behind it!
IT ALL GOES BACK TO JANE BIRKIN
It all started in the sky. No surprise, it’s true! A journey from Paris to London in 1981 was the get-go for the Hermès Birkin bag! Internationally adored actress and singer Jane Birkin used to carry her wicker basket on the go, where one day, the lid fell off, and she accidentally dropped her belongings. While her papers were all over the plane, her seatmate helped her collect her possessions back, and introduced himself as Jean-Louis Dumas, executive chairman of Hermès. And the rest is history for this chance encounter!
While it-girl Birkin was dwelling on the challenges of finding a roomy leather weekend bag that would be ideal for carrying her day-to-day essentials as a young mother, Dumas started sketching with his keen eye the future Birkin bag on an aircraft sick-bag based on the Haut Courroies (or HAC for short); and in 1984, the bag finally rose to markets. It was as if destiny had brought the two people together at that very moment!
FIRST HORSE HARNESSES THEN BIRKIN BAGS
While Birkin is fabled for her musical work, she took a leap of faith and launched her design business. Hermès similarly had its start in a totally unrelated field! With the first store opening in Paris in 1837, Hermès was illustrious for producing horse carriages and harnesses before becoming a household name in the fashion industry. And it wasn’t until 1922 that the company started to be associated with handbags. In fact, the first-ever Kelly bag, spotted being carried by Princess Grace of Monaco, was a “Sac à dépêches,” which quickly became a mark of originality when designed from feed bags and saddles for horses! Who could have expected such mind-blowing chronicles for such a bag?
HOW DID THE BIRKIN BAGS BECOME SO POPULAR AND EXCLUSIVE?
Even though the Birkin is a pro-tem glory, it was far from an overnight sensation in the early 1980s, as Chanel was remarkably prevailing over the luxury market. Not until the mid-to-late 1990s had it grabbed the headlines, begetting the infamous It-bag fever.
The legendary bag hasn’t stopped growing in price, popularity, and exclusivity ever since the 1990s. Of course, this makes it a favorite among A-listers, such as Kim Kardashian and Victoria Beckham who hastened its spotlight appeal. Its adoration around the world didn’t stop there! The notable *Sex and the City* hit television program’s ultimate status symbol was bestowed onto the Birkin in 2001; when Samantha Jones skipped the five-year waiting list for the coveted it-bag with the help of a celebrity client, the bag was employed as a plot device. Even after the show aired, the Birkin waiting list reportedly skyrocketed! It seems that everyone is pumping their crush on it!
But how has it endured so long with such a famous reputation?
In the realm of high-end brands and the rush to scoop designer bags, the Hermès Birkin Bag is the one that actually stands out, a uniqueness that had other designer brands struck by yielding the same honor. Even Chanel is following the lead by increasing the price of its classic flap and putting their clients on waiting lists!
Besides, it’s the paragon of handcrafted luxury to the highest level of excellence, with nearly 200 years of tradition and craftsmanship that requires 48 hours of meticulous artistry! Hermès never divulges how many Birkin bags will be produced per year and sets a limit on their annual purchases by person to keep the supply exclusive to the most affluent. What a way to go to maintain the bag’s devoted fan base!
Have you heard that even gold has been compared to the Birkin as a superior investment? Due to its exclusivity, the handcrafted bag is a true expression of opulence. Here’s how you can seize all the ins and outs of its value on resale. Take, for example, the coveted Hermes Birkin Himalayan bag; it sold at an auction for just over $500,000! An investment as sound as a dollar!
So, as much as anything to say, the Hermès Birkin Bag has stood the test of time; exclusive, highly coveted, and tremendously jaw-dropping. It’s an icon that will never lose its value and class! Eager to buy a Birkin gem and skip the hassle of waiting lists? You can get your hands on your favorite on Libas Collective at a price you’ll love!
