Named after English actress and singer Jane Birkin, Birkins are a line of handmade-in-leather tote bags by the French luxury goods maker, Hermès.
In 1983, Jean-Louis Dumas, Chief Executive of Hermès, sat next to Jane Birkin on a flight from Paris to London. Birkin had just put her straw traveling bag in the compartment above her seat, but the contents dropped to the ground, leaving her scrambling to replace them.
Dumas was immediately inspired to make a purposeful bag suitable for modern women and invited Birkin to work with the brand. The Birkin bag was born four years later.
In an interview with The Telegraph at the Hermès Show in 2012, Ms. Birkin recalls requesting a larger bag with pockets for all of her traveling. She then decided to draw her concept from a disposable airplane sickness bag.
The practical benefit of the Birkin bag is its functionality; it is wide enough for traveling and can be sealed to prevent spilling its contents on planes.
Birkin Materials
Hermès is known for using high quality materials, and that applies to their leather. Some of the most popular materials are box calf, alligator, Clemence, Epsom, Togo and Ostrich leather. While Birkin bags can be found in a variety of colours, they are mostly made from the leathers mentioned below.
Every Birkin is made entirely by one craftsman and takes at least 12 hours to produce, but the time can easily be doubled depending on the special features.
Birkin Value
A regular Birkin model retails for about £14,000. While all investments have an inherent risk, there is no indication of a decline in the value of Birkins in the near future. Hermès keeps production numbers under lock and key, resulting in increased value and demand.
Although scarcity needs patience, it also preserves the investment for owners. Keeping your bag in tip-top shape also helps maintain its value; which is why Hermès also provides life-long free service to its valued customers.
Purchasing a Birkin
In 2016, it was announced that the waiting list for this exclusive bag was officially 6 years old, but now the list is a thing of the past further enhancing the prestige of this accessory.
Acquiring a Birkin bag directly is a herculean task, but you’re in the right place - as we currently have pre-owned and brand new Birkin bags in stock.
Click to check them out.