Birkin: All about the iconic bag

 

      The History of the bag

        In 1984, Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas was sitting next to Jane Birkin in a flight from Paris to London. The actress, carrying her straw basket, placed it in the overheard compartment of her seat, having the contents fall out to the floor. Jane later said to Dumas that it had been extremely difficult for her to find a leather bag that would fit everything she wanted during a weekend getaway, while also being stylish. After hearing her complaints, Dumas sketched the black version of the Birkin Bag. 

Jane Birkin

How did it become popular?

        Difficult to believe nowadays, but once the bag hit the market it wasn't successful. The reason why this happened is because Chanel bags nominated the market in the 80s, something that eventually changed in the 90s. Specifically, the Birkin's popularity skyrocketed in 2001 through an episode of Sex and the City, with the iconic phrase ''It's not a bag- it's a Birkin!''. Finally the Birkin bag was considered the ''It Bag''.

The main cast of Sex and the City

Birkin Bag Materials

        All Hermès bags are made of high quality materials. Different bags are made of leather and other skins of exotic animals, like crocodiles. The first bag appeared in calf box leather, which now is considered the original version of the famous bag. Some other versions of the bag are the Togo Birkin made of calfskin leather, the Epsom and Fjord that are waterproof and the Clemence that is made of cowhide. Every bag is lined with goat skin, while the interior and the exterior colors match. Moreover, for safety the bags can lock. The metallic elements of the bag (such as the lock, the keys and the buckle hardware) are plated with palladium or gold, while the option of adding custom diamonds is also available. 

Manufacturing process

   The Birkin bags are being manufactured in 58 cities of France. Every manufacturer has been trained for up to 5 years before making their first bag. Moreover, each bag takes up to 18 hours to make as it is completely handmade (hand sewn and later on buffed, painted and polished).

Black Birkin Bag

The Birkin bag today

        There are different Birkin bag versions that are available to the market today. The bag comes in sizes 25cm, 30cm, 35cm and 40cm and in different types of leather. One of the most expensive bags used to be the one with the saltwater crocodile skin. Over the years the bag has become a symbol of the socioeconomic status of the person carrying it, with its prices ranging from 10.000 to 500.000 dollars. 

   Shopping a Birkin

        The Birkin bag is probably the most wanted bag of the century. This is why Hermès sustains the bag's prestigious status by making available only a specific and secret amount of bags each year. Furthermore, every client can only purchase a specific amount of Birkins, something that has created admiration for the product.