The Hermès Birkin bag is one of the most beloved and sought-after designer handbags in the world. The high price tag comes with status, exclusivity, and timeless style.
But how much do you know about the purse referenced in Sex and the City, which has been desired by collectors and worn by A-list celebrities for decades? Let's take a look at what it took to create this fashion icon.
Jane Birkin
The Birkin bag is named after Jane Mallory Birkin, a French and British actress and singer who had it-girl status throughout her life and career. In 1984, the actress was seated beside Jean-Louis Dumas, the CEO of Parisian fashion house Hermès, on a flight from London to Paris.
In mid-flight, Jane's straw bag, which carried everything she was traveling with, broke, and all of her belongings spilled out. Dumas took a moment to help her with her belongings, and the actress explained that while she loved her straw bag, it simply was not durable or functional enough for her lifestyle. The two started brainstorming the perfect handbag: leather, spacious, gorgeous, and with plenty of pockets.
Dumas then dove into the Hermès design archives and made adjustments to their previously released Haut a Courroies bag. The Birkin 40 bag was created using premium box calf leather with details included to cater to everything Jane Birkin said she needed on that famous flight. With two rolled handles, feet on the bottom, a locked enclosure, and pockets big enough to hold baby bottles, the Birkin was a bag with high approval from its namesake.
Paris Fashion House Hermès
The Parisian Hermès fashion brand was started as a harness workshop in 1837 by Thierry Hermès. The first Hermès handbag wasn’t released until 1922. This bag was called The Sac à Dépêches, which was renamed the Kelly, after Hollywood star and Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly, in 1977.
Materials and Manufacturing
The production and craftsmanship of the handbag lends greatly to the steep price tag on the Birkin bag. Each bag is crafted by hand over at least 18 hours, using the highest-quality materials and skilled techniques perfected at Hermès for nearly two centuries.
Each artisan who works on a Birkin bag has been trained for at least five years before they are allowed to contribute to a Birkin. This ensures that every stitch, cut, and detail is absolutely perfect. Hermès is a heritage fashion house, which means that traditional methods are used in the production of each item, and high value is placed on quality and consistency.
Leathers available include cowhide, crocodile, lizard, and ostrich, and each bag is lined with goat skin matching the color of the exterior. The price of these rare materials alone could compete with some luxury handbags on the market. Hermès Birkin hardware is always made of plated precious metals–often palladium or gold. Diamonds can even be fixed into fastenings to really increase the status of this fashion statement piece. Birkin bags are highly sought-after on the pre-owned Hermès bag market.
A Handbag in High Demand
With the time that it takes to create a one-of-a-kind Birkin bag and the popularity of the Hermès name, the demand for a Birkin handbag is astronomical. As basic economics teaches, higher demand creates higher prices. At Hermès, there has also been a need for buyer waitlists for new bags. Birkin bag waitlists have at times been rumored to be up to six years long.
While waiting for your new purse may seem like an annoyance, being on the Birkin bag waitlist was a status symbol in itself. The Birkin handbag is classified as a Veblen good. This status means that as the demand for a product increases the prices also rises. The low supply and high demand for these bags create a frenzy of desire, which makes those with second-hand designer bags for sale a great resource for treasure hunters to find these hard-to-buy-new gems. If you are looking to get your hands on a Birkin bag for your own collection or as a special gift for someone else, used Hermès bags for sale can be a more affordable and accessible option. Especially considering, buying a new Birkin isn’t just the price on the price tag - it’s several purchases preceding that to build trust and favor with a sales associate so you are picked when a Birkin does become available. If you know, you know.
Resale Markets
The price of pre-owned designer bags for sale, in particular Birkin bags, will vary significantly depending on the model, the age, and the condition. The size of the bag, colors available, materials used, finish, etc, all factor into a Hermes bag resale value. Older and more worn bags can go for a few thousand dollars, while larger bags with more exclusive finishes, colors, and custom details can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not to mention The Sac Bijou Birkin clocking in around 2 million dollars.
Whether you're looking to buy or sell, the market for pre-owned handbags is booming. With a little bit of patience and purchasing from a trusted reseller of authenticated designer purses, you too can score the Birkin bag of your dreams. And remember to enjoy the treasure hunt!