Born on the 14th of December 1946, Jane Birkin is an English-French singer, actress, and model. She rose to fame during her decade-long musical and romantic relationship with Serge Gainsbourg. In fact, Birkin and Gainsbourg released a collaborative studio album in 1969 entitled “Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg” that reached #1 on the UK charts. Birkin is best known for her roles in Evil Under the Sun, Blow Up, Death on the Nile, and Boxes. Birkin was well known for her iconic hand-woven straw basket, which she toted everywhere–from nightclubs, to formals, to the supermarket. This would soon be no longer with the introduction of the Hermès Birkin.
Inspiration Herself: Jane Birkin
a sudden upgrade to first class on her flight from Paris to London. Coincidentally, this upgrade seated her next to Jean-Louis Dumas, the then artistic director and CEO of Hermès.
Frantically switching seats, Jane Birkin attempted to place her wicker basket lug-gage in the overhead compartment. Birkin’s bag didn’t make it to the compartment, her things spilling across the aisle.
This sparked a conversation between Birkin and Dumas, who suggested that she purchase a handbag with pockets. Birkin countered his suggestion with the argument that no such bag exists, and if Hermès were to create such a bag, she’d be first in line to purchase it. Dumas frantically grabbed the airplane sickness bag and began sketching the blueprint for what would later become the world renowned, coveted Birkin Bag.
The Birkin was released in 1984 retailing at about $2,000. It wasn’t until a feature in Sex and the City that the Birkin gained extreme popularity. It has since been revealed that the Birkin worn by Samantha in the 2002 episode was fake. This gives rise to questions about validity with regards to quality and pricing.
“It’s not a bag — it’s a Birkin!” -Samantha Jones
The Hermes birkin: where LUXURY meets logic
A coveted handbag design, the Birkin is known for its excellent craftsmanship, diverse design offerings, and most importantly its exclusivity. The frequently varying price of Hermès Birkins can be attributed to varying demand, supply, and design. In order to purchase a Birkin from Hermès, one must possess a purchase history with the brand. Birkins, especially exclusive Birkins, are only offered to loyal clients.
The Hermès Birkin bag is an example of strong and effective design. It is a design driven by the desire to find balance between style and functionality. It takes trained artisans approximately 18 hours to create an Hermès Birkin bag, each bag being marked with a unique code which reveals its creator, year of creation, and location of creation. Birkins range in price from $10,000 to more than $200,000.
ome may begin to question whether these statements hold true with the Birkin’s rising price tag. However, prices aside, one must commend Hermès for the handbag’s exquisite architecture and distinctive design.
The Hermès Birkin satisfies all. It satisfies those seeking a bag that will compliment their luxury look. It is classy and luxurious. It satisfies those seeking durability and dependability. It can hold all you need, whether you’re toting it to a gala, the grocery store, or even across the globe. It satisfies the taste of each individual, for it is available in an extremely wide range of leathers, colors, sizes, and hardwares. Despite being one of the least accessible and most exclusive handbags on the market, the Birkin offers extreme variety to its buyers.
