'It’s not a bag — it's a Birkin!': Jane Birkin, and the economics of the Hermès handbag
Birkin Bags. Almost every celebrity seems to don one these days. The bag that now remains an example of conspicuous consumption, is priced between $10,000 and $250,000 for the more high-end designs.
Even though Birkin herself changed her mind about the bag that Dumas presented her with, a a supple black leather bag, based on an earlier design, the Haut à Courroies, which Hermès had created around 1900, Birkin bag has now attained the designation of a status symbol for many around the world. According to a report by Sotheby's, the Birkin bag takes expert artisans a minimum of 18 hours to create and is marked with a code that identifies its year of creation, the workshop it was crafted in, and the artisan who made it. To buy a Birkin directly from Hermès, customers must have a purchase history with the brand.
The Birkin remains the most searched for of all Hermès bags. Hermès is said to let boutiques purchase a select number of Birkins on a bi-annual basis and the style of Birkin bag delivered to boutiques is rarely known ahead of time, says Sotheby's. The bag that gained popularity in the luxurious business market, continues to resonate with many over the world for its practical design featuring two rolled handles, a flap top, clou “feet," and a lock closure.
The initial release of the Birkin bag did not find any takers, when Chanel's ruled the charts. It was in the 1990s and the turn of the century, when Birkin's popularity was seen soaring high. It was in August 2001 when an episode of Sex and the City sent the Birkin’s profile to the stratosphere.
When Samantha uttered the immortal words, “It’s not a bag — it's a Birkin!" demand for the luxury bag skyrocketed. While the craftmanship, the top quality leather
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