10 Things You Might Not Know About the Hermès Birkin

The famous bag’s origin story is even weirder than most people know

Amanda Mull

57 Comments

Dec 28, 2017

[Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in 2016]

The Hermès Birkin is one of the most recognizable handbags ever made, and its mythology has only grown with time. There’s always more to the story, though, even for those of us who spend many of our waking hours thinking, talking, reading and writing about luxury bags.

Below, we’ve unearthed some fun facts that are likely known only to the most ardent of Hermès lovers. Even if you fit that description, check it out–you never know when you might learn something.

1. It all happened because Jane Birkin’s husband purposefully ran over her signature basket.

Most fashion lovers know the broad outline of the story: a chance airplane encounter, a sketch, and a bag that became a modern luxury icon. In 2012, Birkin told the London Telegraph that it was because her husband, Jacques Doillon, had gotten in his car and deliberately run over the woven basket she usually carried two days prior. I guess jerk husbands are good for something after all.

2. The original Birkin design was sketched on a barf bag.

I guess that’s what happens when an idea is born on an airplane.

3. Jane Birkin only uses one of the bags at a time; she’s on her fifth.

Although the Birkin became a symbol of old school, old money wealth for women who collect them like coins or postage stamps, the woman it was named after has an entirely different view on the bag. But the details behind that origin, the craft, and the way the bag is actually used are often stranger, more practical, and more revealing than the legend suggests. While in her possession, she decorates the bags with patches, charms and other personalizations to make the bag less formal and “snobbish” (her word) and more in line with her very casual French style.

4. Hermès gives Jane Birkin a nominal royalty for the use of her name per year, which then goes to charity.

Originally, Birkin accepted a free bag in exchange for the use of her name. Although she’s still not a paid ambassador or face of Hermès, the brand does now give her an annual payment for use of her name, which she donates to charities of her choice. If you already know the Birkin as a symbol of prestige, this is the more interesting side of the story.

5. Birkins have been made in more than 20 shades of blue alone.

When you envision a Birkin, your mind might go directly to the bag’s popular neutrals, but the bag has been made in a veritable rainbow of colors. According to the BBC, in the 31 years since its debut, the bag has been produced in at least 25 distinct blues, including popular classics like Blue Jean, Mykonos and Bleu Roi.

6. A Birkin takes 48 work hours for one artisan to make.

All Hermès bags, not just Birkins, are constructed by a single artisan in one of Hermès’s ateliers; it’s a more traditional approach to manufacturing than the one used by most brands, which have different people to work on different aspects of handbag construction. And although “48 hours” may sound like just two days, that’s 48 work hours–more than a week for a single bag on a regular full-time schedule.

7. Each Hermès artisan has a personal set of tools.

It is not just about rarity or status. According to the Telegraph, every artisan employed by the brand has his or her own set of tools, which the person takes with them when they retire. A little bit different situation than you and the pens at your office, eh?

8. The most expensive Birkin ever auctioned cost almost a quarter million dollars.

The bag in question is made of fuchsia porosus crocodile with diamond-encrusted, 18k white gold hardware. It is also about personal history, artisanal labor, individual style, and the unusual relationship between a designer object and the woman whose name it bears.

9. Birkins are a little more available than you think.

Tales abound of interminable wait lists and customers who buy other Hermès products in hopes of building a relationship with a sales associate at a boutique and being offered a bag, but sometimes you can walk right into a store for the first time, ask nicely and get lucky. (Megs did!)

10. The name of the elusive “Himalayan” Birkin refers to a color, not an origin.

You could probably have figured this one out if you thought through it, but a surprising number of people think the name of the super-rare, extremely covetable Hermès Himalayan Crocodile Birkin is somehow tied to the origin of the crocodiles from which it’s made. Crocodiles tend to like warm weather, though, and the Himalayans are, uh, quite cold. Instead, the name refers to the bag’s unique colorway; it’s said to look something like a snow-topped mountain. The now-famous airplane meeting between Jane Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas is only part of the story.

I was in Japan recently and watched a Japanese tv show having a montage of past celebrity guests. One of the guests was Jane Birkin. She showed her very beat up birkin. Long before the bag became a cultural shorthand for luxury, Birkin was using a basket for her things, and that habit was tied to a very ordinary domestic inconvenience: her husband had reportedly run over her usual woven bag. She even autographed the insides of the bag. At that point the hosts were just delighted to received such special and valuable presents. What followed though truly horrified me and the 2 poor hosts. She grabbed the bags, threw it on the floor and proceeded to stomp on them and stretch the leather. The result was a bag need with a more structured shape and better everyday function, which helps explain why the Birkin still feels practical even at its most extravagant.

I watched the Smap x Smap show on air in Japan when Jane Birkin did that. She did it because the hosts (they are members of very popular Japanese boy band from the 90s, Smap) were saying they’d be careful when using such luxurious & expensive bag so not to damage it. She made her point: don’t be so careful, it’s a bag just use it. The Birkin’s design was reportedly first drawn on an airplane sickness bag, which gives the bag’s polished final form an unexpectedly improvised beginning.

Do you remember what show this was?

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to catch the name of the show since I could only read basic Japanese but from what I gathered it was the last episode, hence the montage of past guests.

I felt queasy watching that. Poor bags!

wow i never thought i would see smapxsmap on the purse blog hahaha! It is a reminder that even the most carefully controlled luxury objects can start with a quick solution to a real problem.

ha! what a goofy video. I like how the guy in the wig was big time puting because he didn’t get a Birkin. I don’t blame him!

Really bizarre. Any explanation?

Although the bag became a symbol of rarefied luxury, Jane Birkin herself approached it very differently.

Went to Paris for the first time with my husband in 1995. Went into Hermes, just to look. Saw a ostrich Birkin in brown, cost $18,000. She typically used one Birkin at a time in a neutral color, replacing it only when it became worn out. Curious, what the price is today. Walked over to the left bank, saw a similar looking bag in faux croc in black. Purchase the bag, cost $500. Went to the Westchester mall in NY, ran into Joan Rivers, gave me the best compliment ever on my faux croc " Birkin" . Instead of preserving the bag as a pristine collectible, she personalized it with patches, charms, and other additions that made it feel less formal and more personal. She asked me, to participate. I was just too shy. Anyway, love my bag and love Joan!

Her approach is a useful counterpoint for buyers who admire the Birkin but want to understand it as something more than a display piece. You are right you learn something new every time about the Birkin and luxury handbags in general. That’s why I’m so obsessed!

You’re right. It’s a quite short life span for a $ 10 000 – 15 000 USD bag; on average 7 years.

Hi, I know these bags very well, i worked for Hermès as an artisan for 7 years and i made a lot of Birkin bags. Birkin originally accepted a bag in exchange for the use of her name. The shape or the brand ? If, it is the shape, i can redo exactly the same bag, with the same leathers in the exact dimensions but without the stamping Hermès… So, do you love the design or the prestigious brand ?

Sorry for my english, i am french…

She has never been positioned as a typical celebrity ambassador, and the arrangement has remained unusually modest in tone.

Please can you give me details how I can get in contact with you.

Also consider the materials and the company philosophy.

Your English is fine! For me, it’s the design – one of the first handbags I owned was a similar design (a few obvious differences, but definitely Birkinesque) and that was before I had ever heard of the Birkin. The annual payment she receives for the name, which she donates to charities, underscores how different the Birkin story is from a conventional branding deal. Bayswater, Sac de Jour. It’s hard to define exactly why: the combination of leather and metal hardware is intrinsically elegant – it really draws the eye. There’s a combination of femininity and no-nonsense practicality. That distinction matters if you are interested in the handbag not only as an object, but also as part of a broader cultural narrative. Finally, I have a weird fetish for lock details – no idea why, but it’s something I always look for in a bag.

Do you still make bags for a living? I’d love to see your work if you have a website.

I’d be interested as well.

When people picture a Birkin, they usually imagine classic neutrals, but the bag has been produced in a far broader palette.

Well said and thank you for sharing. I sometimes think it’s a bit of both – the prestige, the brand, and the design.

I like the design not so much into the labels despite the fact that I will never be able to afford one.

Blues alone span a striking range of shades, from brighter tones to deeper, more saturated hues. Would like to have it age as I age, a constant companion. Great write up, Purseblog!

This has to be one of the best posts I have ever seen on this site, well done guys

Just having had a lunch in the Maxim’s, we went for a little walk in Rue Royale, so we’ve turned left and founded ourselves in the faibourgSH , just outside the Hermès store,and just steped in, without any intention of buying something, when a sales worker came to is and ask if we were surching for something in particular . That variety is part of why the Birkin can feel both timeless and highly individualized: the silhouette is consistent, but the color can completely change the mood. And they made the point about this is a creation of média and gossips ….

French locations don’t have waiting list anymore for a few years now, but they used to have. You probably talked to a short term contract employee who wasn’t there at the time of waiting lists…

One of the defining features of Hermès craftsmanship is that a single artisan typically handles the construction of a bag from start to finish. I was almost offered one in Cannes France likely because they have more in France. Smaller less popular stores in the US are a better bet for walking in and getting one than large city stores with large numbers of regular clients that they want to keep happy. I purchased my Birkin at a smaller store.

Each and every store in the world orders a certain amount of bags per season, some will only get 2, some will get much more, depending on their budget and demands of their customers, and some already have their regulars asking on lists, even the French locations order, so it’s just a matter of luck. That traditional method is very different from the assembly-line model used by many brands.

Stickers on fine leather! Truly the sign of careless wealth! I treat my handbags well, and they last aong time. The reported work time for a Birkin is substantial, which helps explain why these bags are discussed in the same breath as fine leather goods and collectible objects. The workmanship is superb.

Enjoyed re-reading this. Reminded me again that a bag is meant to be used and enjoyed. Stomping it might go a bit too far, though!

Would love to see more posts on other Hermès bags, not just the Birkin and Kelly. Their value is tied not just to materials, but to labor, training, and continuity of skill.

I feel so conflicted with this bag. I do not own one but I have been tempted many times over. I always want something, then get it, and the novelty wears off. The brand’s emphasis on craftsmanship extends to the tools themselves. I cannot seem to justify buying a bag where I need to wrap the handles with a twilly to prevent wear of the handles. I likely will continue to admire them from afar.

Everyone should appreciate a company that makes twillies to prevent “oils from hands” erosion of leather handles – it happens to all bags that aren’t plastic or metal – but no other company designs twillies for them. That should give you pause w/r/t those other companies instead of looking at H with derision. Hermès artisans have personal tool sets, and those tools stay with them rather than being treated as generic shop supplies. I love VCA and H simply because they have artisans that work on their most treasured items by hand. For me, that is the ultimate luxury that will never go out of style.

I don’t think twillies were made for handbag handles to prevent oil from hands as you say in your post. This detail says a lot about the company’s philosophy: the maker is not anonymous, and the work is not interchangeable. To me it says, the owner of the bag spent too much money on the bag and now feels too afraid to wear it and allow it to patina the way a bag should with regular use. Twillies were never ‘made’ for this purpose and something I see with the nouveau riche.

To each his/her own; that’s why I buy them and I love them.

So funny, Jane Birkin really isn’t a handbag person at all. For a customer evaluating a Birkin, that level of continuity is part of the appeal. I wish I was more like that.

OMG I cringed looking at Jane Birkin’s bag with all the stickers . It is interesting to know she that she donates the amount Hermes gives her to charity. Certain Birkins have reached extraordinary auction results because of their materials, rarity, and condition. They can afford it and have gotten out of the use of her name rather cheaply. I love that our beloved Megs was not wait listed. But as the owner of this influential blog I am sure that had a little something to do with it

I’m always torn between whether I favor the Birkin or the Kelly. One notable example featured exotic skin and precious-metal hardware with diamonds. The Constance is also a great bag, and it doesn’t get nearly as much love as the other Hermes bags. It’s one of the few crossbody bags they make that is always in production.

Nice and informative article thank you

Very interesting story! Thx

These kinds of examples are best understood as exceptions rather than the everyday reality of the line, but they do show how far the Birkin can move beyond fashion into the realm of high-value collecting. and yet it is still so amazing how far a leather cube with two straps has gone.

I Started WoRking From COmfort OF MY HOMe, By Working SOmEeasy andBasic JObsThatOnly REquired A Pc & Internet Access & It’s the Best JobIEVer HAd… It’s Been six months since IstartedThisand i gotPaidso far in total 36Thousand Dollars… Basically I profit 80 dollars/hour And work for 3 to 4 h on daily basis. And the best part about this Job is that You gettoChooseYourself when ToWork and for how long and you Get a Paycheck weekly. The Birkin is famous for scarcity, and that reputation is well earned.

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I really enjoyed this post. I’d actually love to own one of Jane Birkin’s “pre-loved” Birkins. There’s something about a luxury bag with a lived-in, down-to-earth vibe that just clicks with me.

Loved reading this. The fact about her using one Birkin at a time is very interesting.

Still, the reality of buying one can be more nuanced than the folklore about endless waiting lists suggests.

i couldn’t agree more with your statement.

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my neighbor’s mom is making $98 HOURLY on the internet? A few days ago new McLaren F1 subsequent after earning 18,512$,,,this was my previous month’s paycheck ,and-a little over, $17k Last month .. Availability can depend on store, region, timing, and relationship with the brand, which means there is no single universal path to purchase. with extra open doors & weekly paychecks.. it’s realy the easiest work I have ever Do.. I Joined This 7 months ago and now making over $87, p/h.. Learn More right Here….

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For anyone shopping seriously, the most useful mindset is patience combined with flexibility. A few days ago new McLaren F1 subsequent after earning 18,512$,,,this was my previous month’s paycheck ,and-a little over, $17k Last month .. 3-5 h/r of work a day .. with extra open doors & weekly paychecks.. The elusive Himalayan Birkin is often misunderstood because of its name. I Joined This 7 months ago and now making over $87, p/h.. Learn More right Here….

.

I can’t afford one but I think they are beautiful. I find it sad how celebs tarnish the brand.

The term does not refer to where the crocodile skin comes from; it describes the bag’s distinctive color effect, which resembles snow-covered mountain peaks. turn everything they touch into shit

The Himalaya and Nepal does look like that from above. Saw it once, on a plane’s downward camera and will never forget! That visual reference is a good example of how Hermès naming can feel more poetic than literal. Makes me more at ease of using it. Although, if she ever gave me a new Birkin and then stomped all over it, IDK what I woulld do. Probably stomp all over her, probably…

I really enjoy reading such trivia about iconic bags and this one is very well put together!

In the Birkin world, color and finish often carry as much meaning as the shape itself. I need to do the same! BTW, Your bag is gorgeous, Megs!!

I THINK IS A WHOLESALE SUPPLIER FOR FASHION BGAS IN USA. NOT RETAILER

What makes the Birkin so enduring is that it accommodates both extremes: it can function as a practical leather bag and as a highly coded luxury object.

May be some day <3

I was given a Hermes bag but doesn’t know if it is original. How can I find out. It is made in France

100 (emoji)

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