The Birkin Bag, grab it if you can  

Currently, one of the most exclusive and sought-after designer bags, the Hermès Birkin is a bag that every designer bag lover wants to have in their collection. But the million-dollar question is: How can I get one? Well, we're about to tell you.

History of the bag

The story of the bag begins with its namesake: Jane Birkin. On a flight from Paris to London, the English actress happened to be seated next to the chief executive of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas.

Jane Brikin was known for carrying a wicker basket wherever she went and used it for everything, from groceries to diapers. When she tried to fit her famous basket in the overhead compartment, the lid came off, spilling the contents everywhere. Jane complained to her seatmate that it was impossible to find a weekend bag she liked. Dumas introduced himself as the head of Hermès, and the pair spent the flight sketching possible handbag designs on the back of an airplane.

Photo: Pinterest

A year later, Dumas presented Jane with the Birkin bag, a spacious yet sophisticated leather design perfect for everyday use. The Birkin’s pockets made it highly functional, and the bag was sealed to prevent anything from spilling. Hermès makes the bags in France using premium materials like calf or alligator skin, and even ostrich skin. Each bag is made entirely by hand.

Size and color

The Birkin sizes go from the Birkin 25, perfect to fit daily necessities, with five other sizes in between, until the Birkin 50, ideal for a weekend trip.

As for the colors, over the years the bags have been made in all kinds of different shades. From soft pastels to bright eye-catching tones to neutrals such as gray and black. 

Photo: Rebag

Exclusivity

Although Birkins are one of the most exclusive and sought-after bags today, they weren’t all that popular when they were first launched. It wasn’t until the 90s that the Birkin became one of the “It” bags of the era.

Now they’re the ultimate status symbol. Victoria Beckham reportedly has a collection of over 100 Birkins, estimated to be worth over US $2 million, and Singaporean socialite and entrepreneur Jamie Chua is considered to have the world’s largest Birkin collection with over 200 bags! Imagine having so many Birkins, what a dream.

Photo: Pinterest

How to get a Birkin bag

You might be asking yourself: Can I just go to a Hermès store and buy a Birkin Bag?

The short answer is, yes, you can buy a Birkin from a Hermès store, but it is not that easy. Also, whereas you can order many Hermès products from its website, Birkins and are never sold online. So if you're looking to purchase a brand new Birkin, you must make a trip to the Hermès store or to its authorized dealers.

However, traveling all the way to an official Hermès store doesn't guarantee that you'll be able to buy one. Hermès implement strict rules as to who is able to acquire one of their iconic bags. There are also long waiting lists that can stretch up to six years.

It's actually the sales associates who choose who is worth buying a Birkin bag, and it's based on different factors, such as previous purchases and reputation with the company. The main one that can tip the balance to your favor is if you already have a purchase history from Hermès. However, sometimes the bags are offered to clients who haven't purchased anything from the luxury brand.

You can give the sales associate a list of your preferences, such as color, material, and size. However, it'll be the sales associate the one to make the final decision on which back to offer you.

Photo: Pinterest

Different prices

The exclusive accessory is even considered by some to be a better investment than gold or the stock market. Hermès Birkin bags are some of the most expensive bags in the world, ranging anywhere from €9000 to half a million euros on the market. The bags embody absolute luxury. And the world’s most expensive bag is a Hermès Himalaya Birkin bag that sold for US $500,000.

                                                     Photo: Pinterest

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