Although the Birkin bag, by Hermès is free of logos, it is one of the most recognized purses in the women’s fashion industry and by the public. It is highly coveted and, for several years, was believed to have a waiting list of up to 6 years – the longest wait for any purse in history.  As a result of the strong demand, the Birkin purse has a high reselling value in many countries. The bag is a symbol of wealth due to its high price ($9,000 to $34,000 for one of crocodile skin), meticulous craftsmanship and elusiveness to the public. Each purse has a number-coded lock and key. The company’s signature saddle stitching, developed in the 1800s, is another distinctive feature.

The purse is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin. In 1981, Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas was seated next to Jane Birkin on a flight from Paris to London. She placed her straw bag in the overhead compartment of her seat, but the contents fell out, leaving her to scramble to replace everything back in her purse. Birkin explained to Dumas that it had been difficult to find a leather weekend bag she liked. In 1984, he created a black supple leather purse for her, based on an 1892 design. And, thus it became known as the Birkin bag.

Birkin bags are sold in a range of sizes. Each purse may be made to order with different hardware options and customer-chosen hides such as calf leather, ostrich, crocodile, and lizard. A variety of color options are available such as pink, red, brown, baby blue, navy blue, olive green, orange, white, black, and golden tan. The lining is made of goat skin and the interior color matches the exterior color. There are other individual options, such as diamond-encrusting. The purses are handmade in France by expert artisans. Each purse is hand-sewn, buffed, painted, and polished, taking several days to finish. An average purse is created in 48 hours.

The Birkin Bag, with it’s meticulous quality, is very desirable to us girls and has a high price tag. If you can’t afford the real thing, don’t buy a knock off purse. Buying a fake makes you a fake and it is illegal to sell them.

Resource: Wikipedia