Birkin bag

The Birkin bag (or simply Birkin) is a handbag created by the French company Hermès in 1984, following a meeting between Jean-Louis Dumas, then CEO of the group, and the actress Jane Birkin. Handmade, usually in leather, it is distributed in several sizes and exclusively in Hermès stores.

Along with the Kelly bag and the carré de soie, the Birkin is one of the brand's iconic products. It has two handles and a more casual look than the Kelly. Each one is made by a single craftsman, usually in one of Hermès' French factories, and requires between 15 and 20 hours' work.

Founded in 1837, Hermès was originally a saddlery and harness maker, producing goods for equitation. The Haut à Courroies was the company's first bag. Made in the early 20th century, it was made for riders at the time to carry their boots and saddle. The Sac à dépêches, designed in 1928, was the first men's briefcase to close with a lock.

The Birkin bag was created in 1984, after a chance meeting between Jean-Louis Dumas, then CEO of Hermès, and Jane Birkin. At the time, the actress was known for carrying baskets that held more belongings than a conventional handbag. She inadvertently spilled the contents of her bag and complained about the impracticality of handbags in general, especially for a young mother, without knowing who she was stood next to. At the time, her youngest daughter, Lou Doillon was two years old, and Birkin wanted a bag big enough to hold both scripts and diapers.

Jean-Louis Dumas suggested she get one with pockets, to which she replied that "Hermès doesn't make pockets". He then exclaimed "but I am Hermès!" Taking advantage of the coincidence, Birkin asked him why the company doesn't offer a bag four times larger than the Kelly. Jean-Louis Dumas immediately drew her up a supple, roomy bag, which he promised to produce and name after her, if she agreed. Birkin said she was very flattered by the proposal, which she accepted.

The first Birkin bag, a supple black leather bag, was created in 1984. Birkin used the bag initially but later changed her mind because she was carrying too many things in it: "What's the use of having a second one?" she said laughingly. "You only need one and that busts your arm; they're bloody heavy. I'm going to have an operation for tendinitis in the shoulder". Nonetheless, Birkin did use the bag for some time. The Birkin bag has, over the years, become a status symbol, with prices ranging from US$10,000 to $500,000.

In July 2015, the animal rights organization PETA denounced the slaughter conditions of the alligators used to make the crocodile skin version of the Birkin bags. Jane Birkin, a signatory of American actor Joaquin Phoenix's “Mercy For Animals” petitions, asked in July 2015 that the company “debaptize” the bag until better manufacturing practices meeting international standards could be put in place. In September, the actress announced that she was satisfied with the measures taken by Hermès to promote the welfare of its farm animals. The bag kept its name after Hermès announced it had corrected the slaughter system on the farms in question and introduced sanctions in the event of a repeat offense.

The Birkin bag is made exclusively in France in factories located throughout the country, such as Seloncourt in Franche-Comté or Montbron in Charente. It is sold in a range of sizes and colors. It is always made by a single craftsman, who affixes his signature to each bag for which he is responsible. The company's signature saddle stitching, developed in the 1800s is used in the bag construction. Hermès employs around 250 craftsmen to make Birkin bags in more than twenty factories and workshops. Hermès maintains these jobs to preserve the knowledge that goes into making the bags. This is also why the company trains some of the craftsmen in-house, providing a year and a half of instruction and several years of practice to teach them to make bags like the Kelly or the Birkin.