Bringing Birkin to the UAE in 2023: the hero’s journey
The bag isn’t a Birkin, but still, it is a Birkin. The bag is more valuable than gold as it has been around for 39 years.
Hermès Birkin has a cameo appearance in Sex and the City, you may have heard of it, it has an enigmatic waiting list, plus it has an enigmatic origin story involving an iconic Sixties car and a fateful flight.
Here’s where we should begin. Several years ago, an elegantly heightened, deeply cool Parisian actress called Jane Birkin boarded an Air France flight to London. The day before, Dominique intentionally ran over her beloved basket bag, so she carries a nondescript replacement. The bag wasn’t big enough to hold all the papers she had in her hand, as she dropped her Hermès notebook in it.
Thank goodness, Jean-Louis Dumas – the company’s CEO at the time – couldn’t be further away. In an effort to accommodate Birkin’s overflow of stationery, he suggested Birkin find a bag with pockets. A sick bag was used as a canvas for sketching the rough design. The Birkin made its debut in 1984, following a humble beginning – like all fairy tale protagonists. We think they are much better than glass shoes.
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Birkins were quiet, luxurious, and devoid of shouty logos, unlike Chanel bags of the 1980s. In addition to having two rolled handles, I agree feet’, and a turnlock closure, it was also secured with a padlock and key. (There’s less concern over the contents than the bag itself, original price 7344 AED – 18362 AED now – but now retailing for around32317 AED .)
Jane Birkin’s ex-husband, Serge Gainsbourg, used this bag as a Travel bag and chose the 35cm version of Hermès’ Haut à Courroies, a more petite (and sufficiently capacious) version. In addition to the 25 and 30 centimeter sizes, the Birkin is now available in a 40 centimeter size as well.
There may have been something about the Birkin’s understated styling, or maybe Chanel really did have the luxury market under control. Despite its iconic status, this bag was slow to gain popularity. It gained considerable momentum by the mid-1990s, becoming a cult bag by 2001, bolstered by the iconic line from Sex and the City, “It’s not a bag.” It’s a Birkin.”
During season four of the show, Samantha Jones dreams of owning a red Birkin 35. According to her, “As soon as I start hauling that bag, I’ll know I’ve succeeded.” Upon learning that there has been a five-year wait list, it is pretending the bag is for her client, Luc Li, a scam that doesn’t work. For those who still need convincing of how difficult it is to acquire such a bag, a blue Birkin’ Carrie tote which appeared in season five is not, on the contrary, authentic.
One of Birkin’s enticing attributes is its reputation for being hard to obtain. While Hermès doesn’t reveal how to purchase a Birkin directly, it’s widely reported that customers must already own a Birkin and have added objects of their desire to their ‘wish list’ – Hermès’ term since traditional waiting lists are no longer offered (some speculate they never existed, anyway) and each boutique receives only a limited number of Birkins.
Due to its time-consuming manufacturing process, the Birkin is one of the most sought-after bags. In order to create each bag, it takes between 12 and 18 hours. To become a master craftsperson in Hermès’ leather workshop, craftspeople undergo between two and six years of training. Moreover, saddle-stitching is used on most Birkins to ensure the quality of the garment.
There are resale Birkins available, but expect premiums. In light of the difficulty of obtaining authentic Birkins from the source, resale Birkins cost at least twice as much as retail, typically between 55086 AED and 110172 AED for a classic style in good condition, up to much more for an extra-special piece (e.g., in 2021, diamond-encrusted Himalayan Crocodile Birkins sold at auction for more than 1468960 AED). You should invest in it if you can. During the past 35 years, Birkin’s value has grown by 500 percent. Based on Knight Frank’s 2020 report, gold and stocks are more expensive than bags.
If you’re an eagle-eyed Birkin fan, you might be able to find pre-owned bags that are less popular than the 33,054 AED mark, assuming you’re okay with a color or condition less popular than the usual one – all things considered, Jane Birkin’s beloved bag, with cat bites and scuffs included, fetched 4,37,051 AED in auction. After Mary Kate Olsen’s old photo of wearing a Birkin was resurfaced on Reddit, more people are searching for love-worn Birkins. It is mentioned in The RealReal’s Luxury Consignment Report, where they state, “There’s a growing number of shoppers specifically seeking the je ne sais quoi that comes with some wear-and-tear.”
In her possession at any given time, Jane Birkin has only one of her famous bags (these are sold when worn or battered), whereas some celebrities subscribe to the saying ‘the more Birkins, the merrier’. As of this writing, there are approximately a dozen Birkins owned by Virgil Abloh, Drake has amassed a collection of them (presumably to give to his future wife), as well as Victoria Beckham’s collection of nearly 100 Birkins. Nonetheless, it is nothing compared to the 200 owned by Singaporean businesswoman and socialite Jamie Chua. Collections owned by Chua are the largest. The Birkin has been owned by a number of celebrities, including Kate Moss (according to her, it was used for nappy-changing), Winnie Harlow, and Kim Kardashian West, when she was six years old, was pictured with one.
Since the Birkin has a long history of fashion lore, it is hardly surprising that it has been subject to (sometimes controversial) sculptures. Clint Eastwood’s daughter Francesca – in 2012, intentionally burned one (good thing, it was narrated it was a fake); two years later, artist Jeff Koons created a piece featuring eminent Birkins; later, in 2019, a song was released by Gunna about a named Birkin. Earlier this year, ‘MetaBirkin’ by NFT ( showing the development of a fetus inside a Birkin bag) designed by Mason Rothschild triggered a copyright lawsuit; the case was won by Hermès. Consequently, luxury house fans speculated when it might enter the metaverse.
Alternatively, if you want to buy a used Birkin IRL, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular used Birkin bags, available above. You’re right to say that it is an investment if anyone asks you about it.
- How does the Hermès Birkin work?
It was designed by Hermès in 1984 as a high-end handbag. A distinctive shape and lock are featured on this high-quality leather bag. - What is the name of the bag?
In 1983, Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Hermès sat next to actress and singer Jane Birkin on a flight. The CEO designed the Birkin bag for her after she complained about the lack of a practical yet stylish bag. - What is the cost of a Birkin bag?
Bag sizes, materials, and customization options determine the cost of Birkin bags. Most of them start around $10,000 and can reach several hundreds of thousands of dollars. - Birkin bags are expensive, so why are they so?
There is no doubt that Birkin bags are luxury items, made from the finest materials and made with the best craftsmanship available. Due to their limited production and high demand, their prices are also high. - What are the benefits of owning a Birkin bag?
Collectors and investors can make a profit by investing in Birkin bags as they hold their value or even appreciate over time. - Birkin bags are available for purchase by anyone?
Long waiting lists are common for Birkin bags, which are notoriously hard to obtain. Typically, Hermès reserves the right to sell them only to established clients, and even then, they may be hard to find. - Does the production of Birkin bags raise any ethical concerns?
It has been raised that Birkin bags are made from exotic skins, such as alligator and crocodile. Animal rights groups dispute Hermès’ claims that its materials are sourced from ethical and sustainable sources. - How long has the Birkin bag been around?
Birkin bags were first created in 1984 at the request of Jane Birkin, Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. Celebrities and fashion fans alike quickly became enamored of it, and it remains highly coveted today.
