Hermes Birkins are epitomes of luxury and are status symbols. These bags from the French luxury brand are named after the actress and singer Jane Birkin and have sold for as high as $500,000.
In 2019, sports betting consultant, David Oancea purchased a white Himalayan Birkin at a whopping price of $500,000. In 2022, Sotheby’s sold a diamond Himalayan Birkin 30 for over $450,000. The pricey accessory was constructed out of Nicolitus crocodile skin dyed in a grey-and-white gradient.
These brow-raising price tags beg the question—“why is the Hermes Birkin so expensive?.” The simple answer is that these handmade bags are produced in limited quantities by highly skilled craftsmen.
According to Mason Howell, handbag expert, and valuation manager, these craftsmen may train up to 10 years before they create a Birkin bag. The French luxury brand produces limited quantities of the Birkin, and even places limits on a client’s yearly purchase of the bag, ensuring the exclusivity of the bag and a thriving resale market due to the demand-to-supply ratio.
The history of Hermes Birkins and their rise to iconic status
The allure of Hermes Birkins began in the 90s and has continued to persevere. In fact, according to Google, the question, “Why are Birkins so expensive?” ranked as the fifth most common question in the “Why is it so expensive?” category for 2024.
Hermes describes the Birkin as:
"Telling an epic story with flair: a design by the creative duo Octave Marsal and Théo de Gueltzl, embroidered in Lunéville stitch, plunges the emblematic Faubourg Saint-Honoré store into the heart of a luxuriant jungle. In an ultimate display of prowess, the design extends over the leather of the flap and the base of the bag."
The story of the Birkin began on a flight from Paris to London in 1984. Jane Birkin, British actress and singer, who was sitting next to Jean-Louis Dumas, the then executive director of Hermes, complained about not having a bag to contain her essentials as a young mother.
Dumas then sketched a rectangular bag with a burnished flap and saddle stitching to accommodate the actress’s needs. The Birkin bag was released in the same year, to a market dominated by Chanel.
It wasn’t until the 1990s that the bag’s design caught the attention of fashionistas and style enthusiasts. The bag’s legendary status was solidified by the August 2001 episode of Sex and the City, where Samantha uttered the iconic line, “It’s not a bag—it’s a Birkin!”
According to Madison Avenue's report of October 2022, Hermes experienced increased demand for the Birkin after the episode aired. The Hermes Birkin bag, with its rare heritage leather and clean lines, has become one of the most sought-after luxury bags in the world.
According to Business Insider, in June 2019, studies have shown that the value of the Hermes Birkin bag increased 500% in the last 35 years, with a 14% increase per year. The bag has undergone several special edition designs, including the 2009 Shadow Birkin, the 2010 Himalaya Birkin, the 2020 Cargo Birkin, and the 2021 Birkin 3EN1, amongst others.
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If you're looking for a luxury bag on a very high budget with a good return on investment, you can check out reseller sites like Priv Potter and RealReal for some of their Birkin options.
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