As you all probably know, Birkin bags are one of the most expensive handbags someone could buy. They are super exclusive, and walking around with one is the ultimate status statement.
I’m here to explain a little bit about why they’re so expensive, how to get one, and why they were made in the first place.
If you keep up with social media and celebrity news, you would know that there is a big debate on Birkins right now. The big question is, are they worth it or is it just ostentatious to collect one?
Birkin bags are made by Hermes, an expensive designer brand based in Hamburg, Germany, and can range anywhere from 40,000 to half a million dollars. You might think this is just insanity, but to celebrities and the high powered alike, owning a Birkin bag shows people that they are doing well and have the money to spend on bags like that, even if they don’t.
Ayanna Mayweather, boxer Floyd Mayweather’s daughter, has a collection of over 40 Birkin bags and recently took to social media to educate the public on the ways of Birkin.
“Some of these Birkins gotta be fake and I’m not saying everybody’s is fake. For one, you can’t just walk into an Hermès store and buy a Birkin. You have to be like a member in order to buy them. Two, even if you are a member you can only buy so many a year.”
Jamie Chua is an entrepreneur and socialite from Singapore who is known to have the biggest Birkin bag collection with over 200 bags. It’s strange to think someone could have so many because, according Business Insider, “you can’t just walk into Hermès and get one.”
“While there used to be a wait list, nowadays all you can do is hope to be important enough or spend enough to be offered a Birkin bag. And if you’re offered one, don’t expect to be able to choose the color or size. Hermès also places limits on how many Birkin bags a client can purchase per year. This dedication to preserving the exclusivity of the bag has certainly paid off, and the disparity in demand and access has created a thriving resale market.”
Birkin Bags were originally made after the owner of Hermes, Jean-Louis Dumas, was on a flight sitting next to the English actor Jane Birkin. She was struggling to fit all of her belongings in the wicker basket she would carry around. They spent the whole flight talking and sketching up designs for a new purse.
When the Birkin Bag first came out it wasn’t very expensive. According to Business Insider, the price of the bag has gone up over 500% in the past 35 years.
The bags are hand made with very expensive materials including calf skin, alligator skin, ostrich skin, and premium designed leather. The bag was not only made for looks, with it’s very spacious inside and multiple pockets. The bag also seals tight so nothing will get in or out.
In the end, people will always spend too much money for fashion, tech, and status symbols if the have the money. It’s up to the individual. I for one would buy one if I had the money. Would you?
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