Why Are the Rich Obsessed with Birkin Bags?
Carla Paz
Carried by the likes of the Kardashians, Jennifer Lopez, and Cardi B, the Birkin Bag is a staple among the rich and famous. Many unfamiliar with fashion might not realize these bags can be worth $12,000 to $2 million.
Why are these seemingly ordinary bags worth so much money, and why are the rich so obsessed with them?
Before we delve into the elite’s obsession with Birkin bags, we first need to know the history of the Birkin bag and the woman who inspired its design. The Birkin was invented by Jean-Louis Dumas. At the time, Dumas was the chairman of the fashion label Hermes. In 1983, he ran into famous British actress Jane Mallory Birkin on a flight to London. She expressed to Dumas the difficulty she had finding the perfect leather bag that would fit her lifestyle. Dumas created a sketch of the Birkin on that flight, and the bag was released the following year.
The process of getting a Birkin bag is a tough one that requires a lot of money, time, and effort. There are only a limited number of Birkin bags. Each bag is handcrafted by professionals and the materials used to make the bags—animal leathers such as crocodile & lizard—are limited in supply. Because of the scarcity of the bags, those who want to own a Birkin have to go above and beyond to obtain one. Hermes does not sell these bags on their website, and there is no way to order one in person; this leaves the process up to fate and connections.
One of the ways many try to get a Birkin bag is by going to a Hermes boutique. However, Birkin bags are never displayed in their stores and are barely ever in stock. To secure Birkins, many interested customers try to build relationships with sales representatives at Hermes boutiques. This requires them to buy other Hermes products from one specific sales rep. Doing this gives the customer more of a chance to get a Birkin bag from this sales rep if and when they are in stock. If you are given a chance to buy a Birkin from a boutique, you are not given an opportunity to customize your Birkin; the one they have will be the one you either buy or decline.
One of the more extreme ways the elite try to buy a Birkin is by traveling to Hermes’ flagship store in Paris, the fashion capital of the world. First, prospective buyers book an appointment on the Hermes website between the hours of 10:30 am and 6:30 pm. By 7:30 pm, you will either be accepted or rejected for an appointment. Some strange things that prospective customers have to avoid are trying to book an appointment during fashion week, weekends, and the entire month of August. This is because of crowds during fashion week and weekends, as well as August being the month of holiday in France. If you get an appointment, you will then be interviewed by the sales associates to “test” your knowledge about Hermes and the Birkin bag. If you pass this round, they will possibly offer you a bag. Birkin Buyers often feel pressured into purchasing a bag that they may not particularly like. Many feel that they will never get the chance to buy a Birkin ever again, so they settle.
The easiest way to buy a Birkin is to buy second-hand. Since the methods mentioned are extreme and don’t guarantee the acquisition of a Birkin bag, many decide to buy from resellers. Most celebrities buy second-hand Birkins through auctions or verified resellers. For example, in a Hong Kong auction, a Himalayan Birkin sold for $299,000. This is $164,000 more than Hermes’ price for the bag ($135,000.) Though it is more expensive than the price at Hermes, many still buy from resellers because they will definitely acquire the item they want.
It’s complicated and difficult to buy a Birkin. Still, the rich and famous go above and beyond to obtain a Birkin bag. The question many of you may be asking is “why do all this for a bag?” In the end, it comes down to two reasons: what the Birkin bag represents in terms of status and the resale price. Owning a Birkin is a status symbol for the rich. It means that you are able to afford such an expensive item, an item that is coveted by many.
There are only 200,000 Birkin bags in circulation. Many celebrities, such as Victoria Beckham, own multiple bags. Having such a rare bag means that you are on the same level (in terms of wealth and power) as world-famous celebrities and royalty.
Along with being a status symbol, the Birkin is one of the only products in fashion that goes up in value with age. For example, a normal Birkin bag released in 1980 was retailed at $2,000. Now, a normal Birkin is retailed at $13,200. Owning a Birkin for many is an investment on par with stocks or real estate. If an owner does choose to sell the bag, they know they will be getting more than what they paid.
Obviously, buying a bag for the minimum of $13,200 is absolutely absurd. To the average person, this bag looks the same as the bags you can buy at your local TJ Maxx. The only reason Birkin bags are popular is because of the symbol of wealth it represents and the potential to make more money if the bag is sold.
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