Hermès Birkin – Fashion Bag and Status Symbol

Made of Nile crocodile skin (Niloticus Crocodile), the Hermès Himalaya Birkin is one of the most coveted Birkin bags. Its unique colour reflects the sublime hues of the Himalayas, derived partly from the natural colour qualities of the crocodile skin and partly from the meticulous finishing techniques used. Like all Birkin bags, it is handmade, so no two are alike.

In addition to the Himalaya bag, the auction also features three other Birkin bags – “Birkin 30”, made of dark brown crocodile skin, estimated at DKK 150,000–180,000, “Birkin 30”, made of dark blue alligator skin, estimated at DKK 140,000–150,000 and “Birkin 35”, made of purple Togo leather, estimated at DKK 40,000–50,000.

The world-famous Birkin bag first saw the light of day in 1984, following a chance encounter on a plane between the English-French singer and actress Jane Birkin and the then head designer of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas. When Jane Birkin dropped her bag on the floor and all its contents spilled out, she complained that it was difficult to find a roomy leather bag. Dumas subsequently designed a bag in collaboration with Birkin, named after Birkin herself – and the rest is history.

Today, the Birkin bag is the holy grail of designer bags and the ultimate status symbol among fashionistas. Those wishing to acquire a new Birkin have to join a long waiting list at Hermès, and over time the bag has become a living legend in luxury fashion.

In an episode of the TV series “Sex and the City” specifically about the Birkin bag, the quote “It’s not a bag, it’s a Birkin!” stuck with millions of viewers worldwide and underscored the bag’s cultural significance.

The auction also offers another well-known signature bag from Hermès, the Kelly bag, originally named “Sac à dépêches”. The bag was introduced in 1935, but its big breakthrough came in the 1950s, when the American actress and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly, was photographed with the bag and featured on the cover of the American Life Magazine. The newly-wed princess was reportedly trying to hide her baby bump with the bag. In 1977, the bag was officially renamed “Kelly”. Today, the Kelly bag is known as a timeless fashion classic and, like its sister Birkin, has achieved cult status in the luxury bag category. Also up for auction are a “Kelly Long” clutch made of dark brown crocodile skin estimated at DKK 80,000–100,000 and a “Kelly 32” made of black crocodile skin estimated at DKK 80,000.