Birkin Bags: A Property on Your Arm

What would you do with $500,000? Some would invest into a property or a business, some would pay off their debts, or some may spend it all on a handbag. Just one. One. Single. Handbag. The Hermès handcrafted Himalaya Birkin bag, made from albino crocodile skin along with 18k white-gold hardware and over 200 diamonds, was sold for this price. Basically, the holy grail of handbags.

History of the Birkin

Named after English actress and singer, Jane Birkin was seated next to the chief executive of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight from Paris to London. While onboard the flight, Jane tried to fit her bag into the overhead compartment when all the contents inside it fell out. She complained to Jean-Louis Dumas that it was impossible for her to find a weekend bag she liked. This was when the two discussed possible designs, and began sketching them on the back of an airplane sick bag.

In 1984, the Hermès Birkin bag was introduced. It was the perfect bag for everyday use, being that it was spacious and had pockets—extremely functional. The Birkin bag didn’t always have the status that it does now. It started gaining popularity later on in the 90s, and now is the ultimate symbol of status by being one of the most exclusive brand of bags to exist today.

What Makes the Birkin Bag So Exclusive?

Thinking of investing in a Birkin bag? Think again, because you can’t just walk into the Hermès store, pick one off the shelf and then buy it. There used to be a waiting list to even have the chance to buy one. Now, you have to practically be offered a bag based off of your societal importance, or how much you spend at Hermès regularly. Other than buying directly from Hermès, you can buy a Birkin bag from second-hand consignment stores such as The Real Real, but you’re looking at prices much higher than the original selling point. Because the demand for these bags are high, it has created a large and increase in the market for resellers. Birkin bags can increase their value by 14% in just one year.

The artisans that create the bags train for years to perfect their craftsmanship. Each Birkin bag is different from the next, as each bag is handmade down to every stitch. These bags are considered to be pieces of art, investments, and symbols of status. The bag does not even feature any large logos or signs of being a Hermès bag, but yet, everyone knows what they look like. Hermès has created such a mysterious and exclusive market, making it the ultimate arm candy.

Exploring the Largest Collections

If you think one bag will put a dent in your wallet, imagine having over 200. Singapore socialite Jamie Chua has over 200 Hermès bags all stored in a massive, finger-print protected closet. Chua is an entrepreneur with her own skincare line now, with humble beginnings as a flight attendant.

Next up, inside Jeffree Star’s custom-made pink vault, he has dedicated a whole wall to his Hermès bags. His collection has a range of all different colors and sizes, but mainly pink ones. Star is a self-made millionaire known to the world as a YouTube personality and owner of his own beauty line, Jeffree Star Cosmetics.

In the Kardashian-Jenner family, exchanging Birkin bags for Christmas is the norm. Kylie Jenner has an entire closet dedicated to her luxury bags, including a number of Hermès bags. Other stars, such as Victoria Beckham, have over 100 Birkin bags—costing over 2 million dollars.

The Birkin bag is here to stay, being the most well-known accessory statement in the fashion industry. Anyone and everyone knows you’ve made it big if you own a Birkin bag. Investments in these bags are described as being more valuable than investments in stock or gold. So, if you ever have an extra $50,000 (or $500,000) laying around, think about investing in the Hermès Birkin bag.