The Birkin bag, introduced by Hermès in 1984, is a luxury tote bag known for its high price and exclusivity. These handmade leather bags are named after English-French actress and singer, Jane Birkin. The bag's creation stemmed from a chance encounter between Birkin and then-Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight, where she complained about the lack of suitable bags for mothers. The Birkin has since become a status symbol and a coveted item in the fashion world.
In 1982, the design that would become the Birkin bag was first conceived.
In 1983, Jane Birkin met Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight from Paris to London, which led to the bag's creation.
In 1984, Jean-Louis Dumas created a black supple leather bag for Jane Birkin, based on a 1982 design.
The Birkin bag had average annual returns of 14.2% between 1984 and 2015.
As of 2006, the waiting list for a Birkin bag was reputed to be up to six years.
In April 2010, Hermès announced that the waiting list for Birkin bags would no longer exist.
According to a 2014 estimate, Hermès produced 70,000 Birkin bags that year.
In 2015, Jane Birkin requested Hermès to remove her name from the Birkin Croco bag due to concerns over crocodile skin acquisition methods.
The Birkin bag had average annual returns of 14.2% between 1984 and 2015.
A 2016 study found that Birkin bags had average annual returns of 14.2% between 1984 and 2015.
In May 2017, a Birkin bag sold for HK$2.94 million (US$377,261) at a Christie's auction in Hong Kong, setting a new record.
In May 2017, a bag made of exotic skin and diamond was sold at auction by Christie's in Hong Kong for a record price of US$380,000.
In 2019, according to an analyst quoted by The New York Times, there were more than one million Birkin bags on the market.
In June 2020, ten people went on trial for allegedly making and selling counterfeit Birkin bags, with a total profit of over €2 million.
In 2020, retail prices for a Birkin 25 bag started at US$11,400, with costs varying widely based on materials.
In 2024, Walmart.com started retailing similar-looking bags branded KAMUGO and Aidrani which fashion influencers nicknamed the bags “Wirkin“ on social media.
In 2024, a California antitrust lawsuit was filed based on the alleged need to purchase other items from Hermès in order to acquire a Birkin bag.
In early 2025, Walmart removed the “Wirkin” bags from its website.