Final: Birkin Bag

Birkin Bag

  "The Hermes Birkin bag is the ultimate It Bag, the most visible handbag status symbol this side of a Louis Vuitton print." (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/18/birkin-bags-kardashians_n_1683478.html) Hermes came out with the Birkin Bag after speaking with Jane Birkin about her pocket less purse. Ever since then, the purse has been seen as a symbol of status, wealth and success. "Since that day, the Birkin bag has become one of the most iconic accessories in modern fashion. With the price of one of these handbags ranging from $5,000 USD to over 6 figures, there is an infamous waiting list known to be up to 4 years. Hermès does not sell Birkin bags online or through any online retailers, but consignment shops and online auctions have been known to re-sell older styles." (http://www.thefashionspot.com/runway-news/news//20964-fashion-historyq-the-hermes-birkin) Many women dream of having this purse. These purse are all individually handmade by the best craftsmen in the world. When creating just one Birkin bag it can take up to 48 hours of labor. They use only the best fabrics and they also use unique skins like ostrich and crocodile. "For all the stories of waiting lists and the $10,000 price tag, is the Hermes Birkin still the mother lode of handbags when every other woman at lunch is armed with one? This is true in Asia, especially in Hong Kong and Singapore, where Birkin bags are as ubiquitous as Coach bags are in the US." (http://www.forbes.com/sites/bluecarreon/2012/07/17/has-the-hermes-birkin-bag-lost-its-appeal/) They have really taken focus with the Asian consumers, but they are very popular in the US as well. Some say that they are becoming over worn because of people like the Kardashians, Ashley Simpson and some other pop stars. They are become less valuable in some peoples eyes. “Too many people who are not all that fashionable have it. And they carry it everywhere. In Asia, I have seen women carry their big Birkins to dinner parties. So not chic,” she said. “Since almost everybody has a Birkin bag, more and more ladies are opting for bags made from exotic skins now, not necessarily Birkins,” shared socialite and Singapore PR maven Olga Iserlis."(http://www.forbes.com/sites/bluecarreon/2012/07/17/has-the-hermes-birkin-bag-lost-its-appeal/) The competitors of the Birkin bag could be any of the luxury brands because they all focus on craftsmanship and fine fabrics or skins like ostrich. Its becoming a huge fad for exotic skin and everyone is doing it. Birkin does have the upper hand because they are universal and can be used for any occasion. "They're also no longer so precious: Lady Gaga wrote on hers with a Sharpie and aspiring reality TV starlet Francesca Eastwood got herself a red one then proceeded to burn it" (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/18/birkin-bags-kardashians_n_1683478.html) This caused serious commotion for the brand and the people who own it. The photographer who burned the bag was criticized by the media and he then said that he would give the same amount of money, which was $100,000 to any family in need. The Birkins have been very talked about lately, but not all of it has been positive.