Hermes Birkin

Birkin is a bag from the French house Hermès, in business since 1837 and originally a harness workshop. The bag was conceived in 1984 on a flight from Paris to London: the actress Jane Birkin complained to her neighbour, Hermès chairman Jean-Louis Dumas, that she could not find a bag practical for a young mother, and he immediately sketched a soft, roomy bag with a flap and saddle stitching. Today the Birkin is one of the most sought-after objects of recent decades.

The main choices are size, leather and colour. Examples include the Birkin 25 and Birkin 30 from 2024: two handles, a flap with side straps, a turn-lock closure and palladium-plated hardware.