kauguri's

guide to fashion

Hermes Birkin Bag

The Birkin bag was invented in 1984, when the actress Jane Birkin boarded a plane and sat next to then Hermes president Jean-Louis Dumas. He noticed she was carring her belongings in two shabby bags. He felt these bags were just not right for such a chic woman and he offered to create a bag for her. Thus the famous Birkin bag was born.

Each and every Birkin bag is handmade to order and takes one person two days to stitch, mould and craft together it's 40 different parts. One craftsperson makes a bag from start to finish, and signs the bag to show they were totally responsible for its manufacture. Rather than some other companies using limited editions as a marketing ploy, the Birkin bags rarity is a genuine result of it's manufacturing method.

If you buy a Birkin bag be prepared to pay at least $10,000 for a basic bag darling. Birkin bags are made to order and are offered in 300 different colored leathers (and you can even specify a bag made in any material you wish). As a Birkin bag owner you will be joining the likes of Martha Stewart, Elle McPherson, Kate Moss, Sarah Jessica Parker and of course Jane Birkin.

Naturally you can probably buy a fake Birkin bag somewhere, but within a couple of years it will be looking shabby, and lets face it darlings, you don't want to look shabby do you? The best thing to do is save like mad and buy the genuine article. Just think, you will have a bag that is guaranteed for life by Hermes and you will be able to look down on all those wannabes who have fakes! Hermes dedication to perfection is evident when you find out that they accept only one in every 1000 skins it is offered. One of Hermes' leathers, the Barenia, only comes from one tanner in Alsace, and takes several years tanning to achieve just the right patina and sheen. Now that is dedication my dear.