The Birkin bag has become a modern design classic and is so exclusive that Hermès only offers it to loyal customers. The prices for a new bag start at around 100,000 Swedish kronor. And it is partly the bag's exclusivity that has contributed to its iconic status in the fashion world, says Isabelle Käck Wedelin.
Jane Birkin also contributed to it getting a cult status and then many fashion icons started wearing it in the 1990s and also in the early 2000s.
Sold at the right time
The bag is often more expensive on the second-hand market today and Käck Wedelin explains that many see it as an investment.
Many who buy them new take very good care of them if you compare with Jane's bag, which had stickers on it and is really used.
And despite being 40 years old, the bag's popularity has only increased.
I think it was a good time to sell Jane's bag as it has gotten such a boost in recent years. It's really on time and shows that fashion has actually had a comeback and that people are interested and see a value in bags and second-hand objects. Especially when it has such a strong sentimental value as this one.
The bag has previously changed owners twice since it was put up for sale by Birkin herself at an auction in 1994, when the proceeds went to a charity organization for the benefit of the fight against AIDS.
Unique status
According to Käck Wedelin, there are few bags that have achieved the same status as the Birkin model.
It's the Kelly bag that is also Hermès, it's actually the two that can be compared to each other. And if you take a completely different brand, then the closest we can get is Chanel's flap bag, which was released in February 1955 and was then called 2.55. It has also maintained its status and is still very attractive.
But actually, I think there's nothing that can really be compared to the Birkin and Kelly bags.
