Jane Birkin, singer, actress, and namesake of Hermès famous handbag, died in Paris last Sunday. This made me wonder about the origin story of the bag she inspired. I was surprised to learn that the ultimate luxury handbag was rooted in practicality and with the goal of making a woman’s life easier. The story of the now-famous Hermes Birkin bag began in 1983 during a chance encounter on a flight from Paris to London. Jane Birkin, then a beloved actress and singer, was seated next to Jean-Louis Dumas, the Chief Executive of Hermes. During the flight, Birkin expressed her frustration with not finding a practical and chic bag to accommodate her busy lifestyle as a mother and artist.
The Origin Story of the Birkin Bag
The Origin Story of the Birkin Bag
The Origin Story of the Birkin Bag
Jane Birkin, singer, actress, and namesake of Hermès famous handbag, died in Paris last Sunday. This made me wonder about the origin story of the bag she inspired. I was surprised to learn that the ultimate luxury handbag was rooted in practicality and with the goal of making a woman’s life easier. The story of the now-famous Hermes Birkin bag began in 1983 during a chance encounter on a flight from Paris to London. Jane Birkin, then a beloved actress and singer, was seated next to Jean-Louis Dumas, the Chief Executive of Hermes. During the flight, Birkin expressed her frustration with not finding a practical and chic bag to accommodate her busy lifestyle as a mother and artist.