A CHANCE ENCOUNTER IN 1983 between actress Jane Birkin and Jean-Louis Dumas, then Creative Director of French luxury brand Hermès, resulted in the ultimate luxury bag, the Birkin. The story goes that the two were seated next to each other on an international flight, when Dumas asked why Birkin travelled with a simple straw tote. She explained that most leather bags were too structured for her taste and she wanted something much more boho. That led to the two of them designing the bag on the back of an airsickness bag. Little did anyone know that fashion history was being doodled that day. The Birkin has changed little in style or function since its inception. But what has changed is the hundreds of thousands of dollars that it commands at auctions, depending on the exotic skins and diamond-encrusted hardware. Last year, Sotheby's sold one for $440,000. The year before, Christie's sold one for £237,000. Most recently, a Hong Kong billionaire sold 76 Birkin bags from his private collection for $3.2 million at a Sotheby's auction.
"The Birkin is an iconic bag. It is made in such a way that it will stand the test of time. It is handmade by very trained craftsmen in the same way that Hermès makes saddles. It's an iconic model that will not go out of style," Rachel Koffsky, SVP and International Head of Department for Handbags & Accessories at Christie's, told Business Today recently. It takes a single expert craftsman up to 40 hours to produce a Birkin bag. The stitch on which the brand's reputation is based the saddle-cannot be replicated by a machine; it takes two needles simultaneously passing through the same seam to produce a Birkin correctly, she explains. Production is limited and the waitlist is so long that most people end up buying it on the secondary market.
Bu hikaye Business Today India dergisinin March 19, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Business Today India dergisinin March 19, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Pension Scheme - Safety Net
The move to introduce the UPS has evoked mixed reactions. Analysts believe its funding will have limited impact on the fiscal math
The Reit Choice?
Real Estate Investment Trusts (Reits) Are Gaining Traction As Interest Rates Stabilise. But Returns Could Be Affected By Adverse Economic Conditions And Market Volatility
CORPORATE - Calling to Account
The sudden exit of Byju's auditor BDO marks the latest in a long series of setbacks for the edtech firm
EMPLOYMENT: Skills Push
The skill development ministry plans to partner with the UGC to improve the employability of undergraduates
Building on a Vision
L&T'S CHAIRMAN EMERITUS A. M. NAIK HAS BUILT A MAMMOTH ENTERPRISE THAT IS BUILDING A NEW INDIA, FROM ITS METRO RAIL SYSTEMS TO THE RAM TEMPLE
"KYS more important than KYC"
Vijay Kedia is a renowned equity investor; the value of his listed portfolio stands at around ₹1,750 crore
ROXX STAR
THE THAR ROXX COMBINES LUXURY WITH PERFORMANCE TO MAKE A STRONG STATEMENT IN THE MID-SIZE SUV SEGMENT
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
Smartwatches have become indispensable tools for runners, offering real-time insights into pace, distance, heart rate, and more. Here are a few you can consider
TURNING THE TABLES
INDIA'S FURNITURE MARKET IS POISED FOR A GLOBAL TAKE-OFF. ALREADY, A HOST OF GLOBAL BRANDS HAVE MADE THE COUNTRY THEIR HOME, BUT INDIAN COMPANIES ARE NOT TOO FAR BEHIND
THE EVOLUTION OF ATHERA
IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES IN ADVANCE HAS STOOD THIS BENGALURU-BASED VC FUND IN GOOD STEAD. NOW, WITH A HEIGHTENED FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY, IT WANTS TO SUSTAIN THE SUCCESS