Hermes Purple Crocus Birkin 35 Bag
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Design:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Athens, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU997321230542
Birkin Bag
Since its 1984 debut, the Hermès Birkin bag has become a coveted status symbol as much as it has an exclusive collector’s piece. The handbag is among the most expensive in the world, and the appetite for the accessory is well-known inside and outside the fashion industry.
The history of the Birkin bag owes to a chance meeting on a flight from Paris to London in 1981, when British actress, singer and model Jane Birkin found herself describing her ideal handbag to another passenger. The two travelers hadn’t properly met, so it wasn’t immediately clear that she was practically brainstorming a future product with Hermès chairman Jean-Louis Dumas. When the latter identified himself, he told the star that Hermès was prepared to produce the accessory of her dreams. A discussion followed that involved rough sketches on an Air France airsickness bag, and the Birkin was introduced three years later.
A spacious and symmetrical rectangular bag that features dual handles as compared to the trapezoidal single-handle frame of the company’s popular Kelly, the Birkin has amassed a rabidly enthusiastic fan base since its inception.
Because it is so pricey and sought after, the goatskin-lined Birkin has frequently been targeted by counterfeiters, and its modest aesthetic and understated branding prevent it from being easily discernible from fakes. An array of metallic hardware fixtures, most often produced in gold or palladium, helps distinguish this dynamic handcrafted tote, and likely assisted the French police officers who broke up an international counterfeit Birkin operation in 2012.
Among the characteristics that are integral to determining a Birkin’s authenticity as well as rendering it a truly desirable collector’s item are the signature lock and accompanying keys. The latter are tucked inside a lanyard made from a single piece of leather and draped around one of the handles. There are scuff-resistant base studs, too — a defense system to shield the durable leather exterior from damage should its owner park it on a gritty sidewalk. The studs are hammered in and can’t twist off, so there isn’t any danger of the bag losing its feet.
Each tote is hand-sewn according to Hermès’s centuries-old saddle-stitching technique, and the exotic leathers — a variety that includes ostrich and crocodile — are subsequently painted and polished by house craftsmen in France. Owing to the artisan construction effort behind this globally adored accessory, it may take up to several days to produce a single Birkin bag.
Jane had to wait for hers, too.
Hermès
For Hermès, what began as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen would eventually grow into one of the most storied fashion labels in the world. In 1837, German-born French entrepreneur Thierry Hermès opened a saddle and harness purveyor in Paris. Gradually, the house extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and modernist jewelry to pillows and handbags.
The first top-handled bag ever produced by Hermès was the Haut à courroies, which made its debut in 1892. A tall bag secured with a folded leather flap (fastened with bridle-inspired straps), it was designed to transport riding boots and a harness.
As the world made the switch from horse to automobile, the bag adapted, becoming a multifunctional travel satchel instead of a designated saddlebag. Today, 120 years later, the HAC remains in Hermès’s line — and its distinctive flap and clasping straps have laid the groundwork for some of the house’s other iconic bags.
In the 1930s, Robert Dumas (son-in-law to Émile-Maurice Hermès, Thierry’s grandson) designed a smaller, trapezoidal take on the flap bag with a handle and two side straps. Later, actress Grace Kelly, then engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco, is said to have used one of these bags to conceal her pregnancy during the 1950s. Because she was photographed constantly, the coverage catapulted her handbag to international popularity.
In 1977, Hermès officially renamed the model for her, and the Kelly bag was born. Each Kelly bag takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches owe solely to one Hermès artisan.
Robert Dumas was also responsible for another one of the brand’s most iconic offerings: the launch of its first silk scarf on the occasion of Hermès’s 100th anniversary in 1937. Based on a woodblock designed by Dumas and printed on Chinese silk, the accessory was an immediate hit.
Today, vintage Hermès scarves, typically adorned in rich colors and elaborate patterns, serve many functions, just as they did back then. Well-heeled women wear it on their heads, around their necks and, in a genius piece of cross-promotion, tied to the straps of their Hermès bags. Kelly even once used one as a sling for her broken arm.
In 1981, Robert Dumas’s son Jean-Louis Dumas, then Hermès chairman, found himself sitting next to French actress and musician Jane Birkin on a plane, where she was complaining about finding a suitable carryall for the necessary accoutrements of motherhood. After the two travelers were properly introduced, Birkin helped design Jean-Louis’s most famous contribution to the Hermès canon: the Birkin bag, a roomy, square catchall with the HAC’s trademark leather flap top and the addition of a lock and key.
Owing to the brand’s legendary commitment to deft, handcrafted construction, the Birkin is an investment that is coveted by collectors everywhere.
While the Kelly and Birkin may be standouts, gracing the arms of everyone from royal heiresses to hip-hop stars in the past few decades, the handbags are but a small part of Hermès’s fashion offerings.
Since the 1920s, the brand has produced some of the most desirable leather goods in the world. There’s the Constance bag, a favorite of Jacqueline Kennedy, the recently relaunched 1970s-era Evelyne and, on the vintage market, a slew of designs dating back to the 1920s.
Good design never goes out of style. Find a variety of vintage Hermès handbags, day dresses, shoes and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Athens, GA
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Hermes Vert De Gris Birkin 25 BagBy HermèsLocated in Athens, GAHermes Vert De Gris Birkin 25 Bag. Rare color combination. Gold hardware. Togo leather. Brand new in box. Full set. Includes original receipt. Guaranteed a...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Rouge Casaque Birkin 30 BagBy HermèsLocated in Athens, GAHermes Rouge Casaque Birkin 30 Bag. The most wanted red color by Hermes. Red is beautiful. Gold hardware. Good condition. Epsom leather. In...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Capucine Birkin 35 BagBy HermèsLocated in Athens, GAHermes Capucine Birkin 35 Bag. Bright orange red color with gold hardware. Poppy color. Looks like new. Excellent condition. Plastic is still on the hardware. Big bags...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Gold Birkin 30 BagBy HermèsLocated in Athens, GAHermes Gold Birkin 30 Bag. Epsom leather. Palladium silver hardware. Very good condition. Classic color and size. Neutral will go with everything. Interior clean. Includes clochette,...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Vert De Gris Birkin 25 BagBy HermèsLocated in Athens, GAHermes Vert De Gris Birkin 25 Bag. Brand new Birkin 25. Almost impossible to get size. Gold hardware. Gorgeous dark grey green color. Mini 25 size. Great evening bag. Or can be worn ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Orange Birkin 30 BagBy HermèsLocated in Athens, GAHermes Orange Birkin 30 Bag. Most classic orange Hermes color. This bag looks like it was never used. Excellent condition. Gold hardware. Togo leather. S...Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Top Handle Bags
- Bottega Veneta Maroon Arco Top Handle Bag w/ StrapBy Bottega VenetaLocated in Atlanta, GARare and special Bottega Veneta top handle bag crafted in a beautiful maroon leather with dual rolled handles and a single adjustable sho...Category
2010s Italian Top Handle Bags
- Hermès Violet Epsom 32 cm Kelly SellierBy HermèsLocated in Palm Beach, FLThis authentic Hermès Violet Epsom 32 cm Kelly Sellier is in pristine condition with the protective plastic intact on the hardware. Hermès bags ...Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Lock 18 Mauve Sylvestre Bag Palladium Hardware Clemence LeatherBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers an Hermes Picotin Lock 18 tote bag featured in coveted Mauve Sylvestre. Beautiful soft neutral colour. This charming Hermes Picotin tote is a perfect everyday go to...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- Hermès Verso Bleu Encre & Bleu Saphir Clémence Retourne Kelly 35 GHWBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYListing Title: Hermès Verso Bleu Encre & Bleu Saphir Clémence Retourne Kelly 35 GHW SKU: 116210 Handbag Condition: Very Good Condition Comments: Very Goo...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Birkin HSS 35 Blue Electric Rouge Grenat Bag Togo Leather PalladiumBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers an Hermes Birkin HSS 35 bag featured in an exotic creation of vivid Bleu Electric and rich Rouge Grenat. This Hermes Birkin special order...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags
- Hermes Rodeo MM Horse Bag Charm Rare Anemone New w/ BoxBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLGuarranteed authentic rare limited Hermes Rodeo MM Anemone Rodeo horse bag charm with Bleu Izmir tail and mane. Saddle and holder are Fauve. Skin is la...Category
2010s French Wallets and Small Accessories
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
How to Spot a Fake Hermès Birkin Bag
The iconic Birkin bag is much coveted — and often copied. Find out how to tell the real deal from a convincing fake. Of course, you don't have to worry about this on 1stDibs, where every seller is highly vetted.
These Custom and Rare Birkin Bags Are a Collector’s Dream
An Hermès Birkin might be on many fashion lovers' wish lists, but to the hardcore collector, one is never enough. For every kind of Birkin-phile, we present some of the most exclusive bags from our discerning dealers.