A Birkin is so much more than just an iconic name in the luxury sector.
Not only has ‘The Birkin’ become commonplace in pop culture, referenced in big TV shows like Sex and the City, and regularly photographed on the arms of the rich and famous, it has also solidified its place in the hearts of accessory aficionados and luxury lovers all over the world.
And it’s all thanks to the vision of actress Jane Birkin, and the designers back at Hermès HQ.
Why the Birkin Is So Loved
The Birkin has the kind of story that inspires and delights. It was dreamed up through a chance meeting on an airplane, bridging the convenience and functional properties of an everyday bag with the prestige and style of something timeless.
Ever since its initial release, Hermès has been incredibly clear about how much work goes into the creation of each Birkin. Only trained artisan craftsmen and craftswomen who have been with Hermès for five years are allowed to bring the Birkin to life, owing to the traditional methods and incredible intricacy required to create each and every bag. This, and the fact that each bag takes at least 18 hours to craft, means that supplies are limited, and every single bag that makes it onto the market is of the utmost quality.
Today, the Birkin bag owes its prestigious status to its features, its overall design, and of course the trends and minor adaptations that keep each season’s collection fresh and new. A great deal of this comes from the colour palettes used and the way the texture and material of each bag affects the way the colours are presented and paired.
The Most Popular Birkin Colours
There are some colours that are considered timeless, and others that appear during one season and are gone the next.
Buyers who are seeking their own Birkin often fall into one of two camps: those who are looking for something versatile and easy to style with anything, and those who want a pop of colour and something a bit different.
There are also Birkin buyers who put their name on the waitlist and wait for anything to become available, before selling it on to a local boutique reseller. For them, colour only really matters insofar as how it affects the value of the bag – though everyone we meet has their favourites!
The Classic Neutrals
Black is an absolute no brainer when it comes to the most popular and coveted Birkin colours. Classy and elegant, and easy to pair with anything – day or night – a black Birkin is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after options.
But it’s not the only neutral in the Birkin rainbow.
Etoupe is another Hermès classic and is one of the most coveted shades of the Birkin bag. Its soft brown-grey tone lends itself to everyday use, with the contrasting light-colour stitching really showcasing the exceptional attention to detail of the makers.
And then we have Vert Olive, a rich shade that sits somewhere between olive green and a deep grey, with a darker neutral finish that gives off an autumnal vibe and pairs well with warm ivories and cream shades in your outfit.
All the neutral Birkin bags are highly sought after, owing in no small part to their versatility.
Bold Colours
One of the newest shades to make a statement in the Hermès rainbow is Electric Blue; a bold interpretation of a royal blue, which is popular with celebrity buyers. Sticking with the blue theme, Blue Sapphire is another rich-blue colour, which is slightly softer than the Electric shade, though still stands out.
Rouge Vif is another bolder tone, which has become highly sought after, with its feminine undertone and the pinkish-red look that is warm and vibrant. The hardware you choose plays a particularly important part in the presentation of this colour, with yellow gold an especially warming shade.
And then we have the Hermès icon: the orange Birkin. Hermès Orange is a shade of its own and is famous for its use on the brand’s boxes and in its logo across countless other goods and products. To own a Birkin in the brand’s iconic orange is to own a bag that is intricately linked to Hermès’ past and present. Not to mention, it adds a pop of colour to any look!
Limited-Edition Bags
In terms of the limited-edition bags, the exotic skins, and the unique collaborations that span the Birkin market, these are most notable for the stories behind them and the way they mark a departure from the norm.
While some of these are bold and colourful, others move in the opposite direction. The Shadow Birkin is one limited-edition bag that made waves upon its release, using all black – no hardware or anything at all involved in the design.
The Touch Birkin is another all-black Birkin, though this one leans into the value of different materials, with a strip of exotic skin around the top of the bag. Both of these bags were released in the 2000s and aimed to underpin Hermés’ timeless sense of style and simplicity.
The bolder limited-edition bags include the likes of the Faubourg Birkin, which depicts the Hermés flagship storefront on its outer design, and the Sunrise Rainbow Birkin with its horizontal stripes of colour.
Finally, the Himalaya Birkin – one of the most iconic pieces made from an exotic skin, which marks a move away from the Birkin colour palette and towards the natural intricacy and beauty of the core material. This bag is perfectly balanced, with the ombre effect running down the centre – and is one of the most expensive Birkins ever sold.
Choosing Your Perfect Birkin
Suffice to say, the perfect Birkin for you could be bold or neutral, and made from a hard-wearing leather or an exotic skin.
Whatever your perfect bag looks like, Birkins are both a style statement and a piece of history – with local boutique resellers one of the best places to head if you want to browse a diverse and broad collection.