Recently referred to by Yahoo Style as a “better investment than gold”, the Hermès Birkin handbag is celebrating its 39th anniversary in 2023 – marking almost four decades at the very top of the luxury fashion world, both in terms of its value and its coveted status among fashion lovers and investment buyers alike.
The Hermès Birkin 35 is arguably the most classic in terms of style and size, and was the first Hermès Birkin bag to be released – named after and inspired by the actress, Jane Birkin, who famously told the CEO of Hermès that she wanted a bag large enough to hold everything she needed on an everyday basis.
History of the Hermès Birkin 35
The Hermès Birkin 35 was designed after its CEO, Jean-Louis Dumas, sat next to Jane Birkin on a plane and heard about her desire for a bag which could be used as an everyday solution to carry her scripts and other stationery items, as well as the various accessories she needed on a daily basis.
Following this interaction, Dumas returned to his design team and briefed them with an idea for a bag which was not only large enough for all of Jane’s requests, but which had sufficient individual compartments and pockets to keep a woman’s everyday accessories and possessions safe.
The Birkin officially debuted in 1984 with the Birkin 35 marking the original size – with the celebrity following making the Birkin an instant success. This success has never waned, with Hermès releasing an assortment of alternative sizes and endless colourways and fabrics to meet and match all style preferences.
What makes this Hermès Birkin 35 Himalayan so special?
The Hermès 35 Himalayan is one of the rarest Birkin bags on the market – largely due to the fact that any new bag produced and released is reserved for VIP customers only. This means that Himalayan bags are never sold to the mass market, instead being paired with buyers on the VIP waiting list – a concept which drives demand skywards and makes any preloved or second-hand Birkin 35 Himalayan worth considerably more than its retail price on the secondary luxury goods marketplace.
This tells us that the Hermès Birkin 35 Himalayan is difficult to craft and even more difficult to get hold of. It is a solid investment that will provide lucrative returns for any buyer who happens to come by an authentic Birkin 35 Himalayan bag.
Features of the Hermès Birkin 35 Himalayan
The name ‘Himalayan’ is derived from the design feature which means that each bag resembles the Himalayan mountains, seen from a graduation in its white centre, out to the darker grey-brown on the outsides of the bag. This Birkin 35 Himalayan boasts all the key features of a Birkin handbag in terms of the design and structure of the bag – the classic Hermès flap, with its short straps and freestanding design which allows this bag to retain its structure when placed on a surface.
Exploring the material and hardware of the Birkin 35 Himalayan
If you’re still wondering what makes the Birkin 35 Himalayan quite so special, it starts and ends with the material. The Himalayan, which boasts a white and grey scale textured fabric finish, is made from the skin of a saltwater crocodile found in the Nile – reared from young in very specific and difficult-to-replicate conditions, which protect the skin and ensure that the animals do not suffer from torn skin or scarring. Once the skin has been approved by ethical standards and has received the correct cites for its condition, it’s ready to be coloured and finished – an arduous process which further adds to the exclusive nature of each bag.
To complement this rarest of materials, the authentic nature of which means that every single Himalayan Hermès handbag is unique in terms of its exact pattern and colouring, the bag’s hardware is made from a cool-toned Palladium with a dark grey resin to match its outer colour.
How is this Hermès Birkin 35 Himalayan produced?
The process for producing a Birkin 35 Himalayan starts with the ethical removal of the crocodile skin. You may notice that the scales of the skin used to create these bags are much larger than those associated with alligator skin – and it’s the size and symmetrical design of these scales which makes the Himalayan that much more valuable in terms of the cost price.
The skin is then stripped of its natural colour, taking it back to a clean white before layering the dye over the top. The contrasting colours ultimately create the graduating design scheme seen on many Himalayan bags – with the material then ready to construct into a classic Hermès Birkin 35.
How much does this Hermès Birkin 35 Himalayan cost?
The high cost of the Himalayan Birkin comes from the arduous production process and the rare nature of the material. This culminates in a value and cost of around £56,500 at retail price, rising to £400,000 on the secondary market.
Other models on the market
There are a multitude of other Birkin handbags available on the market, many of which are less rare than the Himalayan, though are by no means easy to come by due to the extremely high demand for Birkin 35 handbags. These include the same bag in shiny black crocodile leather, alongside other classic colours which shift and change with the seasons.
Where can I buy a Hermès Birkin 35 Himalayan?
To ensure that any Hermès Birkin 35 handbag is 100% authentic and genuine, we recommend buying from a reputable second-hand luxury reseller that specialises in providing valuations for such high-end products. Unless you are a Hermès VIP then the chance of finding a handbag like this on the retail market is zero, with high-end resellers being the only place where you may come across a perfect Hermès Birkin 35.
Visit us in-store, or via our website, to learn more about this rare and iconic Hermès Birkin 3 Himalayan handbag.
