Hermès Birkin to the Gucci Jackie: Iconic bags and the stories that shaped them

Magazine story by: Smita Tripathi
Designed by: Pragati

Who doesn’t wish to own a Hermès Birkin or a Chanel or Gucci Jackie! Fashion lovers have often wished to buy one of these or already own it. But these are not just luxury bags as they hold fascinating stories that later shaped the world of fashion 

Luxury bags and the
stories that weaved them

Hermès Birkin

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. Jane Birkin, who was travelling with a simple straw tote, complained about the structure of leather bags, which led to the two of them doodling a bag on the back of an airsickness bag

The Hermès Berkin later became an iconic luxury bag, which now commands several fashion auction events. Last year, Sotheby’s sold one for $440,000. Most recently, a Hong Kong billionaire sold 76 Birkin bags from his private collection for $3.2 million at a Sotheby’s auction

Hermès Berkin’s iconic
luxury brand which
commands auctions

Birkin’s sister bag Kelly
is not far behind

Birkin’s sister bag, The Kelly, also ends up commanding exceptional prices at auctions. The matte white Himalaya Crocodile Diamond Retourné Kelly 35 with 18k white gold and diamond hardware is considered the most collectible bag in the world. “We have sold it for up to $500,000. We hold the record for the most expensive Himalayan Kelly sold at an auction,” said Koffsky.

The Kelly started off life as ‘Sac à dépêches’ in 1935. It took 20 years for it to get worldwide recognition when in 1956 movie-star-turned-princess Grace Kelly used the bag to shield her baby bump from the press. 

Story behind Kelly Bag
by Hermès

The pictures went viral and Hermès received so many requests for the ‘Kelly Bag’, as it became known, so the company renamed it in her honour. Today, the bag has year-long waitlists all over the world making it one of the most desirable bags

Story behind Kelly Bag
by Hermès

Chanel 2.55, named after its launch date (February 1955) is one of the world’s most coveted bags. Currently priced at over $8,500, the bag created fashion history as it was the first one that allowed its wearer to have the hands free while carrying the bag on one’s shoulder. 

Chanel 2.55 handbag

In 2005, the bag was famously re-issued by the late designer Karl Lagerfeld. As per a recent study, Chanel bags rose in value 24.5% from the previous year

Chanel 2.55 handbag

Launched in 1930 as a luxurious-yet-practical travel bag, it became a hugely popular purse when in 1959, Audrey Hepburn asked Louis Vuitton to make it slightly smaller.

Louis Vuitton Speedy

The width was reduced from 30 cm to 25 cm and it became Hepburn’s go-to bag. It is available in different sizes from 25 cm to 40 cm and priced in stores at around $1,600

Louis Vuitton Speedy

Some other iconic bags have been named after the celebrities who were spotted carrying them. One such popular luxury bag is - Gucci Jackie named after former US First Lady Jackie Kennedy

Iconic bags named
after celebrities 

Lady Dior was named in honour of Late Princess Diana. In 1995, former First Lady of France Bernadette Chirac called up the House of Dior and requested for a bag to be gifted to Princess Diana on her visit to Paris. 

Lady Dior named after
Princess Diana

The rectangular-shaped bag with gold hardware and demi-arched handles and stitching details inspired by Napoleon III rattan-style chairs was initially called ‘Chouchou’, which loosely translates to favourite. Dior later renamed it as Lady Dior in the Princess' honour. It is priced at $4,000 onwards

Lady Dior named after
Princess Diana