Hermès introduced the Birkin bag in 1984.
The bag followed a chance conversation between Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas and singer and actress Jane Birkin on an airplane. Birkin described the difficulty of finding a practical yet elegant leather weekend bag, and Dumas later developed a design around her preferences.
The resulting model combined a spacious interior, handles, a flap, and a lock. It became one of Hermès’s best-known products and is made in many leathers, colors, and sizes.
The Birkin is often confused with the Kelly because both are structured Hermès handbags with a flap and lock. The Kelly predates it and is generally associated with a single top handle, while Birkin versions are especially known for their paired handles and roomier shape. The name refers to Jane Birkin, not to a place or material.