The Hermès Birkin bag was created in 1984 after Jane Birkin discussed her ideal bag with Jean-Louis Dumas.
According to the widely repeated origin story, Birkin sat next to Dumas, then Hermès’s chief executive, on a flight and explained that she wanted a practical leather weekend bag. Dumas subsequently developed a design named for her. The Birkin has two rolled handles, a flap, a lock, and a spacious interior.
The Birkin is often confused with the Kelly, another famous Hermès bag. The Kelly is associated with Grace Kelly and generally has a single top handle, while the Birkin was conceived as a more relaxed carryall with two handles. Both styles can appear in many leathers, colors, and sizes.
Its limited availability, craftsmanship, and secondary-market demand have made the Birkin a major subject in fashion and luxury collecting. The name refers to Jane Birkin, not to a separate handbag company.