When Coco Chanel expressed that ‘the best things in life are free, the second best things are very, very expensive’ she wasn’t wrong. The Hermès Birkin Bag ranks as one of the most expensive handbags in the world, and has become a symbol of status, wealth and luxury.

The price of Birkin bags range from £4,800 to £100,000, and saltwater crocodile Birkin bags have been known to sell for over $200,000. The bags are distributed to Hermès boutiques on unpredictable schedules and in limited quantities, which adds to the exclusivity and scarcity of the iconic bag.

The Birkin is undoubtedly a cult classic. The style is named after English actress and singer Jane Birkin, after Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas was seated next to her on a flight from Paris to London in 1981.

On the plane, Jane Birkin had placed her large, overflowing straw bag in the overhead compartment of her seat, but the contents fell to the floor. Dumas witnessed Birkin get on her hands and knees in order to retrieve the fallen objects, which prompted Birkin to explain to Dumas that it had been difficult for her to find a leather weekend bag she liked. Three years later, he created a magnificent, black supple leather bag for her, simply called the Birkin bag, which was based on an 1892 design. 

The Birkin is available in a variety of hides, such as calf leather, lizard, ostrich and crocodile. Birkin bags which have leather with smaller scales are actually more expensive than styles with larger scales. The bag is also lined with goat skin, making it a fairly heavy, yet durable, style. The interior colour of the bag matches the colour of its exterior, which creates a sense of flow and continuity and adds to the unique quality of the bag.

The Birkin is available in a number of sizes, with two of the larger sizes especially intended for use as travelling bags. The iconic bag is available in a rainbow of colours, including pink, red, brown, baby blue, navy blue, olive green, orange, white, black and golden tan. The style also includes a fully functional lock and key fixture.

The metallic hardware (the lock, keys, buckle hardware and base studs) on the Birkin are often plated with gold in order to prevent tarnishing, and diamonds can be added to the details for added glamour.

Birkin bags are handmade in France by expert artisans, who use the company's signature saddle stitching, which was painstakingly developed in the 1800s. The style is expensive due to the fact that each bag is hand sewn, buffed, painted and polished, and it takes approximately 48 hours to create one of these exquisite bags.

If you are looking to buy or Sell your used Hermes bags just contact Naughtipidgins Nest.

I am often asked about care and maintenance of bags and tend to refer folks over to my Leather Guide, for information on particular leather types and finishes.

However, I thought it might be useful to provide some guidance on how to prepare a bag for resale, whether you are thinking of selling at the Nest or anywhere else.

When you buy a preloved bag, irrespective of how much wear its received, everyone wants it to be clean, tidy and odour free. There are just a few simple steps you can take when you a recycling your bag, to ensure that its in the best condition possible and your buyer is delighted.

Step one - gather your tools. You'll need a stiff washing up brush, a soft-bristle toothbrush, some lanolin free leather cleaning wipes, some baby wipes, a duster, cellotape, a can of leather shine spray and a small pot of leather balm (Colonill or Lord Sheraton are both excellent).

Step two - whether your bag is suede lined, self lined or fabric lined, the interior need to to be brushed out. If it has a fabric lining and can be turned out, gently pull the lining out so you can brush, making sure to turn out the corners where all the dust and bits collect. Do the same with any zip or slip pockets and make sure any hairs and fluff that often get stuck between the stitching is removed. On unlined bags or ones where the inside stays 'in' the bag, turn it upside down and brush out gently, again making sure to get right into the corners, nooks and crannys. Don't forget any hidden areas, like the base of a Bayswaters flap, where it joins the bag, as spaces like this collect bits more than anywhere!

Step three - after you've brushed, on to a really thorough cleaning of the seams and harder to reach places. For this, just wrap some cellotape, sticky side outwards, round your index finger and run it along the seams. It will pick up the last of the fluff and hairs and after renewing the cellotape several times, you'll be surprised how much debris you collect.

Step four - For lined bags, you can then wipe the material with a moistened baby wipe to remove any light marks or stains. Don't scrub as you may damage the fabric but clean as best as possible and ensure its all dry before putting the bag away. For unlined or suede lined bags, you can use a lanolin free leather wipe but again, don't scrub as the pile will be damaged and possible look worse than the stain did!

Step five - For the exterior of the bag, your cleaning technique will again be dictated by the finish. A lambskin or very fine nap leather bag will require a much gentler approach that something like Natural or Darwin and I'd always recommend using some light cotton gloves for the more delicate hides to prevent any oil or grease transfer from your hands. For quilted bags or those with intricate stitching, sequins or beads, use the soft-bristled toothbrush to gently dust the outside. Do the same with any chain and leather intertwined straps and around hardware and closures.

Step six - Then, gently wipe over the exterior of the bag with the lanolin free cleaning wipes, taking care to sweep lightly over the surface so that no areas darken or 'soak' the moisture into the hide. Patent or demi-sheen finishes will require buffing to remove any residual smears and hardware can also be buffed, taking care to ensure there are no 'bits' on your cloth that will scratch the metalware.

Step seven - For more used bags, you can sometimes improve on areas of wear and or dryness, by the use of moisturising products. Dependent on the nature of the leather and the severity of the wear, a light spritz with a Leather Shine spray and buff with a lint free cloth can bring back a lovely lustre to the hide, especially on smooth leather bags. Very dry areas such as corners, can benefit from a more intense application and a leather balm, warmed in your hands and then massaged evenly into the hide, which can help replenish some of the lost moisture and oils........ but please remember, if you are looking to 'restore' your bag prior to sale, then its best left to the professionals.

I am always happy to recommend some really good companies, so just get in touch as I'd be delighted to assist.

Hope this helps and don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or have any thoughts as to other information for the Blog that might be useful :-)

Thanks for reading and happy cleaning!

Shian

www.npnbags.co.uk