Handbags

This Shadow Birkin is in Mushroom swift leather with tonal stitching, open top, embossed details and double rolled handles.The interior is lined with Mushroom chevre and is one zip pocket with an Hermes engraved pull and an open pocket on opposite side.The Shadow Birkin was first introduced in 2009 when Jean Paul Gaultier was Hermes’ creative director.  The idea was to take advantage of the Birkin’s basic rectangle shape. It is a true trompe l’oeil (optical illusion). Looking at the bag, one wonders if the straps are actually real or not. Viewed from a perpendicular angle (which need to show), the optical illusion can be quite unsettling.

The Hermès Birkin bag is widely regarded as the pinnacle of luxury handbag fashion and stands as a symbol of exclusivity and high status in the world of high-end accessories. Introduced following a chance encounter between Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas and actress Jane Birkin on a flight, the Birkin bag was born out of Birkin's desire for a spacious yet stylish bag. This meeting led to the creation of a bag that would combine functionality with elegance, resulting in the iconic Birkin bag. The Birkin is available in various sizes, ranging from the compact Birkin 25, affectionately known as the Baby Birkin, to the larger Birkin 50, suitable for weekend travel. The choice of size affects what the bag can carry, from essential items in the smaller sizes to laptops and several outfits in the larger ones. Materials also vary, with options including durable leathers like Epsom and Togo, as well as exotic skins such as crocodile and ostrich, each lending a unique appeal and texture to the Birkin bag. Beyond its physical attributes, the Birkin bag is known for its hardware options, including 18-karat gold plated or palladium, with special editions featuring even more lavish materials like diamond-encrusted hardware. Exotic materials like crocodile and ostrich further enhance the exclusivity of the Birkin, with specific symbols indicating the type of exotic skin used. The Birkin Sellier, introduced as a limited edition, offers a more structured silhouette compared to the classic style, with exterior stitching that adds a distinctive look. Hermès has also released limited edition Birkins, such as the Shadow Birkin and the Fringe Birkin, each with unique design elements that make them highly sought-after collectibles.