The very first Birkin bag - the one made by Hermès for British actress Jane Birkin - is about to be auctioned in Paris, and even though it’s well-worn, it’s expected to fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars... The bag’s creation story is legendary, and over time it’s become one of the most coveted items in the world. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll look at the story of le Birkin, how it became much more than a handbag, and why it’s now big business.

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Listening: Our colleague Tenita has recommended an episode of the podcast Acquired about the history and business strategy of Hermes… And just a heads up, it’s a bit of a time investment (it’s 3 hours long), so maybe tackle it in installments.

Watching: If you’d like to have a sticky beak at the OG Birkin and (who knows!) maybe put in a bid for it, here’s the Sotheby’s auction site. 

Looking: And for interest’s sake, here’s a link to Kylie Jenner’s snow Faubourg bag as well…

Email us: Got a topic you want us to tackle? Send us your Shortcut suggestions to ⁠[email protected]⁠. 

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