The Birkin bag (or simply Birkin) is a tote bag introduced in 1984 by French luxury goods maker Hermès. Birkin bags are handmade from leather and are named after the English-French actress and singer Jane Birkin.

The bag quickly became a symbol of wealth and exclusivity due to its high price and assumed long waiting lists.[1] Birkins are a popular item with handbag collectors, and were once seen as the rarest handbag in the world.The bag’s value is a matter of its intentionally high price, which has led to its being described as a Veblen good.

In 2020, prices started at US$11,000 for a regular leather bag. Costs can vary widely according to the type of leather, if exotic skins are used, and if precious metals and jewels are part of the bag. A bag made of exotic skin and diamond was sold at auction by Christie’s in Hong Kong for a record price of US$380,000 (HK$2.94 million) in May 2017.Birkins are distributed to Hermès boutiques on unpredictable schedules and in limited quantities, which creates artificial scarcity and exclusivity. They have flooded the upscale resale market and are frequently resold in second-hand boutiques and through social media.