A charity auction on eBay, in support of Japan bent by the terrible events of March 11th, has recently completed. A very special auction, as the seller was the actress Jane Birkin, the object for sale was the original Hermès Birkin Bag, and the final price was as high as £ 100,100.00.
But what makes a bag so special? [...]
Si è da poco conclusa su ebay un'asta di beneficienza a sostegno del Giappone, piegato dai terribili eventi dell'11 marzo scorso. Un'asta decisamente particolare, poichè il venditore era l'attrice Jane Birkin, l'oggetto in vendita era l'originale Birkin Bag Hermès, ed il prezzo finale ha raggiunto le 100.100,00 sterline.
But what makes a bag so special? [...]
Si è da poco conclusa su ebay un'asta di beneficienza a sostegno del Giappone, piegato dai terribili eventi dell'11 marzo scorso. Un'asta decisamente particolare, poichè il venditore era l'attrice Jane Birkin, l'oggetto in vendita era l'originale Birkin Bag Hermès, ed il prezzo finale ha raggiunto le 100.100,00 sterline.
Cosa la rende così speciale? [...]
Possibly with lots of charm.
And here we have an actress who becomes a muse, and a plane flying between two European capital cities that becomes convict. It is said that the British actress, in 1984, was flying from Paris to London sitting next to Jean Louis Dumas (the chied executive of Hermès) and, rummaging frantically in her bag, she let out a comment on how hard it was to find a bag at the same time large and elegant. This captured the attention of mr Dumas, who offered to design a bag for her, to reflect those needs ... And thus the "Birkin"was born, made of soft leather, with valuable closure and roomy pockets, classic, durable, stylish.
A myth: nothing is special if it is not uncommon.
First of all it is not for all budgets (certainly not for those smaller than € 5000), then it is not even for all people: so easily hanging on celebrities' wrists, so it is difficult for commoners to climb to the top of the long reservations waiting-list. So if you own a "Birkin", not only you have a large wallet, but it means that you really are "somebody".
Some say no: Michael Tonello has seen a business into the business. He noted the fierce and irrational desire of hundreds of women to put a Birkin on their arm, and found a way to avoid the tedious and frustrating waiting-list. In his book "Bringing home the Birkin" (or, should we say, Birkin-hunter?) said he had purchased on commission more than 130 bags: it seems to be simple, as you should get into a Hermes boutique, get help from a shop assistant to choose a precious scarf, maybe a wallet and a bracelet, then you arrive at a bill which is of several thousand dollars. The shop assistant obviuously would think you are a regular Hermes customer. Finally, a moment before you pay, you also ask for her, the Birkin, displaying self confidence "oh...a one more thing.. do you have a Birkin?". It seems that the cashier, with her eyes fixed on all the objects ready to be paid, goes to the warehouse where there is always a Birkin ready for some Arabic sultan or a VIP. In addition to the compensation for any purchased Birkin, now Michael has also the royalties on the book to keep him company.
And here we have an actress who becomes a muse, and a plane flying between two European capital cities that becomes convict. It is said that the British actress, in 1984, was flying from Paris to London sitting next to Jean Louis Dumas (the chied executive of Hermès) and, rummaging frantically in her bag, she let out a comment on how hard it was to find a bag at the same time large and elegant. This captured the attention of mr Dumas, who offered to design a bag for her, to reflect those needs ... And thus the "Birkin"was born, made of soft leather, with valuable closure and roomy pockets, classic, durable, stylish.
A myth: nothing is special if it is not uncommon.
First of all it is not for all budgets (certainly not for those smaller than € 5000), then it is not even for all people: so easily hanging on celebrities' wrists, so it is difficult for commoners to climb to the top of the long reservations waiting-list. So if you own a "Birkin", not only you have a large wallet, but it means that you really are "somebody".
Some say no: Michael Tonello has seen a business into the business. He noted the fierce and irrational desire of hundreds of women to put a Birkin on their arm, and found a way to avoid the tedious and frustrating waiting-list. In his book "Bringing home the Birkin" (or, should we say, Birkin-hunter?) said he had purchased on commission more than 130 bags: it seems to be simple, as you should get into a Hermes boutique, get help from a shop assistant to choose a precious scarf, maybe a wallet and a bracelet, then you arrive at a bill which is of several thousand dollars. The shop assistant obviuously would think you are a regular Hermes customer. Finally, a moment before you pay, you also ask for her, the Birkin, displaying self confidence "oh...a one more thing.. do you have a Birkin?". It seems that the cashier, with her eyes fixed on all the objects ready to be paid, goes to the warehouse where there is always a Birkin ready for some Arabic sultan or a VIP. In addition to the compensation for any purchased Birkin, now Michael has also the royalties on the book to keep him company.
Una leggenda: nessun oggetto è davvero speciale se non ha una storia da raccontare.
Possibilmente ricca di fascino.
E qui abbiamo un'attrice che diventa una musa, e un aereo che vola tra due capitali europee che diventa galeotto. Si narra infatti che l'attrice inglese, nel lontano 1984, stesse volando da Parigi a Londra seduta casulamente accanto a Jean Louis Dumas (il presidente della maison Hermès) e che, rovistando freneticamente nella sua borsa, si lasciasse scappare un commento su come fosse difficile trovare una borsa capiente ma al tempo stesso elegante e femminile. Non dev'essere sembrata un'ovvietà al galante Dumas, il quale si offrì di disegnare per lei una borsa che riflettesse queste esigenze... E nacque così la "Birkin", in morbida pelle, con preziose chiusure e comode tasche, classica, resistente, raffinata.
Un mito: nessun oggetto è davvero speciale se non è raro.
Oltre a non essere per tutti i portafogli (sicuramente non per quelli che contengono meno di 5000€), non è neanche per tutte le persone: tanto viene elargita facilmente alle celebrities, tanto è difficile per i commoners scalare la vetta delle liste di attesa delle prenotazioni. Per cui se possiedi una "Birkin", non solo hai un capiente portafoglio, ma sei anche "qualcuno".
C'è chi dice no: Michael Tonello ha visto un business nel business. Ha osservato l'ardente e irrazionale desiderio di centinaia di donne di infilarsi al braccio una Birkin, e ha trovato un modo per evitare la noiosa e frustrante lista di attesa. Nel suo libro "il cacciatore di Birkin" racconta di aver acquistato su commissione più di 130 esemplari: pare sia semplice, occorre entrare in una boutique Hermès, farsi aiutare da una commessa a scegliere una preziosa sciarpa, magari anche un portafogli e un bracciale, arrivare ad un conto di diverse migliaia di dollari assumendo subito, agli occhi della commessa, l'immagine di cliente abituale, da soddisfare. Infine, un attimo prima di pagare, si chiede anche LEI, la Birkin, ostentando sicurezza. Pare che la cassiera, con gli occhi fissi sugli oggetti pronti per essere pagati, si rechi nel magazzino dove c'è sempre una Birkin pronta per qualche sultano arabo o per il vip di turno.
Oltre al compenso per ogni Birkin acquistata, adesso Michael ha anche le royalties sul libro a fargli compagnia.
Wow! Vado subito a telefonare a Michael Tonello!
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