Can someone explain the Birkin/Kelly obsession to me?

[Itinerantd]

To clarify: The implication that B/K lovers are clueless is not from me. (If you read my post correctly.) It is from those who think that we cannot possibly enjoy these bags for their features, but instead, must somehow all be swept up in a fever of hype.

You wouldn’t be in that group anyway because it doesn’t sound like you are a BK lover.

And that you have other bags you prefer is great. To each his or her own. I like lots of those bags too. The crux of the matter then of the B/K thing seems to be about money and the value for it. Whether the bags are worth the asking price. I don’t know. They are to me. Is a First Class ticket worth the outrageous price for a slightly larger seat and a warm cookie? I think so. Some people don’t, but I don’t hear a lot of talk about how people who fly First Class are only caught up in the hype. Is Loro Piana cashmere worth the price? A goat is a goat. Are Loro Piana buyers caught up in the hype of nicer goats? In some ways these kinds of threads are silly, esoteric questions.

And we’ll have to agree to disagree on whether H could “easily” expand production. But more to the point, why should they? If you manufacture an item, and that item is beloved and desired, are you then morally required to flood the market with it? Why? Says who?

Must you turn your French process and production upside down and rethink your entire business model because people who are not even regular clients (such as those who simultaneously despise Hermes yet demand increased production) accuse you of withholding the good stuff?

As far as quality, I’ll leave that to others as well. What I will say is that H doesn’t promise your bag will never wear. What they say is that they’ll fix it. Will Dooney and Coach and Gucci refurb/repair their 30-40 year old bags? I have no idea. Maybe they will.

Just want to say seeing Bk as just another bag is not the same as saying they are not worth buying. I see the quality, admire the history and heritage and have shelled out my money (new from store after prespend no less) for one but personally they are not the most functional, that’s all. Have not enough experience with those other brands compared here so have no comment. Also want to say that there is no hype for first class airplane tickets or loro piana like for BK. It’s almost like saying “how dare you imply the expensive things I can afford are not worth buying?”
About the limited supply, I definitely don’t want supply to increase as that usually leads to decreased quality. Sure the craftsmanship is part of reason of limited quantity but it is also a major decision on brand leadership not to increase production due to quality And brand perception of exclusivity.

 

[BowieFan1971]

To clarify: The implication that B/K lovers are clueless is not from me. (If you read my post correctly.) It is from those who think that we cannot possibly enjoy these bags for their features, but instead, must somehow all be swept up in a fever of hype.

You wouldn’t be in that group anyway because it doesn’t sound like you are a BK lover.

And that you have other bags you prefer is great. To each his or her own. I like lots of those bags too. The crux of the matter then of the B/K thing seems to be about money and the value for it. Whether the bags are worth the asking price. I don’t know. They are to me. Is a First Class ticket worth the outrageous price for a slightly larger seat and a warm cookie? I think so. Some people don’t, but I don’t hear a lot of talk about how people who fly First Class are only caught up in the hype. Is Loro Piana cashmere worth the price? A goat is a goat. Are Loro Piana buyers caught up in the hype of nicer goats? In some ways these kinds of threads are silly, esoteric questions.

And we’ll have to agree to disagree on whether H could “easily” expand production. But more to the point, why should they? If you manufacture an item, and that item is beloved and desired, are you then morally required to flood the market with it? Why? Says who?

Must you turn your French process and production upside down and rethink your entire business model because people who are not even regular clients (such as those who simultaneously despise Hermes yet demand increased production) accuse you of withholding the good stuff?

As far as quality, I’ll leave that to others as well. What I will say is that H doesn’t promise your bag will never wear. What they say is that they’ll fix it. Will Dooney and Coach and Gucci refurb/repair their 30-40 year old bags? I have no idea. Maybe they will.

No, H won’t always fix their bags. They refused to even send mine out of the store after holding it for two weeks, saying it was “damaged beyond repair.” I took it to someone else who was able to repair it quite nicely for significantly less than H. So no, H does not always stand behind their product.

And yes, all 3 of those manufacturers will repair/refurb their bags. So does LV.

Prestige does have value, or their would be no designer products at all. But without the prestige, is a B or K worth their price? No. You make a wrong assumption about one major thing- I do happen to love both bags. I own one. But not enough to pay $10k+ for them, let alone reseller prices. The value is not there. I would have to use the bag 365 days a year for over 20 years (longer with regular spas) to get my money’s worth from one and I guarantee, even a B or K would hold up only so well with that degree of use. If you want to carry the same bag everyday for over 20 years. And you cannot carry a B or K everywhere, every time. So…value. But, carrying one, I will turn heads…

 

[WhiteBus]

the wording of the title of this thread is:
Can someone explain the Birkin/Kelly obsession to me?

Etriers wrote:
Actually—The topic of the thread is: “…can someone explain to me what the big deal with Birkin/Kelly is?”
We have all responded to the phrase in our own way and it was good to have that point made,
but that is not the wording and the quotation marks confusingly imply that it is.
I wish that statement had been introduced with the words: I believe the topic of this thread means . . .

The key word is 'obsession'. Having looked at multiple definitions, these words are common to most:
A compulsive or irrational preoccupation.
At the point where an explanation is given (whether you agree with it or not) it ceases to be irrational, but can still be compulsive.

 

[Etriers]

the wording of the title of this thread is:
Can someone explain the Birkin/Kelly obsession to me?

Etriers wrote:
Actually—The topic of the thread is: “…can someone explain to me what the big deal with Birkin/Kelly is?”
We have all responded to the phrase in our own way and it was good to have that point made,
but that is not the wording and the quotation marks confusingly imply that it is.
I wish that statement had been introduced with the words: I believe the topic of this thread means . . .

The key word is 'obsession'. Having looked at multiple definitions, these words are common to most:
A compulsive or irrational preoccupation.
At the point where an explanation is given (whether you agree with it or not) it ceases to be irrational, but can still be compulsive.

The quote is from the body of OP’s post, where, after a bit of background information, she summarizes the same question, ie., what’s the big deal, albeit asking it again in a slightly less dramatic, click-bait-y way.

I think the people who have responded have tried their best to explain in plain words, why they like or do not like Bs and Ks. If the OP is looking for something more extreme, like whether those of us who buy Bs and Ks have mental health issues, or obsessive compulsive disorders, that, I’m afraid I’m not qualified to answer, so please disregard my responses.

 

[EllenTsai]

One thing to remember is that H has been there for nearly 200 years selling very high price goods to people with generational wealth and it’s still there.
There’s a reason for that because people don’t become wealthy and accumulate generational wealth for being gullible idiots.
What I see with my own shopping experience is that H is a brand that grows on me. They might not have the most noticeable/ showy/ out there design but I can look at them again and again and i don’t get tired of them.
I don’t need 6 collections of bags/RTW a year because I just don’t have the space for it. I don’t like selling my handbags either. I still have my pink Dior flower bag from early 2000s. Therefore I’d rather spend my budget and space on a few items a year that last for years to come.
As to bags like SDJ that are ‘inspired’ by B or K… They scream imposter and desperation to me…

 

[pasdedeux1]

I like what I like. Nobody else has to like what I like.

I remember the first time I saw a Birkin in the store - this was back in the days where you could buy a basic one off the shelf - and I remember thinking "that's a beautiful bag."

When I bought my first bag - a kelly pochette - I was 17, and it was special. The special feeling hangs out with me when I buy something from H; it reminds me of my grandmother, who wore and loved these things before me. It reminds me of special moments commemorated with special bags, of people and places that have been.

Admittedly some of that feeling has diminished with the current situation, where there's simply nothing to buy. So I don't buy as much anymore - but I still do when I'm offered that special piece.

I don't live in an area where people recognize luxury goods, never mind are impressed by them. I get more compliments on a Loewe Puzzle than all my H bags ever have, combined.

Also, nobody does color like H. Many of their bags simply showcase an absolutely beautifully colored leather.

 

[maxroxxherhandbags]

Access is limited and it is hard to get because there is more demand for Birkins in a working year than the craftsmen at Hermes can produce at the current rate of production and desired level of craftsmanship. It takes a single craftsman about a week to make a Birkin. People act like Hermes has a giant secret warehouse piled high with Birkins that it is deviously “withholding“ from the clamoring public.

Again, just an idea, but maybe women are not the shallow, idiotic sheep that we are made out to be. (No offense to any sheep who may be reading this.) Maybe—-just maybe——we actually LIKE the Birkin because it has features we want in a tote bag that other bags on the market do not have.

Yes!
I think many ' new fans' forget these are not bags that just get mass produced (The way Chanel mass-produces now and hence ..IMO..the decline in quality)
I like the Birkin because its simple, it does the job a tote needs to do.
Its strong, it can be worn open to throw things in basket style, or it can be cinched with its sangles closed and be a feminine version of a briefcase, an oversized handbag, or a brilliant carry-on travel bag.
The main reason I dislike Birkins below 35cms is (and this is subjective) the spirit of the bag is lost.
Also someone mentioned earlier how even a Birkin (or K) if used constantly for however many years will still look worn-out/trashed.
I don't expect a Hermes bag to have eternal youth if well used and I actually LOVE JB's trashed Birkins-They tell a story of the owner the same as laughter lines on a woman's face are to my eyes beautiful like a sign of a life lived.
The simple answer for myself regarding the appeal of B & K is...I love the design, They never look dated(The Puzzle bag for instance will look dated in 25 years).
I hate the 'hype' around them and the way they have become a statement bag.
They aren't the easiest bags to use (heavy/fiddly etc) but by god they are design classics and THAT is what is their singular appeal for me.

 

[880]

OP asks whether H lovers can explain the obsession, but makes it clear, she isn’t a fan of the brand, the style, or the process. She likes chanel (I dont have an issue with that; I like chanel too)

Others on this thread state that there are plenty of H inspired bags from other brands that are cheaper, more sturdy. Absolutell agree. But, many of them don’t appeal to me. I wouldn’t go as far as @EllenTsai that a SdJ screams desperation lol, but I do think it’s derivative, and I’m not a fan of the SdJ either.

still others seem to imply that the bolide or kelly aren’t practical bc they aren’t built to handle hefty loads (unlike the bolides and kelly bags I’ve owned, my barenia HAC could handle multiple wine bottles), but why should that particular function matter? this is a luxury object, after all.

if one wanted a practical bag, perhaps a synthetic Telfar would be best lol

buy what you love and can afford. I have loved Hermes for many years. I don’t really care that H has exploded in popularity orher than it makes it more difficult for me to get what I want.

the world of bags is enormous. There’s enough choice for everyone

 

[EllenTsai]

Big blue IKEA shopping bag is huge practical and super sturdy.
I can fit an entire IKEA haul of small flat packed furnitures and meatballs in it and it’s under £1

 

[880]

Big blue IKEA shopping bag is huge practical and super sturdy.
I can fit an entire IKEA haul of small flat packed furnitures and meatballs in it and it’s under £1

Exactly!

BTW, I also think the whole investment argument is ridiculous. Unless you have a himalaya that you don’t plan to use ever, (and perhaps not even then), other investments make much more sense.

H is why I started on TPF. My IRL friends don’t see the point of bags, much less H

years ago, I had lunch with another TPFer. We were animatedly laughing about our H habit/obsession/whatever you want to call it, when we realized other restaurant patrons were looking a bit alarmed and concerned, which only made us laugh harder.

 

[EllenTsai]

Exactly!

BTW, I also think the whole investment argument is ridiculous. Unless you have a himalaya that you don’t plan to use ever, (and perhaps not even then), other investments make much more sense.

H is why I started on TPF. My IRL friends don’t see the point of bags, much less H

years ago, I had lunch with another TPFer. We were animatedly laughing about our H habit/obsession/whatever you want to call it, when we realized other restaurant patrons were looking a bit alarmed and concerned, which only made us laugh harder.

I find it quite hilarious when self-proclaimed ‘investment/ financial/ wealth expert/ guru’ on social media tout things like luxury handbags, watches and art as viable investment tools because majority of them don’t appreciate in value, especially if pre-spend is included as part of the ‘cost’.

 

[jyyanks]

Ok I’m jumping in here. I believe it’s human nature to obsess over things that 1) we’re very interested in (anything from a fancy car to pets to a certain brand of soda) 2) we want to experience/own one day 3) are unattainable (who remembers their first celebrity crush)

I imagine most people fall into one of the 3 buckets. Me personally, I’m in bucket number 1 because I fell in love with the brand and I come to this forum so I can share this love with like minded people. Some people see B/K’s as something to attain or something that symbolizes ‘making it’ and others just want what they can’t have and then once they get it, it’s not as interesting.
At the end of the day, we all have our personal reasons on why something clicks for us so no one can answer it best. It’s kind of like asking someone why they like wine or chocolate. There’s no right or wrong reason so I would answer OP’s question with ‘no I can’t explain it to you because it’s different for everyone’

 

[HippieHeart]

It's a bit like a hobby...

 

[HavLab]

For me the B30 is the best bag I have ever owned. It's a perfect size, perfect functionality, wears like iron, I just love it. Of course its not suitable in all situations from a style perspective...that's where the Kelly comes in...

 

[goresara]

No, H won’t always fix their bags. They refused to even send mine out of the store after holding it for two weeks, saying it was “damaged beyond repair.” I took it to someone else who was able to repair it quite nicely for significantly less than H. So no, H does not always stand behind their product.

And yes, all 3 of those manufacturers will repair/refurb their bags. So does LV.

Prestige does have value, or their would be no designer products at all. But without the prestige, is a B or K worth their price? No. You make a wrong assumption about one major thing- I do happen to love both bags. I own one. But not enough to pay $10k+ for them, let alone reseller prices. The value is not there. I would have to use the bag 365 days a year for over 20 years (longer with regular spas) to get my money’s worth from one and I guarantee, even a B or K would hold up only so well with that degree of use. If you want to carry the same bag everyday for over 20 years. And you cannot carry a B or K everywhere, every time. So…value. But, carrying one, I will turn heads…

Where did you take it if you don’t mind sharing? I am facing a similar issue with my kelly and nyc H spa was a disappointment