Jane Birkin

[papertiger]

She was truly a fashion & style icon, everything about her was so chic and effortless. She will continue to inspire many as her style transcends time.

Considering one of their most iconic bags was named after her I was hoping H would’ve posted something about her on their social media or website to commemorate her contributions to the brand. Did I perhaps miss it?

Not on Insta or their (UK) site but France has a different culture and ideas on privacy. I think it's right that H, a business isn't seen as appearing to capitalise on personal tragedy and family grief.

 

[papertiger]

Such a beautiful woman, so sorry she has passed away.

I read an obit where she was quoted as saying she’d carried her Birkin so much it had given her tendonitis! I wonder if she was given any reward by Hermes for the use of her name? Hope so.

Historically, before the Birkin, Jane famously only used her basket, and everywhere. They famously replaced her 'bag for life' continuously, and that became her one bag. Of course, JB was the best celeb endorsement and advert for the B ever.

 

[papertiger]

Sad news, the iconic Jane Birkin has passed away.

Actress and singer Jane Birkin dies, France loses an 'icon'

British-born actress and singer Jane Birkin, a 1960s wildchild who became a beloved figure in France, has died in Paris aged 76.

www.reuters.com

The influence of Birkin style was always a H-appy one. Picture after picture of her just using her famous bag.

After a suitable time, I'd like to change the thread title to something like the 'Jane Birkin (Lives On) Tribute Thread'. That way we can go on dedicating tributes in her honour long after her passing and keep this thread as a celebration of her contribution.

 

[DoggieBags]

I remember many years ago I saw a Japanese tv show with Jane Birkin as one of their guests. They brought out a brand new Clemence b35 for her to use to demonstrate the proper way to use a birkin. How to open and close it I think was what they asked her. She took that brand spanking new birkin, threw it on the ground and started jumping up and down on it while explaining how you needed to beat up the bag to get the proper look of a well used bag. The tv show hosts were horrified and one of them started babbling and she just overrode all their protests and exclamations and kept right on beating up the bag trying to soften the leather. She then asked for a magic marker and wrote on the sides of the bag. I think one of the show hosts was hyperventilating by then I don’t think she ever got around to demonstrating the “proper” way to open and close a birkin. It was one of the funniest things I’d ever seen.
ETA: I should add that she struck me as so down to earth and comfortable in her own skin. And she wanted people to know that the bag that was created for her and named after her is an unpretentious tote, albeit very beautifully made, that is meant to be used to meet the demands of our daily lives and not babied.

 

[duna]

I remember many years ago I saw a Japanese tv show with Jane Birkin as one of their guests. They brought out a brand new Clemence b35 for her to use to demonstrate the proper way to use a birkin. How to open and close it I think was what they asked her. She took that brand spanking new birkin, threw it on the ground and started jumping up and down on it while explaining how you needed to beat up the bag to get the proper look of a well used bag. The tv show hosts were horrified and one of them started babbling and she just overrode all their protests and exclamations and kept right on beating up the bag trying to soften the leather. She then asked for a magic marker and wrote on the sides of the bag. I think one of the show hosts was hyperventilating by then I don’t think she ever got around to demonstrating the “proper” way to open and close a birkin. It was one of the funniest things I’d ever seen.
ETA: I should add that she struck me as so down to earth and comfortable in her own skin. And she wanted people to know that the bag that was created for her and named after her is an unpretentious tote, albeit very beautifully made, that is meant to be used to meet the demands of our daily lives and not babied.

I saw that too, very funny!

 

[carrie8]

I remember many years ago I saw a Japanese tv show with Jane Birkin as one of their guests. They brought out a brand new Clemence b35 for her to use to demonstrate the proper way to use a birkin. How to open and close it I think was what they asked her. She took that brand spanking new birkin, threw it on the ground and started jumping up and down on it while explaining how you needed to beat up the bag to get the proper look of a well used bag. The tv show hosts were horrified and one of them started babbling and she just overrode all their protests and exclamations and kept right on beating up the bag trying to soften the leather. She then asked for a magic marker and wrote on the sides of the bag. I think one of the show hosts was hyperventilating by then I don’t think she ever got around to demonstrating the “proper” way to open and close a birkin. It was one of the funniest things I’d ever seen.
ETA: I should add that she struck me as so down to earth and comfortable in her own skin. And she wanted people to know that the bag that was created for her and named after her is an unpretentious tote, albeit very beautifully made, that is meant to be used to meet the demands of our daily lives and not babied.

Yep, I remember that one

 

[I AM GPT]

I believe the Japanese clip mentioned is from SMAP’s show. SMAP is one of Japanese biggest boy bands btw.

See below:

 

[TC1]

Such a beautiful woman, so sorry she has passed away.

I read an obit where she was quoted as saying she’d carried her Birkin so much it had given her tendonitis! I wonder if she was given any reward by Hermes for the use of her name? Hope so.

She was paid annually by H for the use of her name. Word is that she donated it to charity.
ETA in 2015 she asked H to remove her name from the Croc bags if the harvesting continued to be inhumane. Apparently they reached a resolution.

 

[tenshix]

I remember many years ago I saw a Japanese tv show with Jane Birkin as one of their guests. They brought out a brand new Clemence b35 for her to use to demonstrate the proper way to use a birkin. How to open and close it I think was what they asked her. She took that brand spanking new birkin, threw it on the ground and started jumping up and down on it while explaining how you needed to beat up the bag to get the proper look of a well used bag. The tv show hosts were horrified and one of them started babbling and she just overrode all their protests and exclamations and kept right on beating up the bag trying to soften the leather. She then asked for a magic marker and wrote on the sides of the bag. I think one of the show hosts was hyperventilating by then I don’t think she ever got around to demonstrating the “proper” way to open and close a birkin. It was one of the funniest things I’d ever seen.
ETA: I should add that she struck me as so down to earth and comfortable in her own skin. And she wanted people to know that the bag that was created for her and named after her is an unpretentious tote, albeit very beautifully made, that is meant to be used to meet the demands of our daily lives and not babied.

Is there a clip of this that we could still see today? She is so amazing for doing that, I can imagine the complete horror on everyone else’s face. From what I’ve seen whenever I visit Japan they always treat all of their items (regardless of brand) with great care and prefer to keep things in pristine condition so it must’ve been a huge culture shock for them to witness

 

[I AM GPT]

Is there a clip of this that we could still see today? She is so amazing for doing that, I can imagine the complete horror on everyone else’s face. From what I’ve seen whenever I visit Japan they always treat all of their items (regardless of brand) with great care and prefer to keep things in pristine condition so it must’ve been a huge culture shock for them to witness

I posted the link but it doesnt imbed correctly. Just google Smap Jane Birkin for the episode. She starts personalizing the birkin around the 20 min mark.

 

[DoggieBags]

Is there a clip of this that we could still see today? She is so amazing for doing that, I can imagine the complete horror on everyone else’s face. From what I’ve seen whenever I visit Japan they always treat all of their items (regardless of brand) with great care and prefer to keep things in pristine condition so it must’ve been a huge culture shock for them to witness

This was before social media became so ubiquitous so I’m not sure if a clip exists. I hope if anyone does find a clip that they post it here.
ETA I see I AM GPT posted how to find a clip of the show

 

[tenshix]

This was before social media became so ubiquitous so I’m not sure if a clip exists. I hope if anyone does find a clip that they post it here.
ETA I see I AM GPT posted how to find a clip of the show

Not sure if I’m allowed to post the link here but this is the one I found:

Edited: the link won’t post or embed but it is from Veoh, it’s the first one that comes up on Google

Starts around 20min til about 24min. I love how she’s so unapologetically herself and shows them how to make the bag more malleable and stuffed!! I think if the H SA’s saw her doing this at the boutique they would probably balk and faint too I love the look of lived in H bags! The leather is fabulous and the bags still look great even while slouchy or overstuffed. I don’t think I’d be able to do this for all my bags but perhaps I should designate one as the Jane Birkin beater bag in her memory.

 

[papertiger]

About Jane's bag and what she keeps in it

 

[maxroxxherhandbags]

I actually have a Jane Birkin story..
A friend of mine back in the early 2000's used to run a night in a London club that was all about promoting indie music and bands and unsigned young artistes would go on stage and do a mini gig be-it acoustic or rock.
One evening a Friend of Jane's daughter Charlotte was playing a set and Jane who was in London came to this grungy little club/bar in west London to support her..
Sadly I wasn't there that evening but my friend who knew I loved Hermes phoned me and said "guess what??? I just had to look after Jane Birkin's Birkin!!!!"
It happened that Jane Walked in on the guest list with a hugely overstuffed Birkin and didn't want to carry it around or leave it in the cloakroom so my friend who organised the club and guest list offered to watch it for her.
Now my friend was a tiny little thing..about 4'11 tall and very slender and she said she tried to carry the bag with her and she could barely lift it so she ended up rooted to the spot stood with Janes Birkin between her feet.
My friend (who really was a rock chick and not into designer bags) couldn't believe two things about the bag that she relayed to me on that phone call.
1: the weight of it..(she did say it had things just spilling out of it it was so full)
and 2: the appearance of it.. she mentioned it had backstage passes stuck on it, beads and talismans trailing off the handles.
This was in the days before instagram and people recording everything on their mobile phones.
But I still regret to this day that I am unable to say that I too held Jane Birkin's Birkin.

 

[Pamela Stylepop]

I actually have a Jane Birkin story..
A friend of mine back in the early 2000's used to run a night in a London club that was all about promoting indie music and bands and unsigned young artistes would go on stage and do a mini gig be-it acoustic or rock.
One evening a Friend of Jane's daughter Charlotte was playing a set and Jane who was in London came to this grungy little club/bar in west London to support her..
Sadly I wasn't there that evening but my friend who knew I loved Hermes phoned me and said "guess what??? I just had to look after Jane Birkin's Birkin!!!!"
It happened that Jane Walked in on the guest list with a hugely overstuffed Birkin and didn't want to carry it around or leave it in the cloakroom so my friend who organised the club and guest list offered to watch it for her.
Now my friend was a tiny little thing..about 4'11 tall and very slender and she said she tried to carry the bag with her and she could barely lift it so she ended up rooted to the spot stood with Janes Birkin between her feet.
My friend (who really was a rock chick and not into designer bags) couldn't believe two things about the bag that she relayed to me on that phone call.
1: the weight of it..(she did say it had things just spilling out of it it was so full)
and 2: the appearance of it.. she mentioned it had backstage passes stuck on it, beads and talismans trailing off the handles.
This was in the days before instagram and people recording everything on their mobile phones.
But I still regret to this day that I am unable to say that I too held Jane Birkin's Birkin.

What a fabulous story, thank you so much for sharing it! I often wondered how on earth she could carry that big heavy Birkin around, filled to the brim. Great arm workout though!