Yes, the Birkin bag is the first and most famous of all ‘it’ bags. There’s no better way to show you’ve really made it than having a handbag named after you. It’s an honor  bestowed on only a few and one that money can’t buy.

In 1981 Hermes’ chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas was seated next to Jane Birkin on a flight from Paris to London. Birkin had just placed her straw bag in the overhead compartment of her seat, but the contents fell to the floor, leaving her to scramble to replace the contents. Birkin explained to Dumas that it had been difficult to find a leather weekend bag she liked. In 1984, he created a black supple leather bag for her:the Birkin bag, based on a 1982 design. The  bag has since gone on to become a consistent favorite among celebrities and luxury connoisseurs.

The Birkin bag ‘s exterior is typically made of calf, crocodile and ostrich skin, with each bag created from a single uncut hide.Due to the amount of skill and work involved, it usually takes a talented craftsman around 18 hours to complete one bag.