Did the Hermes Birkin Lose Its Status?
How is it possible that the Hermes Birkin bag sentiment has shifted so drastically in the last couple of years? This once considered super desirable, unattainable bag is now being described as simply “mid.” There are 5 main reasons behind this change in perception.
Decrease second hand pricing, while retail price is increasing
The biggest reason the sentiment towards the Birkin bag has changed is evident in the secondhand pricing of the bag. Pre-covid a Birkin 30 would go for $30,000 or more depending on the leather, quality, box / no box, and hardware, today that same Birkin 30. Today, I’m seeing Birkin 30 on the second hand market for selling at $21,000. For reference, the price of a Hermes Birkin in store in 2025 for a Togo leather bag is $14,900, meaning the wide gap between retail and resale prices is getting smaller by the day.
In short, the shrinking spread between the secondhand Birkin pricing and retail pricing indicates that the Birkin is no longer viewed as this untouchable investment piece it once was but as a luxury item that is now facing a market correction.
Oversaturated on social media And online
Social media has made it seem like everyone has a Birkin bag or at least a “Birkin inspired” bag which also makes the sentiment of the bag less desirable. The more people have something, the less desirable something feels. On TikTok alone, there are thousands and thousands of videos of people talking about the Birkin bag.
Flooded with almost near perfect fakes
The market is now flooded with near perfect fake Hermes Birkin bags. This is due to the growing popularity of the Hermes Birkin bag coupled with how unattainable they are to get at the Hermes store. As a result, many people are turning to buy replica Birkin bags. Even a quick Google search tells me you can find near perfect looking fake Birkin bags for $100 or less. With that being said, people have hundreds of options to buy fake Birkin bags.
No longer considered a quiet luxury bag
Hermes bags, especially the Hermes Birkin bag was considered a quiet luxury bag, “when you know, you know” type situation. Over the years with the growing popularity of blogs, social media, featured in our favorite songs / movies it’s no longer considered a quiet luxury bag, and a majority of people know what a Hermes Birkin is or looks like.
Customers don’t want to spend thousands of dollars to be offered a bag
One of the biggest turn-offs I hear from followers is the sentiment of not wanting to spend thousands of dollars to be offered a bag. It is possible in Europe to be offered a bag by luck, but in the US it’s a very different process, and you do have to spend thousands of dollars. When I reached out to my audience and ask them how they felt about spending that kind of money to get offered a bag, the response was consistently “it’s not worth it for a bag”
What would be a good alternative?
You may be wondering, If the Birkin bag is overhyped, then what is a good alternative? Personally, I love strathberry bags, mulberry bags, michino paris, parisa wang, and carbotti. I steer clear of buying luxury bags that look exactly like the Birkin bags because what’s the point?
Final Thoughts On the Hermes Birkin Bag
I’ve always said, that you should buy what you love, and you’ll wear regardless of what anyone says. Even though the sentiment has changed over the years on the Birkin bag, will that stop me from wearing mine? Absolutely not! I love my Birkin bag, but I am seeing a shift in the way people talk about them. In fashion, everything goes in and out of style. I like to buy timeless pieces that can be worn for years to come.
Sincerely Petite in Paris,
Diane