Singer and actress Jane Birkin, the inspiration behind the exclusive handbag that bears her name, has asked luxury designer Hermes to remove her name from its iconic crocodile bags after video was released by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals showing abuse of crocodiles at farms where their skins are harvested.
The videos were taken at farms in Texas and Zimbabwe. Hermes denied that the farms in question belong to them and that skins from those crocodiles are used to make Birkin handbags. The company said it was shocked by the video and that it shares Birkin’s concerns and is investigating the actions shown in the videos.
The Birkin bag was created in 1984 after Birkin and then-Hermes CEO Jean-Louis Dumas talked about the design of the ideal handbag during a flight. It is one of the most exclusive fashion accessories in the world. Bags cost tens of thousands of dollars, and people who want one often have to wait years.
Birkin has asked to have her name removed from Hermes’s crocodile handbags until better practices in line with international norms are put in place. She cannot legally force Hermes to stop using her name on its crocodile handbags because she has not trademarked her name. It is unclear whether Birkin and Hermes have a formal agreement on the use of her name.
Other Birkin handbags made from cows, ostriches, lizards, and goats will still bear Birkin’s name. Hermes said Birkin’s comments do not affect the friendship and confidence they share.
Freedom of Animals collaborated with PETA to create the first vegan Birkin bag, called the V’irkin. It is made from eco-faux leather and has organic cotton lining, decorative tassels, and a detachable cross-body strap. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to PETA.
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