Crocodile Birkin Bags

Apart from its iconic shape, the Hermès Birkin is also defined by a vast range of leathers and skins whose individual characteristics determine how a bag hangs, ages and weathers damage. Just as color matters when you’re contemplating an investment in a Birkin — new and seasonal colors are often in great demand — texture and durability matter, too, and there are different types of Hermès crocodile Birkin bags, such as Porosus crocodile Birkins and Niloticus crocodile Birkins, that speak to these attributes. 

The Hermès Birkin is less a handbag than a design object. Coveted by collectors around the world, Birkin bags are not merely worn. Instead, they’re collected.

The bag is named after French actress and singer Jane Birkin, who played an integral role in its conception. Sitting next to Hermès‘s chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight to London in 1981, Birkin’s weekend tote spilled her belongings on the plane.

Witnessing Birkin’s luggage mishap, Dumas set out to design a durable and dynamic leather bag for her.

Since its first appearance in 1984, the Birkin’s popularity has skyrocketed, due in equal measure to its deft, hand-crafted construction and its exclusivity. Handmade in France by a fleet of lifelong Hermès craftsmen, one bag can take several days to complete. Accordingly, prospective Birkin buyers often must endure a lengthy waiting list for their dream bag.

An extremely popular exotic leather derived from crocodiles farmed only in particular regions of the globe, Porosus crocodile skin is polished using a specialized Hermès technique. Denoted by a circumflex stamped near the Hermès logo, Porosus crocodile Birkin bags should always be protected from moisture. Each Porosus skin has unique characteristics, adding to its value.

Renowned for its large grain, Niloticus crocodile skin is sourced exclusively from crocodiles in the African Nile River region. With its unmistakably shiny finish, the skin is marked with an umlaut symbol to identify quality. If protected from the rain, Niloticus crocodile Birkin bags remain luminous and lustrous.

Treating, preparing and processing this highly polished Matte Porosus crocodile skin requires a specialized process involving wool felt and specifically constructed machinery. The technique works best on crocodiles from Asian saltwater regions.

The Matte Niloticus crocodile Birkin is made with crocodile skin harvested from the Nile. The material is end-treated with a special matte-ifying process. Due to this treatment, this skin is especially delicate — owners should be cautious to keep their bag from harm, as the damage is often permanent.

Find Hermès crocodile Birkin bags and other Hermès handbags and purses for sale on 1stDibs.

For Hermès, what began as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen would eventually grow into one of the most storied fashion labels in the world. In 1837, German-born French entrepreneur Thierry Hermès opened a saddle and harness purveyor in Paris. Gradually, the house extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and modernist jewelry to pillows and handbags.

The first top-handled bag ever produced by Hermès was the Haut à courroies, which made its debut in 1892. A tall bag secured with a folded leather flap (fastened with bridle-inspired straps), it was designed to transport riding boots and a harness.

As the world made the switch from horse to automobile, the bag adapted, becoming a multifunctional travel satchel instead of a designated saddlebag. Today, 120 years later, the HAC remains in Hermès’s line — and its distinctive flap and clasping straps have laid the groundwork for some of the house’s other iconic bags.

In the 1930s, Robert Dumas (son-in-law to Émile-Maurice Hermès, Thierry’s grandson) designed a smaller, trapezoidal take on the flap bag with a handle and two side straps. Later, actress Grace Kelly, then engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco, is said to have used one of these bags to conceal her pregnancy during the 1950s. Because she was photographed constantly, the coverage catapulted her handbag to international popularity.

In 1977, Hermès officially renamed the model for her, and the Kelly bag was born. Each Kelly bag takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches owe solely to one Hermès artisan.

Robert Dumas was also responsible for another one of the brand’s most iconic offerings: the launch of its first silk scarf on the occasion of Hermès’s 100th anniversary in 1937. Based on a woodblock designed by Dumas and printed on Chinese silk, the accessory was an immediate hit.

Today, vintage Hermès scarves, typically adorned in rich colors and elaborate patterns, serve many functions, just as they did back then. Well-heeled women wear it on their heads, around their necks and, in a genius piece of cross-promotion, tied to the straps of their Hermès bags. Kelly even once used one as a sling for her broken arm.

In 1981, Robert Dumas’s son Jean-Louis Dumas, then Hermès chairman, found himself sitting next to French actress and musician Jane Birkin on a plane, where she was complaining about finding a suitable carryall for the necessary accoutrements of motherhood. After the two travelers were properly introduced, Birkin helped design Jean-Louis’s most famous contribution to the Hermès canon: the Birkin bag, a roomy, square catchall with the HAC’s trademark leather flap top and the addition of a lock and key.

Owing to the brand’s legendary commitment to deft, handcrafted construction, the Birkin is an investment that is coveted by collectors everywhere.

While the Kelly and Birkin may be standouts, gracing the arms of everyone from royal heiresses to hip-hop stars in the past few decades, the handbags are but a small part of Hermès’s fashion offerings.

Since the 1920s, the brand has produced some of the most desirable leather goods in the world. There’s the Constance bag, a favorite of Jacqueline Kennedy, the recently relaunched 1970s-era Evelyne and, on the vintage market, a slew of designs dating back to the 1920s.

Good design never goes out of style. Find a variety of vintage Hermès handbags, day dresses, shoes and more on 1stDibs.

Usually characterized by simplicity and sporting a classic and beloved silhouette, vintage and designer top-handle bags can easily find a place among your wardrobe staples. From the Haut à courroies — Hermès’s original top-handle bag, created in 1892 — to the smaller and timeless Sac à dépêches that inspired both iconic accessories the Kelly bag in the 1950s and the Birkin in the 1980s, the discerning shopper has had no shortage of options to choose from. 

Small and mini designer top-handle bags, including vintage top-handle box bags and micro clutches, offer an alternate dynamic and usually feature sleek lines and modest features to perfectly complement your evening look. Styling with jeans and a comfortable sweater works, too — a classic top-handle bag or other type of handbag designed by the likes of Prada, Celine or other widely loved fashion label is an ideal accessory to pair with casual attire. For a personal touch or pop of color, add a key chain, a patterned scarf or a handbag chain.

On 1stDibs, you can find vintage top-handle bags from Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci and more. The numerous styles of this cherished accessory that we have available also include the Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis Alma GM handbag, Fendi Baguette purses and modern leather Longchamp handbags.