Hermes Birkin Ostrich Bags

Shopping for an Hermès ostrich Birkin bag? More than a fashion statement, this accessory is a widely loved collectible that continually appreciates in value.

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. When it comes to exotic leathers and hides, an Hermès ostrich Birkin is among the most popular iterations of the bag.

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 Birkin 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.

Each tote is hand-sewn according to Hermès’s centuries-old saddle-stitching technique, and the finest leathers — a variety that includes ostrich and crocodile — are subsequently painted and polished by house craftsmen in France.

Mainly from South Africa and Australia, the exotic ostrich leather is notorious for the bumpy, dot-like pattern formed by the bird’s quills. This popular leather is used by Hermès craftsmen in everything from bags to accessories.

Find Hermès ostrich 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 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 — the classic top-handle bag 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 universally loved accessory that we have available also include the Louis Vuitton Monogram Vernis Alma GM handbag, Fendi Baguette purses and modern leather handbags by Longchamp.