The Hermes Birkin is one of fashion’s most iconic bags. Named after the actress Jane Birkin, the leather bag signifies social status because of its rarity and use by celebrities and society women. At its peak, there was a waiting list of up to six years, but in 2010, the French luxury house Hermes announced that the waiting list would be removed. Despite its perceived availability, it is still a coveted style item. If you’re thinking of getting one, be prepared to shell out as much as P516,000.
Because of its coveted status, some are choosing to have their bags personalized. In 2013, Kanye West gave Kim Kardashian a Birkin hand-painted by American artist George Condo. Many artists are commissioned to paint on Birkins, and one of them is local artist Heart Evangelista.
But how much do you have to pay to get the actress and now-artist to paint your Birkin?
According to her, you’d have to pay P90,000 per bag. She told PEPÂ that it takes her two to three days to paint on bags, but it also depends on her availability as she prioritizes her paintings.
She is quite the popular Birkin artist as she has painted over 40 bags, and she gets calls from Hong Kong and Singapore. She has also been featured on Hermes blogs.
But like the exclusive bag, she doesn’t want to flood the market with Heart bags. She said, “Now, I’m working on five more bags and then I cut myself, I’ll work on it again the next year.”
Hermes has been supportive of her art. The brand held an event where all the invited guests were Evangelista’s clients. While the party was clearly for the moneyed, Evangelista’s next exhibit will feature all her painted bags.
Do you want Heart to paint your bag? Share your thoughts below!
