Anyone who is anyone has a Hermès Birkin bag. The bag has become a style and pop culture icon, being mentioned on television shows from “Sex and the City” to “Gilmore Girls.” But the legendary actress/singer who was the inspiration for the famous bag, wants nothing to do with it.
Jane Birkin has asked Hermès to take her name off the bag due to animal cruelty. “Having been alerted to the cruel practices reserved for crocodiles during their slaughter to make Hermès handbags carrying my name… I have asked Hermès to debaptise the Birkin Croco until better practices in line with international norms can be put in place,” she in a statement to AFP.
Apparently, Birkin was made aware of the practices after animal rights organization, PETA, published a video of the farming and slaughter of crocodiles and alligators for the company.
The luxury brand gave a statement to PEOPLE, saying it was also shocked by the images. “Jane Birkin has expressed her concerns regarding practices for slaughtering crocodiles. Her comments do not in any way influence the friendship and confidence that we have shared for many years. Hermès respects and shares her emotions and was also shocked by the images recently broadcast.”
The statement went on to say the farm in question has nothing to do with them. “An investigation is underway at the Texas farm which was implicated in the video. Any breach of rules will be rectified and sanctioned. Hermès specifies that this farm does not belong to them and that the crocodile skins supplied are not used for the fabrication of Birkin bags.”
We doubt Birkin’s name will be removed from the bag. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Victoria Beckham and Beyonce are fans of the five-digit priced bag.
You can watch the video from PETA below, but we must warn you, it is very graphic.
