British Actress Wants Name Removed From Pricey Hermes Birkin Bags Due To Crocodile Cruelty
PARIS (CBS/AP) -- From Beyonce and Julienne Moore to Princess Kate and Hina Rabbani Khar-- the 'Birkin' is perhaps the most coveted handbag for the rich, the powerful, the famous, and even the not so famous. It even made it into the lyrics of a rap song by Beyonce's husband Jay-Z, entitled "30-Something."
Your chick shop in the mall -- My chick burnin' down Bergdorf's -- Comin' back with Birkin Bags -- Your chick is like what type of purse is that?
Now the woman for whom the bag was named want's no part of it.
British singer/actor Jane Birkin told Hermes to take her name off the handbag after learning about the alleged cruel practices used to harvest the crocodile skins some of the bags are made of.
Animal rights group PETA sent Birkin a graphic video shot at the Texas farm where the animals are allegedly slaughtered with a bolt gun, cut with a knife, and then left twitching in a container of their own blood.
Birkin issued a statement saying she has "asked Hermes to de-baptize the Birkin Croco until better practices in line with international norms can be put in place."
Hermes has admitted to using skins from the farm and is investigating the video.
The ex-femme of Serge Gainsbourg and mum to Balenciaga muse and actress Charlotte Gainsbourg has been associated with the luxury bag since 1984. Hermes attached her name to the ladylike, trapezoid-shaped tote that now retails for about $10,000. A crocodile Birkin costs more than $100,000. Demand exceeds supply, so there is always a waiting list. It's highly doubtful you'd ever find one at the Hermes boutique in San Francisco. Most are sold used, or at a 20-30% markup by resellers. Knock-offs of the iconic bag abound.
Hermes' other coveted handbag is the Kelly, named for Grace Kelly in 1977.
Warning: Graphic video
CBSSF.com writer, producer Jan Mabry is also executive producer and host of The Bronze Report. She lives in Northern California. Follow her on Twitter @janmabr.
