Recently a new sound has been trending on TikTok that goes, "My Birkin, another Birkin" - but what makes these two Birkins different? And what small feature about them divides the Hermès collector community? While content creators have been using the soundbite for various funny comparisons, the original video came from fashion enthusiast Charles Gross. The Tiktok-er posts many videos explaining to his followers the ins and outs of Hermès and their exclusive bags. Like Charles always says at the intro of his clips... "Let's talk about it."
Charles was born in Columbia and raised in New York City, where he spent hours a day flipping through pages of Vogue. Now, the 27-year-old is sharing his knowledge on social media with his 1.2 million followers. "My goal became to share my understanding of luxury fashion in the most diplomatic and conversation-starting way," explained Gross. "Inclusivity is at the heart of everything I do, which is why when I say, 'Let's talk about it.' I'm opening up the discussion to the world - even if someone isn't buying these pieces, why can't they be part of the conversation?" The first Birkin Charles ever bought was the summer he had graduated high school. "I saw a listing for a Birkin for $300 (USD), but it had little information, so I thought it might have been a scam," he continued. "However, I bought the bag, and it turned out to be real, thankfully, and then I managed to sell it on for $5,000."
The Hermès Birkin bag is known to be a very luxurious bag that is extremely hard to come by. Most buyers have to be invited by the high-end brand to be able to actually buy the bag. And even when they get permission, they can only buy what the store location they are in has. But there's a reason why it's so exclusive to be able to buy the iconic handbag. Charles explained, "[The Hermès team] mean it when they say their products are yours forever – you can bring in a Birkin or a Kelly inherited from your grandmother, and they'll take apart the entire bag to replace even just the smallest bit of hardware and stitch it all back together again seamlessly."
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@charlesgross #ad Sellier vs Retourne #Birkin Slouchy or Structured? ❤️ @Fashionphile ♬ original sound - Charles Gross
Each bag is unique since it's handmade - and that is why the prices for a Birkin range from $8,500 to over $300,000. "The H-shaped zipper-stop is something a lot of people don't notice but is a signature, or the number of stitches in each handle attachment is precise, depending on the size of the bag, of course." he shared about the small details. "Also, contrary to what some might think, the feet on Birkins can never be unscrewed, as the hardware is placed backward and hand-pearled." Check out Charles' TikTok for more!
