It’s been a symbol of status for decades – a carefully crafted handbag only touted by those that can stand the long waiting list and afford the five-digit price tag but the Hermès Birkin bag may be no longer.
Now the muse behind the high-fashion accessory, British singer and style icon Jane Birkin, is demanding the fashion house take her name off the bag because of the practices that go into making one of its most successful sellers, the crocodile Birkin.
A recent investigation lead by PETA alleges that an alligator factory in Winnie, Texas — which supplies hides to a Hermès-owned tannery — engages in inhumane practices, including killing the animals while they’re “still conscious and able to feel pain.”
After being made aware of the animal rights group’s findings Birkin released this statement to AFP:
“Having been alerted to the cruel practices endured by crocodiles during their slaughter for the production of Hermès bags carrying my name…I have asked Hermès Group to rename the Birkin until better practices responding to international norms can be implemented for the production of this bag.”
In response, Hermès released the following statement to PEOPLE: “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.”
But as the statement goes on it doesn’t seem like her name is coming off those Birkin bags anytime soon.
