On the subject of the large number of highly priced (seemingly) Hermes handbags on offer at discount shops around Hong Kong, Hermes has agreed to comment. Well sort of. As I mentioned last week, the Japanese store Brand Off is selling allegedly Birkin bags for a whopping HK$458,000, a price no one would pay, surely, for a fake bag. So the question was put to Hermes. Could they tell me how many of these bags are made each year? And is the number limited?

Back came the answer from Jessica Chan, Hermes assistant press and advertising Manager. “Hermès fights counterfeiting with absolute determination. The house guarantees that all bags purchased in its store are genuine but makes no comment on bags obtained from other sources,” she said, adding: “FYI. Hermès Birkin bag was created in 1984. Thank you!” Her colleague Wing Chak Press & Advertising Manager, Hermès Asia Pacific added firmly: “There is no comment on bags obtained from other sources, thank you!”

I replied that I didn’t think these were counterfeit, just being sold by Japanese discount houses and if Hemes themselves won’t admit to making them, who did? But it seems the good folks at Hermes don’t want to tell us how come from Wellington Street to Taikoo Shing to Sheung Shui and Tsim Shat Tsui you can buy bugs purporting to be Hermes ostrich Birkin for HK$338,000 or a Birkin Kelly 28 crocodile noir in pale blue for HK$148,000. If these are counterfeit, they must be indistinguishable from the real thing. And then why pay this much when you can get Shenzhen knock-offs for a fraction of the price? It makes no sense if they are really fakes. So the question remains, who is the mystery manufacturer of these exorbitantly expensive bags, if not Hermes themselves?