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A model carries a Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Birkin with 18 carat gold and diamond accessories – one of the most expensive handbags in the world – during a preview at Christie’s in Hong Kong in 2016. Photo: AFP

When a handbag costs more than a house, is it vanity taken too far?

Fashion

The recent auction at Christie’s in London of a second-hand handbag that sold for over £162,500 (US$213,450) is a glaring example of what has gone wrong with the modern world.

Although a handbag is useful, an adequate one can be bought for the price of a good meal rather than the cost of a house in the UK or Australia. Some people have more money than they need – perhaps they should give some to charity.

The 10-year-old accessory at Christie’s broke the record for the most expensive handbag to be sold at auction in Europe. Such handbags are usually made from up to three crocodiles, none of whom surely agreed to their fate. Although not the most cuddly of creatures, crocodiles should not be killed for someone else’s vanity – we need to protect all animals from humanity’s lack of humanity.

Watch: Hong Kong celebrity crocodile Pui Pui marks 10 years at Wetland Park

Two Hermès Birkin bags sell for HK$2.62 million at Christie’s Hong Kong auction

The purpose of a normal handbag is to carry a few items, although this vintage bag carries so-called celebrity value. Celebrity is based on what a person does in life, not on what they carry – shouldn’t we be doing something more worthwhile other than being a bag carrier?
Some fault lies with modern social media that emphasises accessories rather than achievements – how about reporting on how good people are rather than how good they look?

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne

 

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