Explainer / Why is Kim Kardashian’s ultra-rare elephant leather Hermès Birkin on All’s Fair so controversial?
The All’s Fair star recently sparked a social media outrage when she appeared in a Donna Karan look accessorised with a very rare Birkin made from elephant hide
When luxury expert Daniel Wesson (known online as @birkinjunky) highlighted the bag online, social media erupted. Model and actress Ireland Baldwin, a vocal animal rights activist, reposted an image of Kardashian carrying the bag on her Instagram Story writing, “This is so disgusting and shameful. I don’t understand how these people are supported the way they are.”
According to Hermès handbag sourcing platform Privé Porter, only a handful of these African elephant leather Birkins were ever made. The leather’s pebbled, matte texture is unlike any other in Hermès’ catalogue.
Hermès offers an extensive catalogue of exotic skins, featuring alligator, crocodile, ostrich and lizard. But elephant hide was never officially offered as part of this.
Luxury commentator Louis Pisano, whose writings have been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and more, initially ignited the debate over Hermès’ use of elephant leather with an Instagram Reel.
In his video, Pisano noted that while the exotic material was never officially part of Hermès’ offerings, a few pieces were reportedly produced in the 80s from the hide of an elephant killed by a businessman during a safari. The online personality also revealed that while not much is known about where most of the bags ended up, a rare few have been spotted in the collections of Singaporean socialite Jamie Chua and Xiaoma, the founder of Ginza Xiaoma, a leading Hermès reseller in Asia.
Several of the brand’s other elephant leather pieces were also sold by luxury reseller JaneFinds – one of the largest authentic Hermès dealers – with prices ranging from US$9,500 for a wallet to US$50,000 for a Kelly 35.