The Hermes Kelly Bag: Grace by Name, Grace by Bag |Miss Polly's Vintage Style Blog The Hermes Kelly Bag: Grace by Name, Grace by Bag Grace Kelly with Prince Rainier of Monaco with 'that' famous Hermes bag, 1956 Never has anyone been more enchanted by the timeless style and elegance of Grace Kelly than I. Surprisingly from a fairly modest but athletic upper middle class family from Philadelphia, Grace embodied her name through her impressive, if not short lived, Hollywood career before abruptly being swept away to live the life of a Monaco princess until her untimely death in a car accident. However she left behind a legacy of an impressively elegant wardrobe spanning three decades, and unintentionally became an influential fashion icon. Her changing style over the decades I believed always reflected the woman she was: subtly sophisticated, graceful, silently powerful, and always leaving a lasting impression. I first became acquainted with Ms Kelly's wardrobe when I visited the Bendigo Art Gallery this past Easter, the exhibition aptly named 'Grace Kelly: Style Icon' .

It was a dazzling and diverse array of billowing chiffon hooped skirts from her 1950s movie career to her more official and regal dresses and suits as a Monaco princess, not to mention the impressive accessories, jewellery and headdresses. But what really captured my fascination was the stylish Hermes Kelly Bag, named after the actress who toted the subsequently much sought after fashion accessory. Ms Kelly at the time used her appropriately sized handbag to shield her pregnancy from the paparazzi in 1956 (great ploy to foil the media, Grace; you don't see modern Hollywood being that modest). Identified by its slightly smooth tapering contours, metal tip clasp, and overhanging leather tassel, the Hermes Kelly Bag became a much sought after and valued fashion accessory after being seen consistently hanging off the arm of the future Princess Grace of Monaco. It also was the predecessor to the famous Birkin Bag, inspired by 60s chanteuse Jane Birkin . Admittedly after seeing it up front, you can understand its seductive and alluring quality, begging to be held and owned by the style conscious female.

An original Hermes creation is estimated to be valued at $18,000-$19,000 with a wait for over a year, if you want it that badly. Or you can get a cheaper replica for about $200-$300 from sources on the internet, or so I've been told. Aaah, what must it be like to not only be a stunningly beautiful and glamorous Hollywood actress, win the heart of a European prince AND influence fashion trends. There is obviously power in the bag. It took all my power not to smash through that glass case and take that bag for myself. Check out the more modern incarnations of the Hermes Kelly Bag: In white Kelly Bag - new generation Princess Grace of Monaco It’s probably the most famous bag in the world, and one of just a few called by its first name. The “Kelly” bag is named after the actress Grace Kelly, who used one of her two favorite Hermès bags to shield her pregnant stomach from the prying eyes of the paparazzi in 1956. Photographs of her covering her baby bump with her hallowed Hermès bag were seen all over the world and even made it onto the cover of Life magazine!

The Kelly bag and its namesake, Grace Kelly, became icons of fashion at that time, and both remain the classic image of elegance to this day. Princess Charlene Bump – an heir is in the bag Princess Charlene of Monaco demonstrates how to carry the Louis Vuitton Capucines Bag with the front flap exposed and the LV hardware hidden – Discretion is important for royalty, after all. Could this be the new generation of the Kelly Bag to cover Princess Charlene’s Bump? Or will this ARMANI bag become the new iconic style thanks to Princess Charlene’s bump (particularly if she has twins) – after all, her wedding dress was designed by Armani. In what could possibly be the smallest press release by the Palace of Monaco, on May 30th, 2014 the pregnancy of H.S.H. Princess Charlene was officially announced.

Princess Grace adored her Hermes Bag to the end As evidenced in this photo ( Joan Dale sitting across from Princess Grace, Prince Rainier, and Prince Albert on a train ride back to Paris after the last family holiday in August of 1982 – as written in diary format in “My Days with Princess Grace of Monaco” ) Princess Grace cherished her Hermes bag to the end… as well as her mink-lined raincoat, which was the first coat that she bought with her own money from acting, that came in handy during this cruise to the Arctic. History of the Grace Kelly Bag (courtesy of sofeminine.co.uk – a leading women’s publisher and Hermes ) In its early days, Hermès was mainly a saddlery, founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès . The development of the automobile drove Emile, Thierry’s young son, to start crafting leather accessories , and the first Hermès bag was designed for chic behind the wheel. In 1923 Emile Hermès and Ettore Bulgatti created a very plain, simple bag for Emile’s wife Julie, which was designed to fit in a car door.

The Bugatti bag was designed to allow riders to carry their saddle and was the inspiration for the Kelly, above. The Original Grace Kelly Bag on Exhibit Aside from its distinctive trapezoid shape, rigid bottom standing on four metallic studs, its flaps, its triangular gussets and its curved, sculpted handle, the other essential features that identify a Kelly bag are the straps that cross over the clasp, the padlock and the little bell that protects the key. Each Kelly bag is made by a single craftsman at Hermès . Every year, the company buys hundreds of animal skins for its 12 production sites, all based in France. The most precious skins are handled in Pantin (in the outskirts of Paris) and in the specialist workshop on rue du Faubourg St Honoré (in central Paris). There are more than twenty steps in the transformation of animal skin into bag, all standardised, and almost 200 different techniques, including plucking, gumming, smoothing, thinning down, treating and massaging. The skin has to become completely smooth. © Hermès Next stop is the cutting workshop. Here, each piece of skin is numbered before being pieced together with other parts to make up a bag.

Three skins are required to make one Kelly bag. Each bag is made by one craftsman only. The work required on precious skins such as crocodile, ostrich and lizard skin is all handled by experienced craftsmen. All this work is performed with care, patience and love by a craftsman who takes around twenty hours to sew, stitch, glue and assemble the 36 pieces of leather that make up a Kelly bag, before adding his signature. © Hermès About Hermes Five generations of visionary men, all devoted to the demands and desires of their clientele, made Hermès what it is today. Here’s an insight into the history of this renowned luxury brand. Thierry Hermès was the founder of the company. Born in 1801 in Krefeld, Germany, his Protestant family fled the country and settled in Paris in around 1828. He died in 1878. Thierry travelled a lot throughout his life, but eventually returned to the French capital where, in 1837, he opened his first shop. It was a saddlery workshop that made and sold harnesses and equipment for horses.

Intensive use of horses was booming in Paris, giving rise to great competition among the best coachbuilders, saddlers and harness makers. They had to excel at their trade to satisfy demanding clients. The descendants of Thierry Hermès, Émile-Maurice, Adolphe and Robert Dumas-Hermès, continued the development of the company into quality luxury products such as the Kelly bag, cashing in on the rapid growth of the baggage industry through the development of the automobile. Thierry Hermès passed away, leaving his successors to take over the trade which he was so passionate and enthusiastic about. Following the renovation of Paris, commissioned by Napoleon III and led by Baron Haussmann, the Hermès fashion house set up shop at 24 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré in around 1880. This narrow Parisian street, located in a notoriously wealthy and fashionable area close to the Champs Elysées, brought the company closer to its prosperous clientele. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Haut à Courroies bag, ancestor to the Kelly, went on sale.

A harness-shaped moving instrument preserved at the first Hermès workshop bears witness to Thierry Hermès’ labours to adjust the harness exactly to fit a horse’s neck. At the 1867 Universal Exhibition, the hard-working craftsman was awarded the 1st class medal. After buying out his brother’s shares in 1922, Emile-Maurice successfully diversified the Hermès label with the addition of belts, gloves, couture, jewellery, watch bracelets, travel bags, sports and driving accessories. The innovative zip closure system attracted a lot of attention in a time when everyone was obsessed with speed, and the Hermès craftsmen who mastered the zip system used it on Mademoiselle Chanel’s models. Some of Hermès’ most famous creations came about after the Great Depression of 1929: the Hermès diary, silver bracelet, riding jacket and riding gear soon became must-have items that were instantly recognisable as Hermès. The silk used for jockeys’ jerseys was the inspiration for the iconic Hermès scarf. A factory that manufactures scarves alone was established in Lyon in 1937. Hermès celebrated its centenary in 1937.

Shops sprang up all over France (in Cannes and Biarritz in the south and Deauville in the north). The signature orange boxes and gift ribbon, along with the iconic horse and carriage of the Hermès logo, achieved international renown. Emile-Maurice Hermès died in 1951. In 1928, Robert Dumas-Hermès married the daughter of Emile-Maurice Hermès, with whom he would become an active business partner. Taking the reins in 1951, he never abandoned his creative activities and concentrated specifically on designing scarves. Emile-Maurice was eager to use a variety of materials to produce objects that were intended to make everyday life easier and more beautiful. He continued to diversify the brand by branching out into sustainable products such as the tie in 1949, followed by a perfume (eau d’Hermès) which was developed by Jean-René Guerrand in 1950.

Thanks to the talents of Annie Beaumel, the windows of the flagship store on rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré became a scene of enchanting theatre and a Parisian meeting point for celebrities including Grace Kelly, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Sammy Davis Jr, Ingrid Bergman and Jackie Kennedy. In 1978, Robert Dumas-Hermès died. Jean-Louis Dumas-Hermès took over the company in 1978 and, along with his cousins, instilled youthful enthusiasm into it. He brought new ideas to Hermès’ silk, leather and ready-to-wear fashion, and set up new lines using traditional techniques. He launched the Hermès watch in 1978 via a Swiss subsidiary then introduced enamel and porcelain into the collections, followed by gold, silver and crystal. With a clear view of the future, Jean-Louis Dumas-Hermès brought spectacular growth. Hermès celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1987. For Hermès’ 150th anniversary in 1987, the company organised a huge celebration on the River Seine in Paris featuring a spectacular show of lights, colours, fireworks and flares.

To lead the celebratory procession, sculptures of craftspeople on horses were created. Armed with their fireworks, they portrayed both the memory of bygone pomp and the symbol of serene modernity, ready to ride into the future. The craftsman became a new Hermès symbol and today the equestrian statue can be seen atop each of the four Hermès flagship stores around the world as well as in workshops. Now the epitome of French luxe, the brand continues to affirm its unique values of traditional craftsmanship. The profile of a horse-drawn carriage with driver is instantly recognisable as the Hermès logo. © Hermès The logo is based on a drawing by Alfred de Dreux, entitled “Duc Attele, Groom a L’Attente”. Bought by Emile-Maurice Hermès for his curio-filled office back in the 1920s, the drawing still hangs above the fireplace in the collector’s old study, located on the second floor of 24 rue du Faubourg St Honoré.

Everything You Need to Know About the Hermès Kelly Bag | Designer Handbag Reviews, Tips, & Guides Everything You Need to Know About the Hermès Kelly Bag Posted on November 12, 2015 In honor of Grace Kelly’s birthday, we’re taking a look at the history of the iconic handbag named after her: the Hermès Kelly bag . The History The original Hermès Kelly handbag, in exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Photo: REX FEATURES The very first prototype for the Kelly bag was introduced circa 1892, as a bag to hold saddles; Hermès does have a equine background, after all, which was called “Haut à courroies.” In 1923, Emille Maurice Hermès redesigned the “Haut à courroies” bag for his wife; it was smaller, but still big enough to hold saddle.

It wasn’t until the 1930s when Hermès’ son-in-law, Robert Dumas, remade the “Haut à courroies” into the “Sac à dépêche,” a simple yet stylish bag, with a trapezoid shape, closed with two straps, and four studs on the bottom, allowing the bag to remain upright when placed on a flat surface. The Princess Grace Patricia Kelly (1929-1982) was an American Hollywood actress, best known for her roles in films like High Noon, To Catch a Thief, and High Society. In 1956, she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, and Grace Kelly became Princess of Monaco, a sovereign state in the French Riviera that, although independent from France, speaks the same language and maintains a similar joie de vivre. The story of the American actress turned princess captivated thousands across the world, and nobody could deny her beauty, elegance, and style. In the 1995 Alfred Hitchcock film, “To Catch a Thief,” Grace Kelly, who played a millionaire’s spoiled daughter, carried Hermès’ “Sac à dépêches,” and instantly loved it.

After marrying Prince Rainier, Grace used her Hermès bag to hide her growing pregnant belly from the paparazzi. Soon, the public started associating this handbag with Grace Kelly and began calling it the “Kelly Bag.” However, it wasn’t until 1977 that Hermès officially rebaptize the Sac à dépêches as the Kelly bag . Vintage Black Crocodile Kelly 28cm $15,980 Just like with Hermès Birkin bags , Kelly bags are handmade from start to finish, using only the finest of materials. One bag can take from 18 to 24 hours to complete, all with painstaking attention to detail. There are many steps to making an Hermès Kelly bag, from selecting the leather, to smoothing it, thinning it down, etc., and all these steps are made by the same artisan. Today, the Kelly bag comes in eight sizes (from smallest to biggest): 15, 20, 25,28, 32, 35, 40, and 50; sized so because of their dimensions in centimeters, and in two presentations: Sellier and Retourne.

Hermès Souvenir de l’exposition 1997 Kelly in Clear Orange Vinyl $480. Rouge Vif Shiny Porosus Crocodile Kelly Cut $35,200. Rose Tyrien Epsom Kelly 35cm with Palladium Hardware $16,500. Vintage Cameramel Crocodile Porosus Kelly Backpack $10,500. There are also many version of the Kelly bags available: the Kelly Ado backpack, Kelly Danse bag, Kelly depeches briefcase, Kelly flat bag, Kelly Lakis bag, Kelly Pochette, Kelly So bag, Kelly Sport bag, Kelly Doll , Shoulder Kelly, as well as Kelly wallets and the Kelly bracelet. Although all these designs are different, they have the same simple and recognizable turnlock. Just like with Hermès Birkin bags , Kelly bags are hard to get from an Hermès boutique, since the demand is high but the quantities are low. However, if you dream of owning a Kelly bag, you can find them in the secondary market from reputable sellers like PORTERO.com .

We have a wide selection of authentic, pristine and pre-owned Hermès Kelly bags, and we offer financing through our partner, Affirm. If you can’t find the Kelly bag you’re looking for, one of our experts will be happy to find it for you . Princess Grace Kelly and the History of the Hermès Kelly Bag | Baghunter FAQ History of the Hermès Kelly Bag Today, the Kelly bag from Hermes, designed in a gorgeous trapezoid shape and made with the most luxurious leathers and skins, is worn on the arms of celebrities and millionaires as a symbol of wealth. These bags are highly prestigious and exclusive, and very hard to come by. They are made with the utmost care and precision, by only one craftsman that takes about 18 to 24 hours of work to put it together flawlessly. It is a notable and elite piece of merchandise from one of the most well-known brands in the fashion world. As all timeless pieces of art, there is a story behind its name. Grace Kelly, who lived from 1929 to 1982, grew up in Philadelphia and dreamed of stardom, aspiring to make it on the big stage.

Eventually, she did, acting in movies such as Fourteen Hours, Mogambo, Rear Window, Green Fire, The Swan, and High Society. She became one of the most prominent and influential actresses in Hollywood and eventually met and married Prince Rainier III, becoming the Princess Consort of Monaco; a Principality bordered by France. During her upbringing, she had a taste for fashion and developed her own glamorous style, with a focus on merchandise from Hermes; one of her most loved brands. She wore the name to important events including the announcement of her engagement and during her pregnancy. She had a notable love for what was formerly known as the Sac à dépêches bag; an invention that came out of the 1930s. This was the original Kelly bag and was then renamed due to an iconic picture of the Princess, who used the bag to cover her pregnant belly from the paparazzi. Shy and newly-married, she didn't want to make her pregnancy known right away, and her beloved Hermes bag helped her hide it. This picture became extremely popular all over the world and was on the front cover of numerous magazines.

The public renamed it the "Kelly bag" and it began to grow in popularity throughout the world, giving the company much more exposure which then inspired them to produce even more of the iconic bags for wealthy celebrities. The Princess helped the bag become a status symbol and it became even more sought after by fashionable women throughout the United States and parts of Europe. The newly married Princess led a very high-profile life and greatly influenced the fashion choices of the public and women in Hollywood. Although Hermes was already a well-known brand, having a bag named after the iconic actress and Princess helped its reputation grow and evolve into something new, giving the name huge exposure. From then on out, Hermes became extremely popular due to the iconic Kelly bag and even more women wanted to get their hands on them. They were all interested in looking like the Princess of Monaco and carrying Hermes to show their status and wealth. Making this luxurious bag takes extreme dedication and skill. Each individual bag is made by only one craftsman, which takes around 18 hours to put together. The bag is crafted with the most expensive skins and leathers available.

The lining in the Kelly bag is made from goat skin and then the rest of the bag is made of durable leather with stunning grains and patterns that give each bag a distinct look. The then Princess of Monaco had two favorite Hermes Kelly bags, both made with crocodile skin and in the stunning colors of dark brown and navy blue. Her love of these bags helped to make the crocodile skin design extremely popular in Hollywood, even more so than it had already been. Thousands of women dreamed of obtaining a crocodile skin Kelly bag of their own. Grace Kelly was undoubtedly an important fashion icon and helped Hermes become even more reputable. In her stunning photo taken by the paparazzi, the Sac à dépêches bag was renamed after her iconic photo made waves in Hollywood, and still goes by the same name today. Iconic Bags Named After Celebrities | MillionLooks.com HOME » Special Today » Iconic Bags Named After Celebrities Iconic Bags Named After Celebrities July 25th 2011 by admin These bags were named after women who were beautiful, interesting and talented, those who were simply incredible in what they did.

Jane Birkin, Grace Kelly, Sofia Loren, Brigitte Bardot and even Gisele Bundchen – all these ladies have handbags created especially for them. Most of the bags have become iconic and fashionistas all over the world are ready for nearly everything to have them. So, what are these bags and why are they so famous? Birkin by Hermes This bag is the most famous in the fashion world. The legend behind the creation of it is known to everyone. In 1981, Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas was seated next to Jane Birkin, a singer and actress, on a flight from Paris to London. She had just placed her straw bag in the overhead compartment of her seat, but the contents fell to the ground, leaving her to scramble to replace the contents. The woman complained to Dumas that she wasn’t able to find a roomy but elegant bag she liked. And already in 1984, a black supple leather bag was designed for her. Birkin has been using the bag for herself since then. And the bag has become iconic. Now nearly every self-respected star owns at least one Birkin bag. And to get the item is not easy.

First of all you will have to wait for a couple of months for it to be made for you, and then you will pay up to $150 000 for the revered accessory, depending to the material the bag is made of and the size of it. Kelly by Hermes Kelly bag was first designed in 1935. At that time Hermes focused on the production of horse-riding accessories and the new bag was intended to hold a saddle, boots and other necessary items. As time passed the bag was transformed into an elegant fashion accessory. But the heyday of the Kelly Bag was that very moment when princess Grace Kelly was photographed covering her protruding baby bump (her pregnancy wasn’t announced yet) with a Hermes bag. Nowadays women all over the globe consider it a great pleasure and privilege to carry a Kelly bag. Kelly bags aren’t as popular as Birkins but their price is very high, too. It also depends on the materials and the size of the bag produced. Brigitte Bardot Bag by Lancel The person behind this real work of art is Leonello Borghi, the creative director of Lancel. The designer admits it was Brigitte Bardot’s image that inspired him for the creation of this bag.

The soft materials it is made of reminds about the smooth curves of Bardot’s figure. Tassels imitate her cascading hair. The lining of the bag features plaid prints which the actress loved. It is a well-known fact that Brigitte Bardot was against the use of fur and leather, so the bag named after her is made of tweed and fake suede. Greta byBally Greta Garbo is a legendary woman and a symbol of elegance of her epoch. Garbo loved simple clothing and accessories, so the bag named after her by Bally brand couldn’t be less laconic. The bag was launched in 2007 in a limited edition collection. Lady Dior by Dior This bag has become incredibly famous after Princess Diana started wearing it. She made her favorite bag the symbol of an exquisite taste. Over 20 years has passed since the day Lady Dior bag was designed but it seems that now women love it even more than before. The design of the Lady Dior bag hasn’t changed a bit – the same simple geometric shape, two small handles and metallic charms with letters that stand for Dior.

Sofia Bag by Salvatore Ferragamo Sofia Loren is a living legend whose acting talent has been and will always be praised. Besides, she is an incredibly beautiful woman and her beauty and amazing personality inspired Salvatore Ferragamo for creation of a bag in her honor. Sofia bag by Salvatore Ferragamo is very simple but very elegant. It can come in a variety of colors but the silhouette hasn’t changed with time. Stars like Jennifer Aniston and Katie Holmes love it. Constance by Hermes Hermes Constance bag was created in 1969 to honor one of Hermes dynasty ladies. However, when Jackline Kennedy first appeared with the bag in public people started to call the piece as O-bag. Gisele Bag by Luella It would be really strange if no one designed a bag for Gisele Bundchen, the highest-paid and one of the most gorgeous models of the present time. In 2002 when Luella brand was on the verge of bankruptcy Gisele was asked to carry the new bag named in her honor on the runway. Soon after the show the bag started selling very well. Gisele Bag by Luella literally saved the company.

Stay with us to know more about iconic bags inspired by famous women. Other Fashionistas Searched For: clothing named after famous people handbags named after celebs "Tweedland" The Gentlemen's club: The Hermès ( Grace ) Kelly Bag ... "Tweedland" The Gentlemen's club The Hermès ( Grace ) Kelly Bag ... Jun 12, 2008 in suite 101.com Gill Hart Women the world over love the classic lines of a Hermès Kelly bag. Named after Grace Kelly, Princess Grace of Monaco, the Kelly is one of the greatest bags of our time. One of the most sought-after purses of recent decades has to be the Hermès Kelly bag, a timeless handbag design, right up there with it’s sister, the Hermès Birkin. The Kelly bag, however, has enjoyed a longer life than its sibling, when it was thrust into the limelight in 1956. The origins of the Kelly first appeared, in its original form in the 1930’s but it wasn’t until 1956 that it truly became a star.

With its smart tailored-shape it evolved into a ‘50s favorite during the Hollywood glamour years, and has enjoyed an iconic status ever since. Why the Kelly Bag is So Named The Kelly bag is so named after the actress Grace Kelly, when in 1956, the then Princess of Monaco used one of her two favorite Hermès bags to shield her pregnant stomach from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. Photographs of her covering her stomach bulge with her hallowed Hermès were splashed all over the world and made it onto the cover of Life magazine! Hermès fashion house now valued higher than Société Générale Luxury brand puts France's second biggest bank in the shade as it is valued at €28bn on the Paris stock exchange Zoe Wood guardian.co.uk, Friday 2 September 2011 The fashion pack has always known a Hermès handbag is a good investment but the clamour to invest in the exclusive French handbag-maker has given it a new wow factor: the super-luxury group is now valued far more highly than France's second biggest bank, Société Générale.

The firm behind the famous Kelly and Birkin bags, which can easily cost more than a car, and the Queen's favourite headscarves is now valued at more than €28bn (£24.5bn) on the Paris stock exchange, while SocGen is worth €18bn. The disparity means the nimble fingers of an Hermès artisan, who spends up to 24 hours painstakingly stitching a bag with one long waxed thread, are valued 30 times higher than the moneymaking brainpower of a SocGen investment banker. "It is extremely demanding to turn 700-odd bits of leather into a useful bag," says Pierre-Yves Gauthier, head of research at AlphaValue, who says that with a fraction of SocGen's staff and turnover, Hermès's market capitalisation equates to €3.3m per employee. Luxury goods sales have bounced back from the hiatus caused by financial crisis thanks to the growing ranks of the super-rich in emerging markets such as China who are shopping till they drop at home or abroad.

This week Hermès said its sales jumped 22% to €1.3bn in the first six months of the year as consumers in important markets such as the US, which were battered by the recession, rediscovered their taste for the finer things in life. Indeed such is the demand for the firm's coveted handbags that Patrick Thomas, chief executive, warned of a shortage that would stifle sales in the coming months. "We can only make so many bags," he said, adding that Hermès had hired 400 new staff to raise production of leather goods by nearly 10%. With 174 years of experience under its buttery leather belt – and still 73% owned by about 60 members of the sprawling founding family – luxury experts put Hermès in a class of its own. Thomas told one interviewer recently: "We try to do poetry and we get excellent economic results." That poetry comes at a price: the Birkin bag, for example, which is named after singer Jane Birkin, starts at £5,400 but can cost as much as £100,000 in exotic skins such as saltwater crocodile.

In the company's main workshop in the Paris suburb of Pantin, time has stood still. There, 340 craftsmen and women spend 18-24 hours handsewing each bag. Only the zipper and inside pocket are finished by machine. Orders can be delayed for several years as the company scours the globe for the right colour of crocodile. Harrods managing director, Michael Ward, says the waiting list is "the new VIP pass" and after what can be an 18-month wait for a Birkin the store performs an "opening ceremony" when the box arrives: "The last person to touch the bag was the artisan and when [the customer] opens the box she is the next one to touch it." María Eugenia Girón, a professor at Madrid's IE business school and author of Inside Luxury, says customers will pay for expert craftsmanship that has been passed down through six generations of the business, founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès, a French harness-maker who supplied the royal houses throughout Europe. "Hermès has the magic combination of tangible and intangible brand values," says Girón.

The craft skills make its handbags unique but there is the stardust sprinkled on products such as the Kelly, named after Grace Kelly, which imbues them with the qualities of the princess famed for her style and beauty, she explains. Girón says Hermès has never made sunglasses because it does not believe it has the rigorous level of manufacturing expertise that would enable it to make "unique, authentic products". You get the picture when you learn that the material for its famous coloured scarves is woven in Lyon from silk raised on its own farm in the mountains of Brazil and the fragrance Un Jardin sur le Toit, launched earlier this year, was concocted by Hermès's own perfumier in Grasse, the world's perfume capital in the south of France. Pierre Mallevays, a former head of M&A at LVMH, who now runs boutique advisory firm Savigny Partners, says much of Hermès's current success is down to the "brand vision" of Jean-Louis Dumas who took the helm in the late 70s. Dumas relaunched the Kelly in bright colours and introduced the bigger Birkin after a chance meeting with the actress on a Paris-London flight.

Birkin told him her Kelly bag was not big enough. "Hermès owns that unique "artisan" space where it can charge a fortune based on the perception that its products are the ultimate degree in craftsmanship and use of the best materials," says Mallevays. Hermès shares are up 70% this year, closing the week at around €270, turbocharged by the unexpected – and unwanted – arrival of the predatory LVMH luxury group on its shareholder register. The Krug-to-Kenzo group, overseen by Bernard Arnault, France's richest man, has snapped up a 21% stake in Hermès, saying its intentions are friendly.

The Hermès family and Thomas are determined to retain the company's independence with the latter memorably telling a press conference this year that: "If you want to seduce a beautiful woman, you don't start by raping her from behind." Rather more politely, the company has said of LVMH: "[There is] an intruder in the garden but we don't want him in the house." A merger, Thomas added recently, would "kill" Hermès: "You would keep the brand and keep the name, but Hermès would be dead." The appeal of Hermès The past decade has seen a huge rise in the number of women carrying designer handbags, despite their £1,000 price tags. Heavy leather bags with chunky buckles and proper names have become the property of the fashionable masses rather than the preserve of the wealthy. But Hermès bags have managed to retained an air of exclusivity. They cost at least four times as much as the average designer handbag, which makes them unattainable for anyone who is not extremely rich.

This has added to their allure, combined with the fact that the brand's most famous style, the Birkin isn't available to buy instantly – instead you have to join a waiting list that can allegedly last years, depending on who you are. Hermès bags have long had the reputation of being the ultimate "stealth wealth" fashion statement, signalling: "I'm richer and have more influence than you." The label has an equestrian heritage and focuses on the quality of its leather and harness-like fastenings. As a result, the bags are not ostentatious. Nor do they follow trends: many designs remain unchanged for years and they are meant to last a lifetime. This adds an extra dimension to the message: its classic bags also silently say: "My taste is refined and I don't need to show off a label." The Hermès approach has proved so successful that several several other luxury brands, including Céline, have attempted it recently. The Interesting Hermes Kelly Bag History By Annieth Wollery Hermes is a very well known fashion house and brand that is loved by women all over the world.

The brand has come up with many unique creations when it comes to handbags, over the years; however, one bag which remains very famous till date is the Hermes Kelly bag which was named after the actress Grace Kelly. The beautiful actress Grace Kelly also happened to be the Princess of Monaco, and upon her pregnancy after her marriage, she was not very comfortable showing her bulging belly to the media. As a result of that, on her public appearances, she was found to be hiding her pregnancy with her Hermes bag. When more and more people got to know about this little secret, pictures of the actress hiding her pregnancy with her handbag were spread all over the world. The bag then became so famous that it started to be known as the "Kelly Bag". Even though Hermes has a "Birkin Bag", named after the actress Jane Birkin, the Kelly Bag seems to have surpassed that in terms of hype and popularity. It takes around two alligators' skin to make one Kelly Bag, and the hardware and the design is so classic and beautiful, that the bag is indeed a masterpiece. On more research about the handbag, it was found out that it takes around 18 hours to produce just one such bag.

The Hermes Kelly Bag history story remains interesting and captivating till date, and the designs of the bags from Hermes, Paris, happen to be an inspiration for many new and upcoming fashion designers, and also for those working specifically in the handbag industry. The Hermes bags can be easily found at any of the official Hermes outlets or with authorised dealers of Hermes bags. There are also many dealers of Hermes bags who have websites of their own, and sell these bags online with great offers of free shipping across the world, and some great discounts too. There are many different colour options available, and over the years, the kind of materials chosen to design the Kelly bag have also changed, giving the classic design many new versions. You can find out about all these bags at the Hermes website, or at any of their outlets. So if you too are fascinated with the story and history behind the making of the Kelly Bag, then go and get yourself one of these bags today!

Annieth Wollery, Entrepreneur: Full time online marketer/consultant and is the CEO of Publicada por Jeeves em 01:04 Grace Kelly - Biography - IMDb Grace Kelly Biography Showing all 104 items Jump to: Overview (5) | Mini Bio (2) | Spouse (1) | Trade Mark (2) | Trivia (67) | Personal Quotes (26) | Salary (1) Overview (5) 14 September 1982 , Monaco (injuries from car accident) Birth Name 5' 6½" (1.69 m) Mini Bio (2) Grace Patricia Kelly was born on November 12, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to wealthy parents. She was the daughter of Margaret Katherine (Majer), a phys ed instructor, and John Brendan Kelly, Sr., a three-time Olympic Gold winner for rowing. Her uncle was playwright George Kelly . She was of half Irish and half German descent. Her girlhood was uneventful for the most part, but one of the things she desired was to become an actress which she had decided on at an early age.

After her high school graduation in 1947, Grace struck out on her own, heading to New York's bright lights to try her luck there. Grace worked as a model and made her debut on Broadway in 1949. She also made a brief foray into the infant medium of television. Not content with the work in New York, Grace moved to Southern California for the more prestigious part of acting -- motion pictures. In 1951, she appeared in her first film entitled Fourteen Hours (1951) when she was 22. It was a small part, but a start nonetheless. The following year, she landed the role of Amy Kane in High Noon (1952), a western starring Gary Cooper and Lloyd Bridges which turned out to be very popular. In 1953, Grace appeared in only one film, but it was another popular one. The film was Mogambo (1953) where Grace played Linda Nordley. The film was a jungle drama in which fellow cast members, Clark Gable and Ava Gardner turned in masterful performances. It was also one of the best films ever released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Although she got noticed with High Noon, her work with director Alfred Hitchcock , which began with Dial M for Murder (1954) made her a star. Her standout performance in Rear Window (1954) brought her to prominence. As Lisa Fremont, she was cast opposite James Stewart , who played a photographer who witnesses a murder in an apartment across the courtyard while convalescing in a wheelchair. Grace stayed busy in 1954 appearing in five films. Grace would forever be immortalized by winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Georgie Elgin opposite Bing Crosby in The Country Girl (1954). In 1955, Grace once again teamed with Hitchcock in To Catch a Thief (1955) co-starring Cary Grant . In 1956, she played Tracy Lord in the musical comedy High Society (1956) which also starred Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby . The whimsical tale ended with her re-marrying her former husband, played by Crosby. The film was well received and also turned out to be her final acting performance.

In the summer of 1954, Kelly and Cary Grant were on the French Riviera, working on To Catch a Thief. It was probably the scene after Grace speeds along the Moyen Corniche to quickly get to the "picnic grounds", and away from a tailing police car, that she had time to look at the Mediterranean and the countryside along the coast. "Whose gardens are those?" she asked screenwriter John Michael Hayes . "Prince Grimaldi's". She would not meet the prince until the following year. In New York in March 1955, she received a call from Rupert Allan, Look Magazine's west coast editor, who had become a friend since writing three cover stories on her. The French government wanted her to attend the Cannes Film Festival that May. She had some good reasons to go. One: The Country Girl (1954) would be shown at the festival. Two: she had really loved working on the Riviera the summer before. She met Prince Rainier of Monaco during the Cannes festival. He needed a wife, because with no heir to the throne, Monaco would again be part of France, after his death, all its citizens would have to pay French taxes.

And Kelly thought it was time for her to select a husband, one who would finally meet with her parents' approval. Her biographers show that the life of a princess was not exactly living happily ever after. Old friends from Philadelphia as well as people she had known in Hollywood reported how glad she was to talk about her life in America and to be speaking English. And then on a cliff road she had known so well since her first visit to the Riviera, there was the fatal crash. The spot is often said to be the same spot where the picnic scene from To Catch a Thief was filmed in 1954. However, Kelly's own son, Prince Albert of Monaco , has categorically denied this on Larry King Live and elsewhere; according to him, the accident did not even happen on the same road, let alone at the same spot. For the rest of her life, she was to remain in the news with her marriage and her three children. On September 14, 1982, Grace was killed in an automobile accident in her adoptive home country, Monaco, at age 52.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Pedro Borges Spouse (1) ( 18 April 1956 - 14 September 1982) (her death) (3 children) Trade Mark (2) Her poised, calm, cool and collected demeanor and blond hair often coiffed in a bun Often cast as the love interest of the leading man who is over 20 years older. Trivia (67) Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#5) (1995). Ranked #51 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997] Hoped to return to acting in Alfred Hitchcock 's Marnie (1964), but the people of Monaco did not want their princess playing a thief and romancing Sean Connery . Had three children with Prince Rainier of Monaco : Princess Caroline of Monaco (1957), Prince Albert of Monaco (1958) and Princess Stéphanie of Monaco (1965). Her movies were banned in Monaco by order of Prince Rainier of Monaco .

The inscription at her burial site in Monaco's cathedral does not refer to her as a princess. It uses the title "uxor principis" (prince's wife), which is traditional in the House of Grimaldi. Following her untimely death, she was interred at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Monaco. Assisted in the pre-production status of Grace Kelly (1983) starring Cheryl Ladd as Grace Kelly. Actress Rita Gam was among her bridesmaids. Born at 5:31 AM EST. In 1993, the United States and Monaco simultaneously released a commemorative postage stamp honoring her. However, United States federal law forbids postage stamps depicting foreign heads of state, so the United States stamp listed her as "Grace Kelly", while the Monaco stamp listed her as "Princess Grace". Part of Prince Rainier of Monaco 's attraction to marrying a movie star was to increase tourism in his tiny, cash-poor principality, and the Kelly family was turned off by his demands that a substantial dowry accompany Grace to Monaco.

A figure of $2,000,000 was finally agreed upon, which was diverted from Grace's inheritance so that her brother and two sisters would not be shortchanged. Kelly's wedding gown was the most expensive garment that MGM designer Helen Rose had ever made. It used twenty-five yards of silk taffeta and one hundred yards of silk net. Its 125-year-old rose point lace was purchased from a museum and thousands of tiny pearls were sewn on the veil. Was considered for the role of Maggie the Cat in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) that was eventually played by Elizabeth Taylor . The so-called "wealthy" family Grace was born into was actually an immigrant family of bricklayers who had barely a generation of newfound business success. Grace's father and brother were both Olympic gold-medal scullers. Grace's cousin, former US Secy of Navy John Lehman, Jr. now chairs the Princess Grace Foundation, which supports young performing talent. Attended and graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York. The Country Girl (1954), the film that won Kelly an Oscar, was first offered to Jennifer Jones , who had to turn it down due to pregnancy.

When she left Hollywood, several roles she was slated to play were eventually filled by Lauren Bacall ( Designing Woman (1957) and The Cobweb (1955)). Director George Stevens also wanted her for Giant (1956). Niece of playwright George Kelly . Kelly was the daughter of John Brendan Kelly, Sr. (1889-1960), the son of Irish immigrants, and his wife Margaret Katherine (Majer), whose parents were German. She had three siblings: Peggy, John Jr. and Lizzane. On January 1959, the Austrian government awarded her a medal of merit for aid to Hungarian refugees escaping Russian invasion, given through Monaco's Red Cross. She was one of many famous tenants of the Barbizon Hotel for Women when she lived in New York. Other tenants included Candice Bergen , Liza Minnelli , Cloris Leachman , Ali MacGraw , and Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale . She was voted the 27th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

Referenced in the songs "Grace Kelly", by Die Ärzte; "Grace Kelly Blues" by Eels ( Mark Oliver Everett ),"Grace Kelly with Wings" by Piebald; and "Grace Kelly" by Mika. She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6329 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960. Hedda Hopper reported that Judy Garland 's loss of the Academy Award to Grace for The Country Girl (1954) was the result of the closest Oscar vote up till that time that did not end in a tie, with just six votes separating the two. In any event, it was such a heartbreak from which Judy Garland never recovered from, mentally. Judy Garland was nominated for her role in A Star Is Born (1954) and which has remained a matter of some controversy. Summoned Sydney Guilaroff , the chief hairstylist at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, to style her hair for her marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956. She was voted the 12th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Premiere magazine.

Was named #13 Actress on The American Film Institute's 50 Greatest Screen Legends The road accident which led to her death was apparently caused by a stroke she suffered while driving. Was romantically involved with fashion designer Oleg Cassini . Is portrayed by Christina Applegate and Cheryl Ladd in Grace Kelly (1983). Is one of the many movie stars mentioned in Madonna 's song "Vogue". Broke off her engagement to Oleg Cassini to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco . Bought a silver frame as a wedding gift to Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981. While pregnant with Princess Caroline of Monaco , Grace often used her Hermès bag to shield her belly from prying paparazzi. The company nicknamed that purse "the Kelly bag". Her favorite flowers were roses. After her death, Prince Rainier of Monaco opened a public rose garden in Monaco. Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 447-450. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998. In Italy, a vast number of her films were dubbed by Fiorella Betti .

She was also dubbed by Miranda Bonansea , Dhia Cristiani and Rina Morelli , respectively in High Noon (1952), Dial M for Murder (1954) and To Catch a Thief (1955). Was offered to do a role in 11-time Oscar-nominated The Turning Point (1977). In her youth, her favorite actors were Joseph Cotten and Ingrid Bergman . (April 19, 1956) Her wedding's church ceremony at Monaco's Saint Nicholas Cathedral was exclusively filmed by MGM and made into the documentary The Wedding in Monaco (1956). The 600 guests included David Niven , Gloria Swanson , Ava Gardner and Conrad Hilton . Attended and graduated from Stevens School in Germantown, Philadelphia in 1947. On the day she perished in a car accident, she was allegedly driving a British Rover 3500. Cary Grant named her as his favorite co-star. His friends and family said Kelly's death hit him much harder than the deaths of Louis Mountbatten , Alfred Hitchcock and even Ingrid Bergman .

She and her husband Prince Rainier of Monaco , were at the opening of Expo '58 in Brussels. Grandmother of: Andrea, Charlotte, and Pierre Casiraghi, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Louis and Pauline Ducruet, Camille Gottlieb, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi and Alexandre Coste . Was considered for the role of Sarah in Guys and Dolls (1955), however Jean Simmons was cast instead. Was allegedly romantically involved with all of her leading men apart from James Stewart . She was also linked to Marlon Brando , David Niven and Jean-Pierre Aumont . Her father built a beach house at the corner of 26th and Wesley in Ocean City, New Jersey in 1929. It became a popular family vacation destination, and hosted celebrity guests such as Frank Sinatra , Dean Martin , Jerry Lewis , Bob Hope and Bing Crosby . Grace's sister, Lizanne, lived in the house until it was sold in 2001.

All of her leading men were old enough to be her father (with the exception of William Holden , who was 11 years older than her and Louis Jourdan, who was only 8 years older). Former mother-in-law of Stefano Casiraghi (1983-1990) and mother-in-law of Daniel Ducruet (1995-1996). She was also the future mother-in-law of Princess Charlene of Monaco . Was good friends with actress Maureen O'Hara . She and her husband Prince Rainier of Monaco became pregnant twice in 1962; on both occasions she suffered miscarriages. Ranked #86 in Men's Health magazine's 100 Hottest Women of all Time (2011). The very first actress to appear on a postage stamp in 1993. She graduated from Stevens School in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 5, 1947; her classmates predicted, in her senior yearbook, that she was certain "to become a stage and screen star".

Her first date, Harper Davis, died in 1953 after contracting multiple sclerosis when he returned from World War II and whose funeral was attended by Grace Kelly. She was a registered Democrat and her family was close friends with Franklin D. Roosevelt during his administration. Was a Girl Scout. Was the 42nd actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Actress Oscar for The Country Girl (1954) at The 27th Annual Academy Awards (1955) on March 30, 1955. She turned down the female lead in On the Waterfront (1954) in order to make Rear Window (1954) instead. Had appeared in three films directed by Alfred Hitchcock : Rear Window (1954), Dial M for Murder (1954) and To Catch a Thief (1955). Grace Kelly passed away on September 14, 1982, two months away from what would have been her 53rd birthday on November 12. Portrayed by Nicole Kidman in the fictionalized and critically ravished Grace of Monaco (2014).

Kidman, however, was nominated for a SAG Award for her performance. It has been alleged that as member of the Twentieth Century Fox board of directors, Kelly was responsible for closing down Russ Meyer 's uncompleted "Who Killed Bambi?". MGM studios offered 70 000 dollars for the weeding of Grace Kelly, in gowns and bonus. Personal Quotes (26) Hollywood amuses me. Holier-than-thou for the public and unholier-than-the-devil in reality. I'll tell you one of the reasons I'm ready to leave. When I first came to Hollywood five years ago, my makeup call was at eight in the morning. On this movie it's been put back to seven-thirty. Every day I see Joan Crawford , who's been in makeup since five, and Loretta Young , who's been there since four in the morning. I'll be god-damned if I'm going to stay in a business where I have to get up earlier and earlier and it takes longer and longer for me to get in front of a camera. I hated Hollywood. It's a town without pity.

I know of no other place in the world where so many people suffer from nervous breakdowns, where there are so many alcoholics, neurotics, and so much unhappiness. Mogambo (1953) had three things that interested me. John Ford , Clark Gable , and a trip to Africa with expenses paid. If Mogambo had been made in Arizona, I wouldn't have done it. At times, I think I actually hate Hollywood. I have many acquaintances there, but few friends. I came to success very quickly. Perhaps too quickly to value its importance. I would like to be remembered as someone who accomplished useful deeds, and who was a kind and loving person. I would like to leave the memory of a human being with a correct attitude and who did her best to help others. My father had a very simple view of life: you don't get anything for nothing. Everything has to be earned, through work, persistence and honesty. My father also had a deep charm, the gift of winning our trust. He was the kind of man with whom many people dream of spending an evening. My real difficulty was to become a normal person again, after having been a movie actress for so long.

For me, at the time I was living in New York and Hollywood, a normal person was someone who made movies. Mr. Hitchcock taught me everything about cinema. It was thanks to him that I understood that murder scenes should be shot like love scenes and love scenes like murder scenes. Of course, I think about marriage, but my career is still the most important thing for me. If I interrupt it now to get married, because I don't believe in a part-time family life, I would risk passing the rest of my existence wondering whether or not I would have been able to become a great actress. My parents, despite their serious attitude toward life in general, and that of their children in particular, were very broadminded people. There was no such thing as a bad profession for them. As I was their daughter, they knew that, whatever profession I chose, I would do it well. That was enough for them. There was always trust among the Kellys. I've always treated my children as beings in their own right. I respect their feelings and aspirations entirely. When I married Prince Rainier, I married the man and not what he represented or what he was. I fell in love with him without giving a thought to anything else.

I would like to say to my future fellow citizens that the Prince, my fiance, has taught me to love them. I already know a lot about them from the way he has described them to me, and my dearest desire today is to find a little place in their hearts. My love of flowers opened a lot of doors for me. I've made many friends because of their passion of flowers and their vast knowledge in this field. Although, I've played a wide variety of roles, I've never had the chance to act in a story written specially for me. It's a pity as they are the only stories that really let you reveal your personality. When Ava Gardner gets in a taxi, the driver knows at once she's Ava Gardner. It's the same for Lana Turner or Elizabeth Taylor , but not for me. I'm never Grace Kelly. I'm always someone who looks like Grace Kelly. Fairy tales tell imaginary stories. Me, I'm a living person. I exist. If the story of my life as a real woman were to be told one day, people would at last discover the real being that I am. If there is one thing that is foreign to me it is shopping for pleasure.

On the other hand, I believe that it is right to honour all those who create beautiful things and give satisfaction to those who see me wearing them. It would be very sad if children had no memories before those of school. What they need most is the love and attention of their mother. I avoid looking back. I prefer good memories to regrets. I'm basically a feminist. I think that women can do anything they decide to do. The studios are tenacious. When they want someone or something, they always get it in the end. I ended up signing a contract with MGM. I signed because they offered me the chance of shooting in Africa, but I signed it at the desk of the airport, when the engines of the plane were already turning. Before my marriage, I didn't think about all the obligations there were awaiting me. My experience has proved useful and I think that I have a natural propensity to feel compassion for people and their problems. (On Gary Cooper ) He's the one who taught me to relax during a scene and let the camera do some of the work. On the stage you have to emote not only for the front rows, but for the balcony too, and I'm afraid I overdid it.

He taught me the camera is always in front row, and how to take it easy... Salary (1) Actress Birkin asks Hermes to remove her name from croc bag Actress Birkin asks Hermes to remove her name from croc bag (Adds comments from Hermes, PETA) By Astrid Wendlandt PARIS, July 28 (Reuters) - Actress and singer Jane Birkin has asked Hermes to remove her name from one of the luxury goods maker's best-selling bags due to what she called "cruel" crocodile farming and slaughtering practices. "I have asked Hermes to rename the Birkin Croco until they adopt better practices that meet international standards for the production of this bag," Birkin said in a statement to the media on Tuesday. Birkin said she had signed actor Joaquin Phoenix's Mercy For Animals petition to "shed exotic skins from your wardrobe" in protest against the "millions of reptiles slaughtered each year and turned into shoes, handbags, belts and other accessories".

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, said it had released a video, narrated by Phoenix and which Birkin had seen, showing how live reptiles were skinned or sawed open on farms that supplied luxury brands. Hermes said the crocodile skins it sourced from a Texas farm in the video were not used for Birkin bags and stressed that it did not own that farm. The luxury brand also said that an investigation was being conducted into the farm's practices and that "any breach of rules will be rectified and sanctioned." Hermes said it imposed on its suppliers the highest ethical standards regarding the treatment of crocodiles and for more than a decade, had conducted monthly checks on them to ensure that they were respected. "Hermes respects and shares her (Jane Birkin's) emotions and was also shocked by the images recently broadcast," it said in a statement. "Her comments do not in any way influence the friendship and confidence that we have shared for so many years." Birkin agreed to lend her name to the bag after sharing a flight with the charismatic late head of Hermes, Jean-Louis Dumas, in the 1980s.

The crocodile Birkin and the Kelly bag, named after actress Grace Kelly, are among the most sought-after luxury goods - even though the starting retail price is more than 20,000 euros ($22,096) - partly because shops routinely run out of them. Customers can obtain one either by putting their name on a waiting list or by paying hefty fees to specialised buyers who scout for the bags on their behalf. A fuchsia Hermes crocodile Birkin bag with a diamond-studded clasp and lock set a record as the most expensive handbag ever sold at a Christie's auction in Hong Kong last month, fetching $222,000. ($1 = 0.9051 euros) (Reporting by Astrid Wendlandt; Editing by Susan Thomas and Tom Brown) Reblog Actress Birkin asks Hermes to remove her name from croc bag Actress Birkin asks Hermes to remove her name from croc bag Reuters• Share By Astrid Wendlandt PARIS (Reuters) - Actress and singer Jane Birkin has asked Hermes to remove her name from one of the luxury goods maker's best-selling bags due to what she called "cruel" crocodile farming and slaughtering practices.

"I have asked Hermes to rename the Birkin Croco until they adopt better practices that meet international standards for the production of this bag," Birkin said in a statement to the media on Tuesday. Birkin said she had signed actor Joaquin Phoenix's Mercy For Animals petition to "shed exotic skins from your wardrobe" in protest against the "millions of reptiles slaughtered each year and turned into shoes, handbags, belts and other accessories". People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, said it had released a video, narrated by Phoenix and which Birkin had seen, showing how live reptiles were skinned or sawed open on farms that supplied luxury brands. Hermes said the crocodile skins it sourced from a Texas farm in the video were not used for Birkin bags and stressed that it did not own that farm. The luxury brand also said that an investigation was being conducted into the farm's practices and that "any breach of rules will be rectified and sanctioned." Hermes said it imposed on its suppliers the highest ethical standards regarding the treatment of crocodiles and for more than a decade, had conducted monthly checks on them to ensure that they were respected.

"Hermes respects and shares her (Jane Birkin's) emotions and was also shocked by the images recently broadcast," it said in a statement. "Her comments do not in any way influence the friendship and confidence that we have shared for so many years." Birkin agreed to lend her name to the bag after sharing a flight with the charismatic late head of Hermes, Jean-Louis Dumas, in the 1980s. The crocodile Birkin and the Kelly bag, named after actress Grace Kelly, are among the most sought-after luxury goods - even though the starting retail price is more than 20,000 euros ($22,096) - partly because shops routinely run out of them. Customers can obtain one either by putting their name on a waiting list or by paying hefty fees to specialised buyers who scout for the bags on their behalf. A fuchsia Hermes crocodile Birkin bag with a diamond-studded clasp and lock set a record as the most expensive handbag ever sold at a Christie's auction in Hong Kong last month, fetching $222,000.

(Reporting by Astrid Wendlandt; Editing by Susan Thomas and Tom Brown) Reblog Actress Birkin asks Hermes to remove her name from croc bag | Reuters Tue Jul 28, 2015 | 7:20 PM EDT Actress Birkin asks Hermes to remove her name from croc bag By Astrid Wendlandt | PARIS PARIS Actress and singer Jane Birkin has asked Hermes to remove her name from one of the luxury goods maker's best-selling bags due to what she called "cruel" crocodile farming and slaughtering practices. "I have asked Hermes to rename the Birkin Croco until they adopt better practices that meet international standards for the production of this bag," Birkin said in a statement to the media on Tuesday. Birkin said she had signed actor Joaquin Phoenix's Mercy For Animals petition to "shed exotic skins from your wardrobe" in protest against the "millions of reptiles slaughtered each year and turned into shoes, handbags, belts and other accessories".

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, said it had released a video, narrated by Phoenix and which Birkin had seen, showing how live reptiles were skinned or sawed open on farms that supplied luxury brands. Hermes said the crocodile skins it sourced from a Texas farm in the video were not used for Birkin bags and stressed that it did not own that farm. The luxury brand also said that an investigation was being conducted into the farm's practices and that "any breach of rules will be rectified and sanctioned." Hermes said it imposed on its suppliers the highest ethical standards regarding the treatment of crocodiles and for more than a decade, had conducted monthly checks on them to ensure that they were respected. "Hermes respects and shares her (Jane Birkin's) emotions and was also shocked by the images recently broadcast," it said in a statement. "Her comments do not in any way influence the friendship and confidence that we have shared for so many years." Birkin agreed to lend her name to the bag after sharing a flight with the charismatic late head of Hermes, Jean-Louis Dumas, in the 1980s.

The crocodile Birkin and the Kelly bag, named after actress Grace Kelly, are among the most sought-after luxury goods - even though the starting retail price is more than 20,000 euros ($22,096) - partly because shops routinely run out of them. Customers can obtain one either by putting their name on a waiting list or by paying hefty fees to specialised buyers who scout for the bags on their behalf. A fuchsia Hermes crocodile Birkin bag with a diamond-studded clasp and lock set a record as the most expensive handbag ever sold at a Christie's auction in Hong Kong last month, fetching $222,000. (Reporting by Astrid Wendlandt; Editing by Susan Thomas and Tom Brown) ADVERTISEMENT

Question: The Kelly Bag was named after which Hollywood actress?
Answer: Grace Kelly