In the handbag world, as of late, few brands evoke as much reverence and desire as The Row and Hermes.
These fashion houses have built a legacy around unparalleled luxury. The Row, founded by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, is a quiet luxury brand celebrated for its understated elegance. On the other hand, Hermes, a French haute couture powerhouse, is synonymous with opulence, heritage, and exclusivity. Within their extensive collections, two bags stand out as icons: the Margaux and the Birkin. Despite their differences in aesthetics and history, both bags represent the pinnacle of luxury and craftsmanship, and as a result, have captured the hearts of fashion aficionados worldwide, with some dubbing the Margaux as the new Birkin. So, without further ado, let the handbag showdown begin.
The Margaux vs. the Birkin
The Row Margaux
Hermes Birkin
The Row Margaux: Heritage & Design
The Row was founded in 2006 and quietly went about its business attracting elite customers and lovers of understated luxury. Now, classy and slouchy handbag shapes are resonating with a broader fashion crowd, giving the Margaux a platform to shine and allowing a very strong devout fanbase to emerge for the bag. I mean, we still can’t get that Jennifer Lawrence moment out of our heads. If only our errands could look that chic and be that effortless. Could the Margaux be a future heirloom in the making?
Introduced in 2018, the Margaux is a newer addition to The Row’s collection. It embodies quiet luxury with its clean lines and minimalist look. The soft-bodied bag features barely any hardware, giving it a sleek and understated appearance. It has an open top with adjustable straps at the sides and comes in four sizes to suit different needs and preferences.
The Hermes Birkin: Heritage & Design
On the other hand, we have the Birkin from Hermes. Iconic. Hermes, founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermes, began as a harness workshop in Paris, specializing in equestrian accessories. With a reputation for creating the best of the best, the brand expanded into leather goods, becoming synonymous with ultra-luxury.
The iconic Birkin bag, introduced in 1984, was inspired by actress Jane Birkin’s need for a spacious yet stylish travel bag, embodying Hermes’ commitment to quality and timeless design. Crafted by skilled artisans using the finest materials, each Birkin bag carries a sense of heritage and exclusivity, making it one of the most coveted accessories in the world. And it’s no secret that a Birkin is exclusive…
Handbag Exclusivity: How hard is it to get one of these bags?
The Hermes Birkin
Hermes Birkin bags have been lugged around by the rich and famous socialites for years. But the Birkin is a quota item from Hermes, making it notoriously difficult to acquire directly from the brand. Waitlists can span years, and even then, there’s no guarantee of obtaining one. This exclusivity only enhances the Birkin’s value, both as a status symbol and as an investment. In the resale market, Birkin bags command premium prices.
The Row Margaux
For The Row Margaux, designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have cultivated a cult following by refining the Margaux design with subtle seasonal updates, limiting distribution, and fostering intrigue through understated marketing strategies (aka subtle moves like no phones out during their fashion show).
The Margaux is frequently sold out in retail stores due to its popularity, which in turn increases its resale value in the secondary market. This scarcity adds to its exclusivity, making it a coveted “It” item. If you’re looking for a sophisticated yet understated bag but can’t quite splurge on a Birkin (just yet), perhaps you might consider the Margaux.
Both The Row Margaux and the Hermes Birkin are iconic bags in their own right, representing the pinnacle of ultra-luxury and craftsmanship.
