India, Sept. 20 -- You can't deny that the Birkin bag from Hermes is one of those phenomena that has gone beyond just being a fashion item to becoming a full-on cultural and economic symbol, and overall an investment piece.

The whole story started by chance in 1984 when French actress and singer Jane Birkin met Jean-Louis Dumas, the president of Hermes, on a plane. She complained about how great it would be to have a bag that was both practical and luxurious for modern women. This sparked the idea for the Birkin Bag, designed to be spacious, beautiful, and showcase the high craftsmanship that Hermes has always been known for. Yet what sets the Birkin apart from just any bag isn't just the hours of handcrafting that go into each one. It'...