Jane Birkin wants her name off of Hermes’ illustrious Birkin bag after animal cruelty allegations were launched against the company, which is as accused of unethically raising and killing crocodiles in order to make the purses.
"Having been alerted to the cruel practices reserved for crocodiles during their slaughter to make Hermès handbags carrying my name ... I have asked Hermès to debaptise the Birkin Croco until better practices in line with international norms can be put in place,"
she said in a statement, according to People.
The British singer’s concern comes after a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) investigation last month where the organization published footage of two reptile farms in the U.S. and Africa, at least one of which
supplies skins for Birkin bags, CNN reported.
The French luxury handbag retailer acknowledged that “Jane Birkin has expressed her concerns regarding practices for slaughtering crocodiles. Her comments do not in any way influence the friendship and confidence that we have shared for many years. Hermès respects and shares her emotions and was also shocked by the images recently broadcast,” the company told People.
Also appalled by PETA’s revelations, the company has launched an investigation of the Texas farm featured in PETA’s video.
“An investigation is underway at the Texas farm which was implicated in the video. Any breach of rules will be rectified and sanctioned. Hermès specifies that this farm does not belong to them and that the crocodile skins supplied are not used for the fabrication of Birkin bags,” Hermes said.
Regardless of the ethical qualms Birkin has stirred, Hermes has no legal obligation to change the name of Birkin's namesake purse. Hermes trademarked the bag’s name in 1997,
Hugh Devlin, a London lawyer, told The New York Times.
Birkin bags made their debut about 30 years ago but still appear on the arms of celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham. Some have paid up to $222,000 and endured long waitlists for the handbag, CNN said.
"Once, Birkin bags marked people as celebrities or at least members of the super rich, but soon, no one will want to be caught dead carrying one," Ingrid Newkirk, PETA’s founder, told CNN.
Warning: Video contains graphic content.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.