Women Who've Shaped History: Jane Birkin

Jane Birkin, English actor and singer is probably best known for her relationship with Serge Gainsbourg, the iconic French musician.  Their daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg, is an incredibly talented actress (and singer), appearing in several films directed by weirdo Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier.

But fashion-lovers know Jane Birkin as the inspiration for perhaps the most famous handbag in fashion history, the 'Birkin Bag', made by Hermès.

In 1981, Jean-Louis Demas, the then-artistic director of Hermès (whose family founded Hermès in 1837) sat next to Ms. Birkin on a flight from Paris to London.  While trying to secure her handbag, the contents spilled out all over the plane, and she told Demas how difficult it was to find a leather bag she liked.

So in 1984, he created the perfect bag for her.  And now the most coveted bag in the world is the 'Birkin Bag'.

Footnote: Kim Kardashian RUINED the Birkin Bag by buying a billion of them and using them as diaper bags.  No shit.