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Birkin with a side of… scarves?

Posted On: Mar. 20, 2024 10:08 AM CST

Birkin

Luxury brand Hermès is being accused in a new lawsuit of toting people’s dreams of carrying one of their exclusive — and tough to acquire — Birkin bags by forcing them to buy other products in an alleged pay-to-play scheme.

A complaint filed by consumers Tina Cavalleri and Mark Glinoga in a federal court in Northern California on Tuesday alleges antitrust and unfair business practices, arguing that Hermès has taken advantage of “market power,” the Fashion Law Blog reported.

The pair say that Hermès’ exclusivity strategy is the result of the “unique desirability, incredible demand and low supply” of its Birkin handbags in an effort to increase the prices and profits it earns from its Birkin bags, while also boosting its sales of other products.

According to the complaint, accessed by the blog, Hermès implemented “a scheme to exploit the market power” of its Birkin bags by “requiring consumers to purchase other, ancillary products from [it] before they will be given an opportunity to purchase” its most coveted creation.