Hermès Birkin Bag - $5,000 RESTORATION 

Even Hermes won’t repair a bag that far gone. Great job!

That color is called "blue jeans denim blue" and is one of the most popular Birkin bag colors. I'm amazed by this skilled man! He could get a job at Hermès on the spot.

I wish you had a young enthusiastic apprentice to teach all that skill to carry on that super quality of work you have going on there. You are phenomenal!

How anyone could spend that kind of money on a Birkin bag and not keep it in a climate controlled storage is sickening! Your restoration job is perfection, Steve.

What I absolutely LOVE about these types of videos is how they "pull back the curtain" on how these iconic, overpriced designer bags are actually made. And while the materials may be of a better caliber than most bags, at the end of the day, they're still glued in places, include some kind of cardboard-like material to give it structure, and may even have some hidden imperfections as you pointed out with the leather on this bag. Also, even a bag as expensive as this cannot withstand abuse and poor care! Leather is leather and just because you pay a TON for something, doesn't mean it can withstand any kind of treatment. Well done! I hope this customer pays you LOTS of money and that you get well compensated by RU-vid for the views and likes on this video!

I'm 70yrs old and I'm going to start a new career as a cobbler 😂. Your an inspiration to us all with your skills and craftsmanship, especially the knife work. Such patience and technique. IMO this is one of your best videos Steve, keep em coming ❤

Incredible work!! I agree the price is too high for a bag, but contrary to others brands Hermès have literally many little towns to sustain in France. They have multiple farms where the cows are treated with the utmost care, they have fields to ensure their pasture is top notch to obtain the best leather quality. And they have created schools and diplomas to train people to their high standard. Everything you see in metal in the bag is 24 karat gold-plated . So compared to others brands their spending is much higher, I think it’s important to keep that in mind. Especially if we compare to Chanel…

Wouldn’t the world be a much prettier place if everything were made by the hands of such talented men and women as he. A true artist. ❤

From Wikipedia: In 1983, Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas was seated next to English singer/actress Jane Mallory Birkin on a flight from Paris to London. Birkin had just placed her straw basket in the overhead compartment of her seat, but the contents fell to the floor, leaving her to scramble to replace the contents. Birkin explained to Dumas that it had been difficult to find a leather weekend bag she liked. In 1984, he created a black supple leather bag for her: the Birkin bag, based on a 1982 design.

Steve, you an absolute legend! Watching you makes me calm and happy. I used to help out my local shoe repairman 60 years ago and sat with shoemakers in Spain when I was in the Navy. You are a sixth degree Black Belt in Leatherwork. God Bless you Sir! Thank you for sharing your talent and expertise!

Jane Birkin. An English singer and actress very popular in France. Beautiful work. Bravo

Would love to have seen the customer’s reaction to the amazing restoration of this very expensive bag!

Once you opened up the inside and the lining and the yellow dust started spilling out…I automatically started choking. Craftsmen like yourself make my brain happy. Exceptional work, well done. Keep doing you ❤️❤️❤️

I loved this purse, the color is beautiful. You are completely right. Your customer is paying for the history of the company. Beautiful bag ❤

Hèrmes bags are insanely expensive because you get what you pay for - a piece that will last a lifetime (as long as it is taken care of.) From the selection of the hides, processing et al, to the workmanship, Hèrmes is second to none. The intricacies start with the harvesting the leather to the last stitch on the bag. It takes 10 years of apprenticeship before a craftsman/craftswomen is allowed to make an Hèrmes handbag on their own. Yes, they can be seen as a status symbol, but not all Hèrmes bags are easily recognizable. Thus, they can go through life incognito. I have several Hèrmes bags (the incognito type) purchased on the secondary market that are 30+ years old. They look amazing!!

My flabber has never been so gasted with this bag Steveo What a job $5k was a bargain for the customer I agree the original prices are bonkers However it’s peanuts for the money folk Brilliant job again Always an interesting video from you Thanks again 👍👍💕🕊️

I can see why it was $5,000 to repair. You are truly a craftsman. Wonderful job. Thank you for sharing. 👍🏻

Craftsmen like you are so rare these days. Amazing job!

Strangely theraputic watching you restore this bag, apart from the hand stitching which looked like an absolute chore, great job as always Steve.

Your patience and skill to bring that bag back to life is beyond believe Steve. Bravo 👏🏼! Keep the videos coming!

Birkin bags are lined with goatskin, chevre leather. not lambskin. just fyi.

I have no idea why this is so soothing. I do not do any of this type of work. But, I watch all the time.

i trusted Steve he did fixed my LV sling bag thanx much Steve❤

Steve - you are such an artisan. Your workmanship is unbelievable.

The hands of a man who's made quality goods for years

Beautiful job as always. You are a La créme de la créme of craftsman. ❤❤

Another one! My wife actually watched this episode with me! She loved it!! Great job Steve.

Another amazing job. You took a mess and turned it back into a masterpiece. Well done. I'm sure the customer is thrilled to have her beautiful bag back.

This is a fantastic job. Congratulations! I never thought this Birkin would be so beautiful again.

Most folks leave it unbuckled, and the flap open, I watch all of tanners videos it helps me really understand I am paying for a name. Your videos made me understand its labor I am paying for when I think that's an easy fix, I see how much work that simple job is.

I always love how passionate and informative your videos are. Been watching for years and you never disappoint!

I love watching people with amazing skills bringing things back to life with knowledge care and love. Truly enjoyable. Thanks for making this video and letting us peek at your master workmanship

I know why this bag restoration was so expensive…..because you had to go buy a box of rubber gloves!😂😂😂 Awesome work Steve, it’s truly amazing what you’re able to pull off! (No pun intended!) I’ve never seen you intimidated by a single project that comes into the shop! As a leather craftsman myself I really admire that!🙌🏻

Watching a master craftsman like you is mesmerising. 🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍

This is absolutely amazing. What an incredible repair. The only way i was able to get odors out of bags was to use an ozone generator. Put the bag in a closed off room (take plants, anything "live" out), seal off the bottom of the door. It might take 2-3 times but it works. Obviously, this bag required a complete dismantling and deep cleaning and is the exception!!! Great work!

Amazing what people with money will pay for labels! At least that bag appears to've had better materials used than the LV and Gucci stuff. Love me some saddle stitch. That's mostly what I do when sewing leather. Very nice end result on something that was going away (internally) so bad. Always a pleasure seeing your handiwork, Steve. God bless you in your efforts.

I had no idea it would cost so much for a restoration . Oh, you totally deserve every penny for the amazing results you achieve .Love your channel.

Loved your patience, talent , attention to the HERMES detail & finished product…..as an artist I appreciated your entire process through video.

2009?!?! My god, that is a travesty! Wonderful restoration as always.....Probably my favorite of all you've done! 🎉

Such a great job! I have an Hermes Kelly and this restoration project was a real treat to watch. So much care and attention put into it.

The color of that bag is stunning. What a job! You completely restored this bag to look like new! Quality work!

That leather is BEAUTIFUL. And your work is impeccable as always.

Saddle stitching and hand skiving are my two favorite parts of leatherwork. It would be pretty tough to be competitive in stitching by hand. You do really beautiful work, Steve.

Climate control is so important. A few years back my client's mother had her top-of-the-line computer sewing machine stored in an outdoor shed while her house was being remodeled. When she took it out to set it back up and use it the machine was rusted inside and full of mold. Again, climate control is so very important! Well done as always, Steve!

The best leather master craftsman in the country. What amazing care and actually improving on the Hermes construction technique.

I would absolutely love to be your apprentice! I have a knack at finding name brand bags that need some restoring, maybe not at this level like here in the video but I would love to learn from a master like u! I'm so glad i found ur videos. I'm a more of an on hand learner than a visual learner but i do appreciate your videos anyhow. U have taught me a few things so far & it is greatly appreciated! Thank u so much for sharing your amazing trade with us here on RU-vid:) God bless u & ur family:)

Have watch this 3 times just to go through the phases, we have to understand making one from scratch /start to finish is hard in itself let alone restoring and repairing one from the start takes a lot of time and especially planning, which i think separates each others skills and foundation on how they learned their skillset, Props to u Steve i love the outcome of this project and for sharing ur videos.

Don't worry, your prononciation of "Hermes" is very good 😀 I like this format of video where you show your work and you can speak freely, it allows you to make history points on the items you're working on, it's very interesting. Thanks a lot for sharing your work and your knowledge.

Couldn’t watch this when it first released but as soon as I got home it was the first thing I did! Keep up the amazing work, Steve!

This is a smaller variation on a Haut à Courroies bag by Hermès that was originally made to carry riding boots. It existed long before Birkin.

masterclass! Thank you for sharing Steve.

WOW!!! What an amazing job you did with the complete restoration of this bag and giving it a second life. It's like brand new again, maybe even better.

Steve, it's amazing to watch you work! Excellent job, with a remarkable outcome.

Another awesome job Steve! Thanks a lot for sharing. 😊

Incredibly, at such a price for this bag, it should be of the best quality and be eternal, so that it could be left to great-grandchildren! Thanks for the video, great job! Greetings from Russia!))

Fabulous restoration! Thank you for sharing with us!

Tanner is doing an awesome job. Love his videos too. Great of you to mention him.

I enjoyed the viewing of your craftsmanship. I don't understand the money people spend on certain things but it's their money. Thank you for taking the time to do video. I love watching you work.

Great job in restoring this bag! ... enjoyed watching you tackle this job; looked like new! Beautiful!!!

Such a beautiful repair! Who knows how the bag ended up so damaged but pleased to see that you fixed it. Congratulations!

That little pair of pliers with the leather jaws is a brilliant little mod. I usually have plastic jaws on my fine pliers, but leather will grip much better. On the bucket list of future modifications, for sure. Thanks Steve!

thanks again for another incredible job Steve.

Fantastic job! You are the best.

I know the owner of the bag will be beyond excited and pleased. The price of the bag was astonishing your explanation was spot on. Thank you for sharing your talent with those who follow you, I am never disappointed with the videos I they relax me and educate me. I take much better care of my leather good and in the correct way because you have shown me how. Best wishes to you and yours

That shade of blue is gorgeous! Thank you for all the time and effort!

Love the bag. My favourit colour. Great job as always.

Always love your work and your comments. Thanks for sharing this beautiful product.

Deconstructing this handbag just shows that all people are paying for is the brand name. Beautiful work as usual. Love the colour of the lining leather

Wow, how blessed whoever got it for a gift. That color is simply beautiful! And of course you did a beautiful job!

Old Leather Smith here, beautiful work as always Steve, 2 different things between us other than I am older, I use WOOL FELT inside bags, and I HAND STITCH EVERYTHING unless the client requests otherwise. GOD'S BLESSINGS ✝️⚾🙃

Best video ever! Appreciate your candor regarding the price of a Birkin. You and Tanner Leatherstein are 💯 in my book!!

Wow. A Birkin. Great job Steve. ❤️

I love how you show the world what these expensive brands do. You showed a complete breakdown of what these are made of. Make yo money babe I ain’t mad at you! 🫡 people don’t hate player; hate the game. The internals of this bag had completely disintegrated 😂. I would go get a custom crazy horse leather or 8oz nubuck bag made by a real craftsman for about $600 before I pay thousands for a mildewed compressed paper coated bag. Great business transaction 🫡. You are a very talented and smart man.

Excellent job 👏 ... you're a true craftsman!! You bought that bag back from the dead!! ☠ and gave it many more years of life!!

Amazing. Beautiful bag - stunning restoration. 💙💙

Absolutely to die for restoration project! IF the bsg had been given to me, I would not hesitate to have The Maestro restore the bag! Hèrmes will NOT restore the interior of their bags. Steve has done an amazing job, second to none! Bravo!!

I love every aspect of your videos; from the camera and audio quality to the commentary! Even my husband enjoys listening to you. Amazing restoration as always!

Steveroo, another amazing restoration of a bag that was shot...! One of the only persons on earth willing to do this job and with your patience and skills make it happen...! Five Stars....WOW... Greg

As always!!! Beautiful work Steve!!! 🙌🏻

Just one word, " Wow!" 💕

What a extensive project ! Great work 👍

Your talent is amazing. This is one of my absolute favorite videos you have done, and I've seen them all. Thanks Steve for sharing. 👜

You are quite an artist! This was fascinating, and your work is beautiful! Thanks!

I love this craftsmanship! I'm mesmerised by the skill. Thank you.

Beautifully restoration of a beautiful bag. I hope the owner looks after it. Thank you for taking me alone on your journey from a musty mouldy start to a beautiful end result ❤❤

I haven’t clicked a video as fast.

Steve, brother, you are talented! You're practically a miracle worker! 👌

I'm not sure if you still read this but I know that quite a few bags come from Japan from the tsunami they had years ago. They are still selling high-end designer bags. A lot of them look great from the outside but have that awful musty odor and disintegrating inside. Your pronunciation is spot on. Also, Hermes repairs the bags. Just like Louis Vuitton and all the other designer handbags; You did a great job, but I just want to put it out there. Hermes and Louis Vuitton take the bags once they are authenticated and repair them. Customer service so to say.

Hey Steve. Amazing video!!! The completed project turned out incredible! The company I work for cleans/repairs antique oriental rugs which is an entirely different line of work. But when you were talking about the struggle with the mildew smell, I figured I share what we do. Maybe its something that can help with similar projects down the road. When we get a rug thats been neglected to this state, we've found that some smells (cigarette and mold/mildew especially) are next to impossible to remove entirely from things like wool and leather because they tend to absorb scents. Here's the trick we use. After the initial cleaning to get rid of the physical dirt and debris, we then stick it in a sealed area with an ozone machine over night. The next morning we air the area out (as concentrated ozone is toxic) and wash the rug again. In the 15 years I've been doing it, the amount of rugs this did not resolve the odor issue on I can count on one hand. Hope you or anyone else that reads this finds it helpful.

Steve you are an artist.

Wow! An amazing restoration!

What a terrific job, such craftsmanship! Absolutely in awe of your skills and talent 😊

You did a awesome job with that bag. It is so beautiful 😍

Your work is masterful. The client had to be beyond pleased. Especially knowing the condition of which they brought it to you. Your thoughts on the functionality of the closure are spot on. This style bag is not my taste but I see the appeal for others. Beautiful color though. Thank you for sharing your talents with us. Beautiful work as always.

I’m astonished by the amount of work you’ve done! And the quality of your craftsmanship 🎉

Always a pleasure to watch the master at work.

And jeez, holy smokes is that lamb skin such a great match of color. My local fabric store would certainly not have that lol. I find this sort of work sooo interesting. It would be awesome to learn from you (or anyone) with this wealth of knowledge. It has such a good combo of working with hands and math and cleaning - great for my personality!

Good night Steve YOU are a iconic man in Your job ,Wonderfull work in The iconic bag ,congratulations Steve.Regards from Spain 🎩⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

To watch a true craftsman is always a wonderful beautiful thing.

You’re a genius. Would pay you to teach me this skill, this art. The videos are one thing but man.. So fascinating.