A video posted on TikTok showing a man making a replica of a Hermes Birkin bag to give to his girlfriend as an anniversary present, after he realised he couldn’t afford a real one, has gone viral.
In two videos, titled Handmaking A Birkin For My Girlfriend, which have been viewed more than 36 million times and counting, Washington estate agent Alexander Sway, 32, documents how he made his partner a home-made version of the celebrity-loved bag using templates he found online and leather from a local store.
“My girlfriend always jokes that she wants a luxury bag from Hermes as an anniversary gift,” he said in the first video. “When I looked online at the price of a Birkin, I couldn’t believe it. $100,000 for a bag is crazy, but what was even crazier was instead of paying, I decided to surprise her and make my own.”
‘I understand why luxury companies charge so much’
Saying that he thought making the bag was “going to be pretty simple”, Sway spent 60 hours putting together the gift using blueprints he found online.
He bought the materials from a local leather store, spending $60 on a sheet of black-dyed crocodile leather after admitting he “was not able to find leather that luxury companies use”, and $360 on tools.
“I thought it was going to be as simple as cutting shapes out and assembling pieces, but right off the bat I made some rookie mistakes and wasted a bunch of good leather,” Sway said. “I finally understand why luxury companies charge so much for these handbags.”
Sway said the hardest part of making the bag was the sewing.
“This is very challenging,” he said, “because every hole had to be hand-punched and sometimes the holes had to be punched twice because of how thick the leather was.” He said his fingers went numb during the process.
What is a Birkin bag?
The bag by luxury label Hermes made its debut in 1984 and was inspired by English-French actress and singer Jane Birkin.
It was conceived after Hermes chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas sat beside Birkin on a flight from Paris to London. The actress’s straw bag wouldn't fit in the overhead locker and she told Dumas she couldn’t find a leather weekend bag to hold all her belongings.
Dumas decided to create a black leather bag based on the label’s Haut a Courroies bag from the early 1900s.
The bags start from $9,000 and regularly go for more than $300,000 at auction. In 2022, Sotheby’s sold the most expensive Birkin ever at auction. The Diamond Himalaya Birkin 30, made from dyed Niloticus crocodile skin and featuring 18k white gold and diamond-studded hardware, sold for more than $450,000.
Sway’s work went viral, not only for his dedication and craftsmanship, but also for his girlfriend’s reaction to the gift, which many viewers found underwhelming, especially when she fumbled with the bag, almost dropping it.
Sway later told BuzzFeed: “Although the video did not do a great job representing my girlfriend, she actually loves the bag and appreciates it deeply.”
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
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It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
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iPhone XR
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Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 6 Huddersfield Town 1
Man City: Agüero (25', 35', 75'), Jesus (31'), Silva (48'), Kongolo (84' og)
Huddersfield: Stankovic (43')
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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