For years, the Hermès Birkin was considered the ultimate women's handbag. Today, that narrative has completely changed.
Some of the world's most recognizable men are now carrying Hermès bags as part of their everyday wardrobes, and they're not treating them as accessories. They're treating them as investment pieces, travel essentials and unmistakable status symbols.
Football superstar Erling Haaland, rapper Drake, TV personality Steve Harvey, David Beckham, Lionel Messi and Pharrell Williams have all helped turn Hermès bags into one of menswear's biggest luxury trends.
And if global fashion trends are any indication, Dubai is already watching.
The emirate has long embraced luxury as part of its culture. Rare watches, exotic supercars and limited-edition fashion pieces are often viewed as both personal statements and appreciating assets. Hermès bags now belong in that conversation.
The Bag Everyone Thinks Is A Birkin Usually Isn't
Most people assume the oversized Hermès bag seen on celebrities is a Birkin.
In reality, it's usually the Haut à Courroies, better known as the HAC.
The HAC is Hermès' oldest handbag design. Created in 1892, it was originally built for equestrians who needed a practical way to transport riding boots and saddles.
Its name literally translates from French as "high straps."
Nearly a century later, Hermès used the HAC as the blueprint for another bag that would eventually become one of fashion's most famous creations.
That bag was the Birkin.
Introduced in 1984, the Birkin was essentially a refined, downsized evolution of the HAC, inspired by actress and singer Jane Birkin after an encounter with Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight.
In other words, the Birkin wouldn't exist without the HAC.
HAC Vs. Birkin: They Look Similar, But They're Built Differently
At first glance, the two bags appear almost identical.
Look closer, however, and the differences become obvious.
The Shape
The HAC is taller with a more vertical silhouette.
The Birkin is wider and has a more rectangular profile, making it feel slightly more compact.
The Handles
The HAC features shorter, stiffer handles designed primarily for carrying by hand.
The Birkin has longer handle loops that sit more comfortably over the wrist.
The Hardware
The HAC uses flatter, more squared metal hardware paired with a shorter lock.
The Birkin has softer, rounded hardware that gives it a slightly more refined appearance.
The Size
The HAC is significantly larger.
Common sizes range from 40cm to 55cm, making it suitable as a travel or weekend bag.
Traditional Birkins are typically produced between 25cm and 35cm, making them more suited to everyday use.
Why Men Are Choosing The HAC
Luxury insiders often refer to the HAC as the "masculine Birkin."
That label isn't official, but it reflects why so many male celebrities gravitate toward it.
Its proportions make it practical enough for travel while still delivering the exclusivity Hermès is known for.
It works equally well stepping off a private jet, arriving at Fashion Week or walking into a stadium before a championship match.
Rather than functioning like a traditional handbag, the HAC occupies the space between a luxury briefcase and an ultra-premium weekender.
For many buyers, that's exactly the appeal.
The Celebrity Line-Up Keeps Growing
The trend accelerated dramatically after Erling Haaland was repeatedly photographed carrying multiple rare Hermès bags during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to CNN, the Manchester City striker owns at least seven Hermès pieces, including the sought-after "Endless Road" HAC 50, with an estimated collection value exceeding US$300,000.
He's far from alone.
Lionel Messi has been spotted carrying a Cargo HAC 40.
David Beckham frequently rotates oversized HAC bags into his travel wardrobe.
Steve Harvey turned heads during Paris Fashion Week carrying a crocodile HAC reportedly valued near six figures.
The music world has embraced the trend just as enthusiastically.
Drake owns multiple Birkins, including a Himalaya version valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Pharrell Williams has long incorporated exotic-skin Birkins into his personal style.
Travis Scott regularly carries oversized HAC bags, while Floyd Mayweather famously spent more than US$400,000 on five Hermès crocodile bags during a single shopping trip in Paris.
What was once considered unconventional has rapidly become one of luxury fashion's strongest signals of exclusivity.
These Bags Aren't Just Fashion. They're Investments.
Unlike many luxury accessories, Hermès bags have built a reputation for retaining — and often increasing — their value.
Retail prices typically begin around US$10,000 for standard leather models.
Rare colours, limited editions and exotic leathers such as crocodile or ostrich can push prices well into six figures.
Because Hermès carefully limits production and controls availability through invitation-only purchasing relationships, demand frequently exceeds supply.
That scarcity has created one of the strongest resale markets in luxury fashion.
For collectors, buying a Hermès bag isn't simply shopping.
It's acquiring an asset.
That investment mindset aligns closely with consumer behaviour across the UAE, where luxury goods are often viewed as long-term stores of value alongside fine watches, jewellery and collectible automobiles.
Why Dubai Is The Perfect Market For This Trend
Dubai has never followed global luxury trends.
It usually accelerates them.
Many famous men who frequently visit or live in Dubai already own either the Hermès Birkin or the HAC. These bags have become powerful status symbols across the region, representing exclusivity, craftsmanship and financial success.
In the UAE, luxury purchases are rarely viewed as impulse buys.
High-end handbags, particularly Hermès pieces, are widely regarded as serious investments because of their remarkable resale performance and limited production.
As menswear continues embracing luxury handbags internationally, Dubai's affluent consumers are well positioned to drive the next wave of demand.
From entrepreneurs and athletes to celebrities and collectors, the city already has the clientele willing to wait years for rare Hermès allocations.
The only question is which waiting list they'll join next.
Who's Carrying What?
Celebrity | Hermès Bag |
|---|---|
Erling Haaland | Endless Road HAC 50 plus multiple Hermès pieces |
Lionel Messi | Cargo HAC 40 |
David Beckham | Oversized HAC collection |
Steve Harvey | Crocodile HAC |
Drake | Multiple Birkins including Himalaya |
Pharrell Williams | Purple crocodile Birkin |
Travis Scott | Oversized HAC |
Floyd Mayweather | Five crocodile Hermès bags |
The Bottom Line
The biggest luxury trend in men's fashion isn't another sneaker collaboration or limited-edition watch.
It's a handbag first designed more than 130 years ago.
The HAC quietly laid the foundation for the Birkin, and today both models have become universal symbols of wealth, exclusivity and taste.
As celebrities continue carrying them through airports, stadium tunnels and fashion weeks, Dubai is emerging as one of the natural homes for the trend.
In a city where luxury often doubles as investment, Hermès isn't simply selling bags anymore.
It's selling one of the world's most recognizable status symbols—and more men than ever want one.
