From its early beginnings in Paris in 1837, Hermès has been a leader in the world of luxurious leathers and quality craftmanship. Almost 170 years later, and with an untarnished reputation, the Hermès Birkin bag has become one of the most coveted fashion accessories ever, but with a price tag exceeding that of a small car, we check out what all the fuss is about...

Established in 1837 as a maker of fine saddles and harnesses, Hermès immediately gained a reputation for luxurious leathers and quality craftmanship. Almost 170 years later, Hermès is stronger than ever and opening in Dublin. After appearances in cult television shows such as 'Sex and the City' and 'Will & Grace', the Hermès Birkin bag has become the must have fashion accessory of the century! But getting your hands on one of these bags isn't the easiest of tasks, first you join a two year long waiting list, and then fork out a small fortune if you are lucky enough to ever make it to the top of the list!

Jumping the queue for one of Hermès bags is impossible, that is unless you're PR whizz Samantha Jones, Kim Cattrall's character, Samantha, in Sex and the City. In one episode Samantha so desperately and impatiently craves a Hermès Birkin, that she tells the Hermès publicity director that she needs the bag for a client, Lucy Liu. The waiting list is quickly forgotten and a Birkin arrives momentarily, sadly for Pamela, the same didn't happen when she tried to tell them who she was!

It is perhaps the appearance in Sex & the City that thrust the bag into the consciousness of millions of fashion-loving viewers, however, you can expect to hand over three to four thousand euro at the very least for a genuine Hermès Birkin. A price tag thought by many to be ridiculous, but not for some. With Hermès opening in Brown Thomas... we found out what Irish fashion-lovers think of the phenomenon that is the Hermès Birkin.

At the recent launch of the first Hermès store in Dublin, we caught up with Christian Blanckaert, Executive Vice President in charge of international affairs for Hermès international! There's a mouthful for you!

Pamela: What makes Hermès bags so special?

Christian: The amount of work that goes into one of these bags is huge. We use the finest skins in the world, and each and every bag is handmade.

Pamela: What about the huge waiting list?

Christian: The skins we use are quite rare, so unfortunately you could find yourself waiting a while. Also customers can have an input into the design of their bag, and sometimes they have crazy ides, which can take some time, but we love crazy ideas!

We also caught up with Fashion Designer Louise Kennedy, who is the proud owner of a 1950s Hermès Kelly, which has been passed down through generations to her.

Louise: The bag was designed in the 1920s in Cannes in France. "I covet it, I adore it. For me, the joy of the bag is, it was designed so long ago, but I'm as happy to carry it now as I'm sure when I pass it on to the next generation, they will be too. It's a classic piece, it's timeless.

We do think the bags are fantastic, but what about those prices? We slipped out to the streets to find out what the average punter really thinks of the price tag, here's what some of you had to say.

"A lot of people would spend that on drink in a year, so if you're happy to spend that on a handbag instead, then do it"

"Not €7,000 on a handbag, I don't think so"

"I could think of better things to spend the money on, than the bag"

"I'd just get a boyfriend to but it, it's going on my Christmas wish list"

"It would feed an awful lot of orphans. then again you can't eat handbags"

Quite a mixed reaction, but for those of us who don't have a small fortune to hand over in return for a handbag, we also had a look at the top ten affordable, yet fashionable, bags on the market for the coming months.

Avoca €26.95

Costelloe & Costelloe €85

The Limited Collection @ Marks & Spencers €49

Dunnes Stores €15

Penneys €5

Jane Rankin €180

Urban Outfitters €131

Christina Walsh €50

Kilkenny Design €169.95

Oasis €32