VICTORIA’S ‘A HANDBAG HYPOCRITE’
She flouts own exotic skin ban
VICTORIA Beckham has a wardrobe full of exotic animal skin handbags — despite banning them from her fashion range.
The designer reportedly has £2m worth of offending bags and purses. The 44-year-old has pledged to stop using alligator, snake and lizard skins in her products.
But in her closet there are said to be at least 100 Hermes Birkin bags, her favourites being those made from ostrich and crocodile skins.
It takes three crocodiles or one adult ostrich to make each handbag.
So while the ban in her own factory was welcomed by campaigners, they are now urging her to look closer to home.
Elisa Allen, director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said: “Victoria has taken a vital first step by ridding her brand of exotic skins, and we bet this decision will soon be reflected in her personal wardrobe choices, too, as fake snake and mock croc beat the corpse couture of yesteryear, vintage or not.” Shoppers were less kind, and branded Posh a “hypocrite”. Writing online, one called Misty Night said: “I wonder if she’ll be disposing of her own personal collection of ridiculously overpriced fashion accessories made from various animals. Somehow, I think not.”
Another added: “Is she also going to get rid of her entire collection of birkin handbags she personally collects?”
And another said: “What about all the shoes bags and belts she wears? “Hypocritical idiot.”
The most shocking of Posh’s bags is her £290,000 diamondencrusted White Himalayan Crocodile Birkin, which husband David bought for her birthday. Hermes expert Jane Finds said the “holy grail” bag was “possibly the rarest and most desirable handbag in the world”.
Other croc numbers include the Asprey 167 Crocodile for £18,000. Her selection of Hermes Birkins in coloured crocodile skin go for around £90,000.
The price tag is eye-watering but, with each one using the skins of three crocodiles, the creature count is even more shocking. Each ostrich bag uses skin from one bird. Posh’s snakeskin bags, including a £2,000 Oscar de la Renta Metallic Python Doctor, need at least one python each.
And her £10,000 Hermes Kelly bag in green lizard skin takes 10 creatures to make.
Victoria announced on Tuesday she would cease the use of exotic skins in her own designs.
Last night a spokesman for Victoria failed to respond to a request for comment.