Reality TV personality and Time100 Creator honouree Maura Higgins has reportedly been welcomed into one of fashion's most exclusive circles by receiving a coveted Hermès Birkin handbag, a status symbol that cannot simply be bought off the shelf regardless of budget. A fashion industry insider has used her case to explain just how opaque and unpredictable the process of acquiring one of these bags actually is, shedding light on a system that has long fascinated and frustrated even wealthy shoppers.

According to the insider, Hermès does not allow customers to walk in and purchase a Birkin outright; instead, bags are said to be offered at the discretion of sales associates, often to loyal clients with an established purchase history, making the process feel arbitrary and heavily reliant on personal relationships rather than simply having sufficient funds. The article frames Higgins's apparent acquisition as evidence of her rising profile and industry standing, with the wider piece using her story to illustrate the notoriously secretive and random allocation practices that surround the world's most sought-after handbag.