Former staff of the famous French brand Hermes have appeared in court, accused of selling fake bags, including the iconic "Birkin" model.

About 10 people are on trial, seven of them former employees of the luxury company, who are accused of producing dozens of fake bags, which they later sold for thousands of euros.

Investigators followed the network of counterfeiters in detail after raiding the apartment of a man who was selling stolen bags in France to consumers in Asia.

During the investigation, the authorities discovered the existence of a secret atelier where fake luxury brand bags were produced.

Defendants, ranging in age from 30 to 61, are said to have produced dozens of Hermes bags in 2013 and 2014, which were later sold for 23,500 euros and 32,000 euros each, bringing the company's profits to more than 2 million. euro. Among the bags was the most famous model of the brand, Hermes Birkin, a model inspired by the French actress Jane Birkin.

Prosecutors told the judge that three of the defendants had started producing counterfeit bags, two of which were working at Hermes, and a third was involved in importing crocodile skin from Lombardy, where copies were made. The other 5 employees are also on trial for putting the brand's hand-knitted symbol in their bags.

Hermes Birkin is one of the most exclusive handbags, handmade and first introduced in the 1980s. This model is so famous and valuable that there are still long lists of people waiting to buy it. In May 2017, a Birkin model sold in Hong Kong for a record $ 380,000. The trial for the accused is expected to continue until Friday.

Source: The Guardian