WILDLY FAMOUS INSTAGRAM RETAILER PRIVÉ PORTER OPENS ITS FIRST-EVER STORE AT BRICKELL CITY CENTRE.

There are few things in this world more iconic than the Birkin bag, Hermès’ coveted shape born in the sky in 1984. On a flight, British actress Jane Birkin was complaining of not finding a bag suitable for her needs as a young and stylish mother, and the rest is history. Since its 2008 establishment in Palm Beach, Privé Porter (@priveporter) blossomed into one of the largest sources for brand-new Hermès collectible handbags and accessories. A platform that formerly existed solely on Instagram, Privé Porter launched its inaugural brick-and-mortar at the luxe Brickell City Centre in the heart of Miami this past November—transforming the social media-geared resale concept into a real-world shopping experience.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WORLD RED EYE

Located on City Centre’s ground floor with neighboring European designers Kiton and Chopard, Privé Porter’s 1,250-square-foot pop-up has found its home in Brickell and audience in Miami’s climate of high-end buyers, according to David Martin, vice president of retail at Swire Properties. Resale is “an increasingly important part of the luxury ecosystem [that’s] desirable to discerning shoppers [looking to] dip their toes into the ultraluxury side of fashion,” says Martin. “With the demise of traditional retail anchors, shopping centers are looking to new, innovative brands such as Privé Porter to further attract affluent customers,” adds Jeffrey Berk, managing director of Privé Porter.

The Brickell storefront houses Hermès bags galore—all authentic resales of the prestigious Parisian brand, Privé Porter’s flagship product—ranging from $15,000 to $250,000. Current inventory, handled only by dedicated staff, features the coveted Birkin and Kelly models in all four sizes and a fine selection of rare leather shades—including new 2020 colorways like Vert Criquet (light green), Sellier Rainbow (colorblock) and Bleu Brume (baby blue).

At Privé Porter’s first-ever retail store, explore the most current and sought-after collection of Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags that you can imagine. PHOTO COURTESY OF WORLD RED EYE

Architecturally, the space is a work of art itself, with a kaleidoscopic display of bags adorning a bright, pumpkin-hued wall via floating geometric shelves. The store also boasts Italian furnishings, chic Enno furniture and a valet service as glamorous as its clientele—Privé Porter-branded Bentleys pull up to the secured entrance, equipped with just two or three groups of shoppers at a time to maximize social distancing.

Collectors and fashionistas from over 50 countries turn to Privé Porter for hard-to-find styles of the utmost quality. The enterprise is composed of a passionate community of collectors who purchase limited-edition and signature items (touted by trendsetters like Kris Jenner, Cardi B and Paris Hilton) directly from the French factory with the intent to buy, sell, swap and trade with fellow luxury fanatics.

Berk notes that Privé Porter is “not an environment for anyone who isn’t a serious buyer” or “highly invested” in Hermès. All manufactured goods resold via Privé Porter’s digital and physical outlets are preowned yet unused and feel brand new—hence the whopping price tags.

“The main reason Brickell [gave] us the space is [because] they saw that we have a high-spending and very passionate customer base,” Berk says.

Privé Porter is bound to become City Centre’s latest must-see, and Berk expects the firm’s vendors to branch out nationwide as the secondhand fashion industry makes its mark in the Miami community and beyond.