Moneybags x MB: Privé Porter's One-of-One Custom Hermès
By the Privé Porter Editorial Team · Hermès specialists since 2012
Moneybags x MB (MXMB) is Privé Porter's custom service that turns a genuine Hermès Birkin or Kelly into a one-of-one art piece, from initials and team crests to full Swarovski crystal coverage. Each bag is designed at the owner's direction. MXMB is not affiliated with Hermès International. Commissions start with a Privé Porter specialist.
A Birkin is already one of the most recognizable objects in fashion. Moneybags x MB exists for the collector who wants theirs to be unmistakable: a bag that could only belong to one person. This guide covers what MXMB is, how a commission works, the named designs, and the pieces that made headlines.
What is Moneybags x MB?
Moneybags x MB, often shortened to MXMB, is the custom arm of Privé Porter, the Miami-based Hermès specialist founded in 2012 by Michelle Berk. The MXMB page describes the service as "exclusive one off custom handbags" and frames the work as converting a client's handbag into an art piece.
Three principles define it:
- Genuine Hermès only. Every MXMB piece starts with an authentic Hermès bag, usually a Birkin or Kelly, vetted by Privé Porter like every bag we sell.
- One of one. Each piece is made for a single client, so no two are alike.
- The owner's direction. In the page's words, each customized bag is "destined for personal and private use by the owner, done at the direction of the owner."
And one clarification we always make: Moneybags x MB is not affiliated with, associated with or working in conjunction with Hermès International. The bags are genuine Hermès; the customization is ours, completed after purchase.
Who is behind Moneybags x MB?
The "MB" is Michelle Berk, founder of Privé Porter. PurseBlog reported that right after Paris Hilton's bag was made, Keyshia Ka'oir commissioned one of her own. As reported by Elite Daily in 2021, Moneybags x MB is the Privé Porter arm that creates these jewel-studded custom pieces, and Berk said most of her customized bags are now her own designs.
Forbes has profiled her separately in "Privé Porter Founder Michelle Berk Is Making Money Moves," which describes her as a style guru and notes her appearance on the cover of Forbes France.
How is a Moneybags x MB custom Hermès Birkin made?
Every commission is different, but the stages follow a pattern. Elite Daily described the process behind one piece as sketching, painting the chosen design onto the bag and then embellishing it, over roughly six weeks, and quoted Berk saying the detailing takes her craftswomen 30 to 60 hours.
- Choose the bag. Start with a Birkin or Kelly you already own, or let us source one: the size, color and leather shape the final design. A pale or neutral ground reads very differently from black under crystals.
- Brief and storyboard. Initials, a city, a team crest, a color story, or full coverage. We sketch and refine until the design is right.
- Hand-set the crystals. Swarovski crystals are placed by hand, often in several sizes, to follow the bag's lines.
- Final inspection and delivery. The finished piece is checked, photographed and delivered to its owner.
Because the starting point is a real Hermès bag, the choice of base matters. Collectors often begin with a classic such as the Hermès 25cm Birkin in Black Togo with gold hardware or a softer color like the 25cm Birkin in Rose Tyrien Ostrich; a specialist can advise which leathers suit which design.
What are the Moneybags x MB designs?
The MXMB page lists a growing set of named designs. Each is executed on the client's own genuine Hermès bag, so no two finished pieces are identical.
| Design | |
|---|---|
| The Bubblegum |  |
| The Dollar Dollar |  |
| The Crystal Camo |  |
| The Back Off Spike |  |
| The Pink Crystal |  |
| The Black Crystal |  |
| The Galaxy |  |
| The Union Jack |  |
| The Rainbow Chevron |  |
| The Red Lips (coming soon) |  |
Beyond the named designs, MXMB takes fully bespoke briefs: initials, sports-team logos, personal motifs and full crystal coverage. As reported by Elite Daily, one of Berk's own designs, inspired by the cabana stripes and palm leaves of the Beverly Hills Hotel, sold for $95,000 within three hours of being posted to Instagram.
Which famous bags were made by Privé Porter's custom studio?
Several Privé Porter custom pieces have been covered by major outlets. We describe them as the press did; none of these is presented as an endorsement.
Paris Hilton's crystal Rose Tyrien Birkin
As reported by People in February 2018, Paris Hilton debuted a crystal-covered Hermès Birkin worth about $65,000, customized by Privé Porter, with a representative saying it took 60 hours to hand-place every crystal. PurseBlog later reported the bag was in Rose Tyrien and carried more than 30,000 Swarovski crystals in five sizes. Page Six and Elle covered Hilton calling it her biggest splurge in a closet tour.
Elite Daily added the backstory: Berk created the piece from a badly damaged 35cm Rose Tyrien Birkin that had been deemed unsalvageable and had sat in a closet for more than two years.
Kulture's rainbow Birkin
As reported by Complex in August 2021, citing Page Six, Cardi B gave her daughter Kulture a rainbow Birkin customized by Privé Porter, reportedly worth $48,000 including customization, with about 30,000 crystals. Elite Daily described a rainbow arch with clouds at each end. The story was also covered by Vanity Fair and Page Six.
The Olympique de Marseille Birkin
The most recent MXMB piece to travel widely: a white Birkin set with blue and silver Swarovski crystals bearing the Olympique de Marseille crest and the club motto "Droit au but." It was carried by Monica Algarra, wife of OM owner Frank McCourt, at OM vs PSG at the Stade Vélodrome. We covered it in The Swarovski-Covered Hermès That Made Headlines, and it fits a wider trend we explored in why the Hermès HAC has become the real power bag in football culture.
What should a Moneybags x MB brief include?
The best commissions start with a clear brief. Tell your specialist who the bag is for and when it will be carried: a match day, a birthday, a wedding or every day. Share the colors, symbols, initials or references that matter to you, and any photographs that capture the mood. Say whether you want a subtle accent or full coverage, and whether the bag will be a base you already own or one we source. From there, we storyboard the design and refine it with you before a single crystal is set.
Is a customized Birkin still a Hermès?
The bag itself is genuine Hermès, made by Hermès and authenticated by Privé Porter before any work begins. The customization is not Hermès work, and Hermès International has no involvement in MXMB. A customized bag is a personal art piece: we advise clients to treat it as something to wear and enjoy rather than as a like-for-like substitute for an unaltered Birkin when it comes to resale. Past performance of any bag does not guarantee future value.
Why commission Moneybags x MB through Privé Porter?
Because the base bag matters as much as the crystals. We have specialized in Hermès since 2012 and, by our own count, have sourced and sold more than $300 million in new Hermès handbags to clients in more than 50 countries. Every bag we customize is authenticated by our authentication team under our zero-tolerance counterfeit policy, and our written authenticity guarantee covers the original purchaser for as long as they own the bag. You can supply your own Hermès bag or have us source the perfect base from our collection. Read our full company story or browse the celebrity press archive.
For collectors who prefer Hermès' own experiments with sparkle, our guide to diamond hardware on the Birkin and Kelly is a good companion read.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Moneybags x MB?
Moneybags x MB (MXMB) is Privé Porter's custom service that turns genuine Hermès bags into one-of-one art pieces with Swarovski crystals, initials, team logos or full crystal coverage. It is not affiliated with Hermès International.
Who customized Paris Hilton's crystal Birkin?
As reported by People and PurseBlog, Paris Hilton's crystal-covered Rose Tyrien Birkin was customized by Privé Porter. People reported it took about 60 hours to hand-place the crystals.
Who made Kulture's rainbow Birkin?
As reported by Complex, citing Page Six, the rainbow Birkin Cardi B gave Kulture in 2021 was customized by Privé Porter. Coverage put its value at about $48,000 including customization.
How long does a custom crystal Birkin take?
It depends on the design. Elite Daily reported that detailing typically takes Michelle Berk's craftswomen 30 to 60 hours, after sketching and design, and complex pieces can take longer.
Can I customize a Hermès bag I already own?
Yes. Moneybags x MB works on genuine Hermès bags at the owner's direction, and Privé Porter authenticates the bag before work begins. You can also have Privé Porter source the base bag.
Is Moneybags x MB affiliated with Hermès?
No. Moneybags x MB is not affiliated with, associated with or in conjunction with Hermès International. The bags are genuine Hermès, customized after purchase.
Ready to design a one-of-one piece? Explore Moneybags x MB, choose a base bag from our collection, or speak with a specialist on WhatsApp at +1 (305) 432-1285.