But Beyoncé Never Said That: The Telfar/Birkin Debate And What No One Is Talking About But Should Be

‘Uninhibited and playful’ … Beyoncé. Photograph: Mason Poole

This has to be the silliest, dizziest discussion about Beyoncé’s latest album, Renaissance. But it reveals SO much. So let’s talk about it…

In her song, Summer Renaissance, she says "This Telfar bag imported/ Birkins, them s**** in storage." 

Please note how she didn’t say Birkins were "out", as in "out of style" like many folks across the internet are alleging. She simply said that her bags were in storage.

Yet, many social media personalities, many of whom have built their platform on luxury brands and items, came out to disparage the song and Beyoncé. 

But listening comprehension is a thing and what is very evident is that a lot of them didn’t bother to actually listen to what she said, they could have saved themselves embarrassment on the internet.

That's the silly part. Let's get to the serious part.

The nuance folks are missing is less about the bags and their subliminal task as status symbols because, well let's tell the truth, Beyoncé doesn’t need status symbols. She has, whether folks like it or not, achieved the kind of success many of us can only dream of. Her existence and excellence ARE the status symbols. I believe that her point could be, on this very Black and heavily Queer-influenced album, to highlight heroes of the Black LGBTQIA+ community, of which Telfar Clemons, creator of the brand Telfar, is. Think about it: with the likes of Black Queer icons such as Big Freeda, Grace Jones, Moi Renee, to style makers like Honey Dijon, Syd, TS Madison, to her own beloved Uncle Johnny, Beyoncé's Renaissance is a love letter to Black LGBTQIA+. Tossing aside the exclusive brands that she has more than access to in order to carry Telfar is just another very on-brand way to show her support as well.

I also want to point out what not too many folks are discussing, but should be: Beyoncé, whether intentionally or not, juxtaposes Hermés, an ultra-exclusive brand that makes folks like me raise eyebrows (remember, Hermés is the same brand where Oprah THEE Winfrey was told she couldn’t afford anything in their store) to Telfar, a purposefully inclusive, accessible, and unapologetically Black & Queer owned brand. It could be her way of forgoing the luxury and exclusivity her position and cultural capital affords her to align herself with a brand of "the people". 

Or she could simply have her Birkins in storage and be momentarily enjoying carrying her Telfar. That's her business and her prerogative.

What do you think about the Beyoncé Birkin/Telfar debate?