Michael Tonello
Michael Tonello (born July 19, ?) is an author best known for being an expert on Birkin bags, a luxury brand of tote bag.
Tonello was a reseller of luxury goods, finding his niche buying Hermès items at retail and reselling them on eBay.[1]
In 2008 William Morrow/HarperCollins published his memoir called Bringing Home the Birkin; My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World’s Most Coveted Handbag.[2][1][3][4] The book details his adventures as an eBay entrepreneur who travels all over the world, going to Hermès stores to procure "same day" Birkins for wealthy and famous clients who do not want to wait for the item.[1] The book, now published in Italian, Korean, Chinese, Thai, Mandarin, Japanese, Portuguese, Polish, and Turkish, reached #3 on the Boston Globe Bestseller List (Non-Fiction).
In 2016 Tonello co-founded the luxury brand Respoke.[5]
References
- Muther, Christopher (17 April 2008). "Bag man: Brockton's Tonello reveals how to score the prized Birkins (book review)". Boston Globe. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- Muhlke, Christine (18 May 2008). "Bag Man (book review)". New York Times. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- Friede, Eve (9 September 2008). "Meet the Birkin bagman; $34,000 for a croc bag. Michael Tonello figured out how to jump the queue at Herms (book review)". Montreal Gazette. ProQuest 434700177.
- Mitic, Anna (9 July 2008). "Handbag full of secrets (book review)". Herald Sun. ProQuest 361117064.
- Corsano, Erica (6 July 2017). "Step into vintage luxury with Respoke espadrilles". Boston Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2019.