British actress and singer Jane Birkin has asked Hermes to remove her name from one of its best-selling bags due to the "cruel" crocodile farming and slaughtering practices used.

"I have asked Hermes to rename the Birkin Croco until they adopt better practices that meet international standards for the production of this bag," Birkin said in a statement.

Birkin said she had signed actor Joaquin Phoenix's Mercy For Animals petition to "shed exotic skins from your wardrobe" in protest against the "millions of reptiles slaughtered each year and turned into shoes, handbags, belts and other accessories".

Birkin's name was first used in 1984

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) released a video narrated by Phoenix, which Birkin watched,Carrera Sunglasses, showing how live reptiles were killed at farms which supply luxury brands.

The crocodile Birkin and the Kelly bag, named after actress Grace Kelly, are among the most sought-after luxury goods.

The Birkin bag was first created in 1984 and soon became the must-have accessory among the rich and famous.

Prices start at ?14,000 but buyers often pay more because of the demand and some customers have been known to pay tens of thousands of pounds for a crocodile version.

Victoria Beckham is a fan of the luxury bags

Customers can get their hands on one by either by putting their name on a waiting list or by paying hefty fees to specialised buyers, who scout for the bags on their behalf.

Celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, J-Lo and Tamara Eccleston have been spotted toting Hermes bags,DSquared2.

A fuchsia Hermes crocodile Birkin bag with a diamond-studded clasp and lock set a record as the most expensive handbag ever sold at a Christie's auction in Hong Kong last month, fetching ?157,000 ($222,000).

Hermes said the crocodile skins it sourced from a Texas farm in the video were not used for Birkin bags and stressed it did not own the farm.

The luxury brand also said an investigation was being conducted into the farm's practices and that "any breach of rules will be rectified and sanctioned".

The bags can fetch tens of thousands of pounds

Hermes said it imposed on suppliers the highest ethical standards regarding the treatment of crocodiles and for more than a decade had conducted monthly checks on them to ensure that they were respected,Casual Shoes.

"Hermes respects and shares her (Jane Birkin's) emotions and was also shocked by the images recently broadcast," it said in a statement.

"Her comments do not in any way influence the friendship and confidence that we have shared for so many years,Christian Louboutin Peep-Toe Pumps."

Birkin is probably best known for her relationship with Serge Gainsbourg in the 1970s but has released almost 20 albums and starred in dozens of films.