The original Birkin bag, a legendary fashion accessory that has become synonymous with luxury, has set a new benchmark by selling for €8.6 million (£7.4 million; $10.1 million) at auction. This remarkable sale, which took place at Sotheby's in Paris, makes the Birkin bag the most valuable handbag ever auctioned.
The bag was created in 1985 for Jane Birkin after a chance encounter on a flight with Jean-Louis Dumas, then CEO of Hermès. Following a conversation where Birkin lamented the lack of spacious bags, Dumas sketched out the design on a sick bag, leading to the birth of an iconic accessory. The auction surpassed the previous highest sale price of €439,000 (£378,000; $513,000).
An energetic 10-minute bidding war ensued, involving nine dedicated collectors, according to Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion, Morgane Halimi. She emphasized that this sale was a testament to the allure of rare items with significant history. Halimi stated, "The Birkin prototype is exactly that, the starting point of an extraordinary story that has given us a modern icon."
The total sale price, including commissions and fees, amounted to €8,582,500. Jane Birkin, who passed away in 2023 at 76, used the original bag for ten years and donated it for charity purposes in 1994, solidifying its value in the fashion world. The bag, adorned with Birkin’s initials and distinctive characteristics, remains a status symbol coveted by celebrities like Kate Moss and Jennifer Lopez.
Luxury handbags continue to capture the imagination and wallets of collectors, with the market growing increasingly competitive and exclusive.
