In a groundbreaking auction, the original Birkin bag, an emblem of luxury and style, sold for €8.6 million (£7.4 million; $10.1 million), officially becoming the world’s most valuable handbag ever. Crafted in 1985 for British-French singer and actress Jane Birkin, the bag originated from a chance conversation with Hermès CEO while traveling. After Birkin expressed her desire for a larger handbag, a sketch was made on an airplane's sick bag, marking the genesis of a now-iconic fashion accessory.
The breathtaking sale occurred during a fiercely competitive auction at Sotheby’s in Paris, where enthusiastic bidding from nine determined collectors created an "electrifying" ten-minute contest for ownership of the famous bag. Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s global head of handbags and fashion, emphasized the value of the bag's unique provenance, stating it represents the starting point of an "extraordinary story" which has made the Birkin synonymous with luxury.
Jane Birkin herself, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 76, owned and utilized the bag for a decade before donating it to a charity auction in 1994 to support AIDS research. The bag’s distinctive features include Birkin’s initials, a non-removable shoulder strap, and reminders of her advocacy efforts, such as marks left by stickers for organizations like Médecins du Monde and Unicef.
Since its commercial launch, the Birkin has grown into an exclusive status symbol within fashion circles, often fetching prices that rival the cost of luxury homes. The previous record was held by a rare Kelly bag which had sold for €439,000 (£378,000; $513,000) in 2021.
Buried beneath the glitz of fashion, the Birkin bag carries layers of personal and cultural significance, serving as a testament to the life of its namesake and the heritage of craftsmanship behind Hermès.
