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Extra.ie
4 days ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
What do you get the woman who has everything? A ratty-tatty EIGHT MILLION EURO Birkin bag of course
It's a question that has bamboozled men for centuries. What do you get the woman in your life who has everything? But even the world's richest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, seems to have been defeated in getting his new-wife Lauren Sanchez her heart's desire – as he was reportedly outbid on acquiring the original Birkin bag which was sold at auction this week. Designed in 1984 for actress Jane Birkin, the original Hermes Birkin Bag, sold in Paris on Friday for a record €8.6 million, making it officially the most expensive handbag ever sold. The original Birkin bag has sold at auction. Pic:The sale happened during Sotheby's Fashion Icons auction, with the iconic auction house dubbing the arm candy the 'Mona Lisa' of handbags. The coveted luxury item was being eyed by none other than the newly married Lauren Sánchez Bezos, and Kris Jenner, the minted matriarch of the Kardashian dynasty, who herself has a dedicated Hermes closet reputed to be worth half-a-million dollars. Mrs Jenner was believed to be phone bidding for the holy grail of handbags. But, alas, despite being two of the richest women on the planet, Sanchez and Jenner were outbid in the 'battle of the bags'. The bag was sold for millions at auction for €7million — but the winner had to pay a further €1.6million in taxes. Pic:According to the Instagram account @stylenotcom, the bag went to an enthusiastic Japanese collector who emerged winner after a 13-minute battle of the bag. While it sold for €7 million, the buyer had to pay no less than the final price of the black Birkin which totted up to a whopping $10 million, including taxes. What makes Jane Birkin's very own handbag so special is that Hermès built a one-off in black Box calf, branded 'J.B.' under the lock. The bag sold for the insane amount earlier this week. Pic:Jane Birkin was the epitome of Parisian chic, and in her time she was regarded as one of the most stylish women of all time. Birkin's look of 'French girl chic'– white shirts, boyfriend jeans and ballet pumps – is as influential now as it ever was. And as for her original Birkin, it was as stylsih as Jane herself and she used her Birkin in a rather carefree fashion, often festooning her bag with stickers and other funky accessories.
Tokyo Weekender
5 days ago
- Business
- Tokyo Weekender
Japanese Company Buys Original Birkin Bag for ¥1.47 Billion
The original black leather Birkin bag, owned and loved by Hermès muse Jane Birkin, has sold for ¥1.47 billion (€8.58 million) to Valuence Japan, the company behind luxury buyer Allu. The historic acquisition took place at a Sotheby's Fashion Icons auction in Paris on July 10, setting a new world record for the most valuable handbag ever sold. Sotheby's opened bidding for the Birkin prototype at €1 million, and a fierce battle ensued between nine collectors. Valuence Japan participated via telephone through Maiko Ichikawa, Head of Sotheby's Japan, and won the item after the 10-minute bidding war. 'The spectacular sale of the Original Hermès Birkin today at Sotheby's Paris marks an important milestone in the history of fashion and the luxury industry more widely,' stated Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion. 'It is a startling demonstration of the power of a legend, and its capacity to ignite the passion and desire of collectors seeking exceptional items with unique provenance.' List of Contents: A Legendary Fashion Accessory Reemerges Who Bought the Original Birkin Bag? Related Posts A Legendary Fashion Accessory Reemerges The much-anticipated auction marks the original Birkin's first market appearance in 25 years. The handbag has been sold twice, initially in 1994 when Jane Birkin donated it to an auction benefiting the French AIDS charity Association Solidarité Sida, and again at auction at Poulain Le Fur in May 2000. Private collector Catherine B., who kept the Birkin for over two decades, told Sotheby's that the sale 'made me relive my own bidding battle … and how raw and indescribable the feeling of winning over this wonderful bag was.' The mystical Birkin had not been seen by the public until autumn of last year, when it was exhibited at Sotheby's Paris Galleries. A series of viewings this year at the Sotheby's Maison in Hong Kong, New York and Paris again attracted thousands of visitors, generating global interest for yesterday's auction. Jane Birkin with her stickered Hermès bag in London, 1996 | Image: Mike Daines/Shutterstock Originally designed by Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas after a chance encounter with British-French actress and singer Jane Birkin in 1981, the Birkin bag is one of the most famous accessories in fashion history. The story goes that Jane Birkin — who was sitting next to Dumas on a flight — spilled the contents of her wicker basket bag onto his lap, inspiring the then-artistic director to conceptualize a practical handbag large enough to hold her essentials. The Birkin, intended to fuse the bohemian-chic actress' effortless elegance with durability and functionality, has evolved into a highly-coveted status symbol around the world. Over the past decade, the handbag has also been at the center of much cultural discourse around overconsumption, wealth disparity and declining individuality, in ironic contrast to its original role as a canvas for Jane Birkin's self expression. Her well-worn purse was famously decorated with jewelry fragments, scarves and charms. The original Birkin still bears the traces of Jane Birkin's personalizations, including her initials 'J.B.' and her nail clipper, hanging from the bag's strap. The prototype is crafted in Hermès Black Box leather with gilded brass hardware, and features a unique construction, blending the Birkin 35's width and height with the Birkin 40's depth. It includes details not found on modern models like closed metal rings, an Eclair zipper, a non-removable strap and small bottom studs. So… Who Bought the Original Birkin Bag? The buyer who acquired the original Birkin is Tokyo-based company Valuence Japan, which operates several luxury fashion businesses, including big-name buyers Allu and Nanboya. Valuence Japan has emphasized that the acquisition is not for resale purposes. Instead, the company views it as a valuable addition to society — a piece of cultural heritage that will be made accessible to a broad audience. Shinsuke Sakimoto, CEO of Valuence Japan, shared his thoughts on the acquisition. 'Ms. Jane Birkin's embodiment of freedom and originality deeply resonates with our group's philosophy,' he told Fashionsnap. 'We hope the bag can be a symbol of empowerment, diversity and confidence.' Related Posts How a ¥15 Japanese Snack Became a ¥100,000 Art Sensation in Tokyo Where To Shop for Vintage Designer Bags in Tokyo That's Punk: Vivienne Westwood and Japan How Japanese Construction Uniforms Went High Fashion
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch live: Jane Birkin's original Hermès handbag goes up for auction at Sotheby's
Watch live as the original Hermès Birkin bag, designed for singer Jane Birkin, is auctioned at Sotheby's Paris "Fashion Icons" sale during Haute Couture Week on Thursday, 10 July. Now one of the most coveted designer items of recent decades, the Birkin's origins stem from a flight from Paris to London. While travelling, the British actor, who was sitting next to the French luxury fashion house's executive chairman Jean-Louis Dumas, complained that she couldn't find a bag suitable for her needs as a young mother. Dumas sketched a rectangular holdall with a burnished flap and saddle stitching with a dedicated space for her baby's bottles. He then had an example made for her, and Birkin agreed when Hermès asked whether the brand could commercialise the bag in her name. The auction house said that the all-black leather prototype of the "legendary handbag" was handcrafted for Birkin. The commercialised version is now one of the world's most exclusive bags, with an extravagant price tag and years-long waiting list. It is expected to fetch hundreds of thousands of euros at the sale.
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Jane Birkin's original Hermes bag is up for auction in Paris
Published Jul 10, 2025 • 1 minute read This combination of pictures created on July 9, 2025 shows the "Birkin" bag by Hermes which belonged to British-French actress and singer Jane Birkin at the Sotheby's auction house in Paris on July 2, 2025 and which will be auctioned by Sotheby's as part of the Fashion Icons auction sale. Photo by ALAIN JOCARD and JACQUES DEMARTHON / AFP via Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. PARIS — Sketched out on an airplane vomit sack, it became fashion's must-have accessory. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The original Birkin bag, named after the actor, singer and fashion icon that Hermes created it for — the late Jane Birkin — is up for auction in Paris on Thursday. The so-called Original Birkin is expected to fetch hundreds of thousands of euros (dollars) at the sale by auction house Sotheby's. Created for the London-born star by the Paris fashion house in 1984, the commercialized version of Birkin's bag went on to become one of the world's most exclusive luxury items, with its extravagant price tag and years-long waiting list. The fashion accessory was born of a fortuitous encounter on a London-bound flight in the 1980s with the then head of Hermes, Jean-Louis Dumas. Birkin recounted in subsequent interviews that the pair got talking after she spilled some of her things on the cabin floor. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Birkin asked Dumas why Hermes didn't make a bigger handbag and sketched out on an airplane vomit sack the sort of bag that she would like. He then had an example made for her and, flattered, she agreed when Hermes asked whether it could commercialize the bag in her name. The bag became so famous that Birkin once mused before her death in 2023 at age 76 that obituaries for her would likely 'say, 'Like the bag' or something,'' adding: 'Well, it could be worse.' Sotheby's said that the all-black leather prototype was handcrafted for Birkin. It described it as a 'legendary handbag' and 'one of the most iconic fashion items ever created.' The bag has seven unique design elements that set it apart from every Birkin that followed, the auction house said. 'More than just a bag, the Birkin has evolved from a practical accessory to become a timeless cultural icon. Its presence spans the worlds of music, film, television and the arts; it is a red-carpet staple, a fashion magazine mainstay, and a coveted piece in the wardrobes of celebrities, artists and stylists,' it said. Toronto Blue Jays NHL Olympics Uncategorized Toronto & GTA
Miami Herald
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
How an airplane vomit bag led to the iconic Hermès Birkin
The Hermès Birkin bag is one of the most coveted fashion items on the planet. It's a global status symbol, regularly spotted on the arms of A-list celebrities and elite collectors. Some wait years for the chance to buy one at retail. Others shell out six figures on the resale market just to skip the line. But for all its luxury mystique, the Birkin's origin story is anything but glamorous. Back in 1981, actress and singer Jane Birkin found herself seated next to then-Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight from Paris to London. After Jane's famous wicker basket spilled its contents into Dumas's lap, the two struck up a conversation. Related: Chanel acts on climate: tackling fashion's growing waste problem Birkin (who was traveling with her daughter) mentioned her frustration with not being able to find a chic but functional handbag that suited her needs. When Dumas asked her to sketch what she envisioned, she grabbed the nearest paper - an airplane vomit bag. She did. That impromptu sketch became the blueprint for the first-ever Birkin bag. Now, that very original bag-dubbed "The Original Birkin"-is heading to auction at Sotheby's. And while plenty of Birkins have crossed the auction block, this one is unlike any will auction "The Original Birkin" on July 10 as the headliner of its "Fashion Icons" sale. Crafted about 40 years ago, the all-black leather bag features several design elements that set it apart from later models-from its metal rings and brass hardware to its shoulder strap and unique zip. It also carries Birkin's personal initials ("J.B") and even a pair of nail clippers hanging from the strap-a quirky nod to the bag's working origins. Related: The Birkin and LL Bean mashup you didn't know you needed Interest is already sky-high. Thousands have lined up to view the bag at Sotheby's exhibitions in Paris, Hong Kong, and now New York. "There are rare moments in fashion when an object transcends trends and becomes a legend," said Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion. Sotheby's hasn't released a sale estimate, but this auction could easily test the upper limits of luxury handbag pricing-and push Hermès even deeper into cultural lore. The Birkin bag has long fueled Hermès' status as a luxury powerhouse. It's both an iconic product and a brilliant business strategy. Tightly controlled supply, long waitlists, and VIP-only access have created unmatched demand. On the secondary market, Birkins often resell for well over retail, reinforcing their status as investment pieces. Now, the sale of "The Original Birkin" could spark a fresh wave of Birkin fever-and further elevate Hermès' pricing power. If this auction breaks records, expect ripple effects: surging resale prices, more aggressive marketing from Hermès, and renewed competition among luxury rivals trying to manufacture their own "iconic" status items. The timing couldn't be better for Hermès. As global demand for ultra-luxury goods continues to surge, the brand stands to benefit from renewed attention on the Birkin's legacy. Not bad for a bag that began life on an airplane vomit bag. Related: Forget the Birkin bag, Hermès unveils something unexpected The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
