Latest news with #J.B.
Mint
11-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Gone in 10 minutes! OG Birkin bag sold for $10 million — Who bought it?
The first ever Birkin bag, the prototype for fashion's must-have accessory, was put up for auction on July 10 and was sold for a staggering 8.6 million euros ($10.1 million), including fees. The iconic handbag from the French luxury label Hermes gold sold at Sotheby's auction as part of the Paris Fashion Icon's sale, becoming the most expensive handbag ever sold at an auction. Now, the original Birkin bag, named after the actor, singer and fashion icon that Hermès created it for — the late Jane Birkin — is in a new league of its own. While Sotheby's didn't identify the buyer of the original Birkin bag, it did say that the Hermes bag went to an unidentified 'private collector' from Japan. As per Sotheby's, the buyer from Japan made the bid over phone. Since the OG Birkin was sold for $10 million dollars, the social media has gone into a detective mode trying to find out who this 'private collector' from Japan is. Some people said that the Japanese buyer of the Birkin bag 'has over 80 pieces - 30 of which are rare or exotic leather'. According to a report by Japan Times, the Birkin bag buyer is Valuence Japan, a luxury goods reseller based out of Tokyo. Valuence Japan, which specialises in the reuse business, is a key subsidiary of Valuence Holdings Inc. Established in 2011, the luxury reseller primarily buys, auctions and sells premium goods, precious metals, watches, bags, jewelry, antiques, art objects, and other valuable items both within Japan and internationally. Paris fashion house Hermès exclusively commissioned the bag for the London-born Birkin in 1984 — branding it with her initials J.B. on the front flap, below the lock — and delivered the finished one-of-a-kind bag to her the following year, Sotheby's said. As the auction for the original Birkin started, tension brewed in the room. The auction room buzzed with anticipation as the sale got underway, with the auctioneer reminding the crowd that the bag was 'totally unique' and 'the most famous bag of all time.' What came after was a 10-minute long intense session of bids, which started at 1 million euros, increasing as quickly as possible. From the starting price, bids rocketed past 2 million euros, then 3 million, 4 million and 5 million, to astonished gasps. When the price jumped from 5.5 million to 6 million euros in one swoop, there were whistles and applause. The final bids were 6.2 million euros, then 6.5 million, then 6.8 million before the Japanese buyer's last winning bid: 7 million euros. The bidding war was between nine collectors, with telephone bidders fighting it out at the end. The buyer from Japan got the ultimate bid, and the Birkin bag was sold for $10 million.
Boston Globe
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Jane Birkin's original Hermès bag sells at auction for 7 million euros
The bidding started at 1 million euros ($1.17 million) and quickly became stratospheric. The Paris fashion house exclusively commissioned the bag for the London-born star in 1984 — branding it with her initials J.B. on the front flap, below the lock — and delivered the finished one-of-a-kind bag to her the following year, the auction house said. The subsequent commercialized version of Birkin's bag went on to become one of the world's most exclusive luxury items, extravagantly priced and with a yearslong waiting list. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up A fashion accessory born of a chance conversation Advertisement The bag was born of a fortuitous encounter on a London-bound flight in the 1980s with the then head of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas. Birkin recounted in subsequent interviews that the pair got talking after she spilled some of her things on the cabin floor. Birkin asked Dumas why Hermès didn't make a bigger handbag and sketched out on an airplane vomit bag the sort of hold-all that she would like. He then had an example made for her and, flattered, she agreed when Hermès asked whether it could commercialize the bag in her name. Advertisement 'There is no doubt that the Original Birkin bag is a true one-of-a-kind — a singular piece of fashion history that has grown into a pop culture phenomenon that signals luxury in the most refined way possible. It is incredible to think that a bag initially designed by Hermès as a practical accessory for Jane Birkin has become the most desirable bag in history," said Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's head of handbags and fashion. The bag became so famous that Birkin once mused before her death in 2023 at age 76 that her obituaries would likely 'say, 'Like the bag' or something.' 'Well, it could be worse,' she added. Seven design features set The Original apart Sotheby's said that seven design elements on the handcrafted all-black leather prototype set it apart from Birkins that followed. It's the only Birkin with a nonremovable shoulder strap — fitting for the busy life and practicality of the singer, actor, social activist and mother who was also known for her romantic relationship with French singer Serge Gainsbourg and their duets that included the steamy 1969 song 'Je t'aime moi non plus' ('I Love You, Me Neither'). Her bag also had a nail clipper attached, because Birkin 'was never one for long painted nails,' Sotheby's said. The bag that Hermès handmade for her, developed off its existing Haut A Courroies model, also has gilded brass hardware, bottom studs and other features that differ from commercial Birkins. Birkin's casual, breezy style in the 1960s and early 1970s — long hair with bangs, jeans paired with white tops, knit minidresses and basket bags — still epitomizes the height of French chic for many women around the world. Advertisement The prototype has twice changed hands When Birkin chatted to Hermès' Dumas on the Paris-to-London flight about what her ideal handbag would be, she'd been in the habit of carrying her things around in a wicker basket, because she felt handbags in the 1980s were too small, Sotheby's said. She was traveling with her young daughter, Charlotte, and complained that she couldn't find a bag suitable for her needs as a mother, Hermès says. Hermès later gifted her four other Birkin bags. She kept the prototype for nearly a decade, before auctioning it for an AIDS charity in 1994. It was auctioned again in 2000 and has since been in private hands, Sotheby's said. 'More than just a bag, the Birkin has evolved from a practical accessory to become a timeless cultural icon,' the auction house said. 'Its presence spans the worlds of music, film, television and the arts,' it added. 'It is a red-carpet staple, a fashion magazine mainstay, and a coveted piece in the wardrobes of celebrities, artists and stylists.' John Leicester reported from Le Pecq.
![First ever Birkin bag to be auctioned in July [PICS]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.citizen.co.za%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F06%2Fbirkin-prices.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![First ever Birkin bag to be auctioned in July [PICS]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.citizen.co.za%2Fassets%2Fimg%2Fcitizen-icon.png&w=48&q=75){kind=icon}
The Citizen
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
First ever Birkin bag to be auctioned in July [PICS]
The birth of the Birkin bag has become a modern fashion legend. The prototype Birkin will be exhibited at Sotheby's in New York. Picture: iStock The first Birkin bag, designed by French luxury brand Hermès for actress Jane Birkin in 1984, will be auctioned in Paris on 10 July 2025, Sotheby's announced on Thursday. The large black leather tote, whose design went on to become one of the most famous and expensive bags in the world, will be the centrepiece of the 'Fashion Icons' sale, the auction house said. This 'historic, handcrafted prototype', engraved with the initials J.B., has several unique features, including closed metal rings, a non-detachable shoulder strap and a built-in nail clipper. The original Birkin crafted for Jane Birkin in 1985. Picture: ETX/Sotheby's© The birth of the Birkin bag has become a modern fashion legend. During a Paris–London flight, the Anglo-French singer and actress, who died in 2023, complained to a fellow traveller about not being able to find a bag suited to her needs as a young mother. That fellow passenger happened to be Jean-Louis Dumas, then head of Hermes. The result of their conversation was a spacious tote with room for baby bottles, created in 1984 and named the Birkin. ALSO READ: SA-born artist Marlene Dumas breaks global record with over R245 million painting sale [PICS] The bags are not displayed in shops and cannot be ordered online 40 years later, the leather handbag has become the flagship product of the luxury French leather goods maker. Produced in very limited numbers, it maintains an aura of exclusivity, with prices ranging from several thousand euros for the simplest models to several hundred thousand euros for the most luxurious. Beloved by celebrities including Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham, the bags are not displayed in shops and cannot be ordered online. The prototype Birkin was exhibited at Sotheby's in New York from 6 to 12 June, ahead of the sale in the French capital. In addition to the Birkin bag, the Sotheby's sale will feature iconic runway pieces from designers including Christian Dior, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler and Alexander McQueen. Bidding will open online on 26 June and close on 10 July. NOW READ: 17-year-old Pearl Mathebula wins Miss Teen International in Peru
France 24
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
First ever Birkin bag to be auctioned in July
The large black leather tote, whose design went on to become one of the most famous and expensive bags in the world, will be the centrepiece of the "Fashion Icons" sale, the auction house said. This "historic, handcrafted prototype", engraved with the initials J.B., has several unique features, Sotheby's said, including closed metal rings, non-detachable shoulder strap and a built-in nail clipper. The birth of the Birkin bag has become a modern fashion legend. During a Paris–London flight, the Anglo-French singer and actress -- who died in 2023 -- complained to a fellow traveller about not being able to find a bag suited to her needs as a young mother. That fellow passenger happened to be Jean-Louis Dumas, then head of Hermes. The result of their conversation was a spacious tote with room for baby bottles, created in 1984 and named the Birkin. Forty years later, the leather handbag has become the flagship product of the luxury French leather goods maker. Produced in very limited numbers, it maintains an aura of exclusivity, with prices ranging from several thousand euros for the simplest models to several hundred thousand for the most luxurious. Beloved by celebrities including Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham, the bags are not displayed in shops and cannot be ordered online. The prototype Birkin will be exhibited at Sotheby's in New York from June 6 to 12 before being put on show in the French capital before the sale. In addition to the Birkin bag, the Sotheby's sale will feature iconic runway pieces from designers including Christian Dior, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler and Alexander McQueen. Bidding will open online on June 26 and close on July 10.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Woman diagnosed with cancer has her womb and ovaries removed... then came even an more devastating discovery
J.B. felt like she 'died' on the spot when doctors told her she had cancer. At the request of her husband, the then 50-year-old had gone to doctors in her home state of Idaho with heavy menstrual bleeding - assuming it was caused by stress from the death of her brother. Your browser does not support iframes.
