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Perth Now
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Jane Birkin's original Hermes bag breaks sale record
Jane Birkin's original Hermes bag has been sold for a staggering $10.1 million. The fashion house designed the Birkin accessory for the late singer-and-actress and it went under the hammer in France this week as part of Sotheby's Paris Fashion Icons sale. An unidentified Japanese bidder won the auction after a competitive "battle" between nine collectors, who participated in person, online and over the phone, with the sale opening at $1.7 million. The sale broke multiple records and is now the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction, taking over from a Hermès' White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Retourne Kelly 28, which sold at $513,040 in 2021. Jane's Birkin bag has also now become the second most valuable fashion item ever sold, with Judy Garland's ruby slippers from 1939's The Wizard of Oz retaining the top spot it clinched in December 2024 when they sold for $32.5 million. Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion Morgane Halimi said in a statement: '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. 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, to own its origin." Hermes' Birkin bag dates back to 1981 when the fashion house's artistic director, Jean-Louis Dumas, saw the actress needed a fashionable but large bag when her belongings fell out of her wicker basket on board a flight. In 1985, Jane was asked if they could name the accessory in her honour. Her original bag features a non-removable shoulder strap, closed metal rings, smaller studs, a build measuring somewhere between a Birkin 35 and Birkin 40, and gilded brass hardware. It also included a chain with a nail clipper at the end and had Jane's initials engraved on the front flap. In 1994, Jane - who died in 2023 aged 76 - donated her original prototype to an auction in aid of French AIDS charity Association Solidarité Sida. Sotheby's noted: "The bag was sold again at auction at Poulain Le Fur in May 2000 and has remained in private hands ever since." Throughout her life, Jane received four additional Hermes bags, but always remained loyal to her original.
Straits Times
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
‘Object of a lifetime': The first original Birkin bag from 1984 to be auctioned in July
'Object of a lifetime': The first original Birkin bag from 1984 to be auctioned in July NEW YORK – It is nearly impossible to walk inside an Hermes store and come home with a new Birkin bag. But if you wanted to get your hands on the original Birkin bag – the prototype made for British-French actress-singer Jane Birkin – it is going up for auction. It will be sold as part of a Paris Fashion Icons sale, which Sotheby's is holding on July 10. Prior to that, it will be on view at Sotheby's Galleries in Paris from July 3 to 9. There is no public estimate for how much the bag might fetch. 'At this stage, we will communicate it privately to potential bidders,' said Ms Morgane Halimi, global head of handbags and fashion for Sotheby's. 'Obviously, it is a one-of-a-kind piece, completely apart from any other handbag or any other Birkin. We are breaking records with Birkin bags on a regular basis at auction. We foresee it to be as unique as the Diana jumper or a worn jersey from the NBA. It has value because of what it is and what has happened because of that bag.' The story behind the bag has become something of a fashion legend. PHOTO: EPA-EFE This is the original bag made in 1984 for Jane Birkin, the late icon of French cinema. The story behind the bag has become something of a fashion legend. She was on an Air France flight to London from Paris and had been upgraded to first class. The basket bag she carried, her signature for decades, was in poor shape. As she boarded the plane, the contents started to spill out: wallet, keys, business cards, diapers, glasses. Her seatmate happened to be Mr Jean-Louis Dumas, then chief executive of Hermes, the French luxury house founded by Thierry Hermes in 1837. Birkin and Mr Dumas talked about how she needed a bag that could fit all of her necessities, and they began to sketch out an idea on an airsickness bag. Their concept had two handles like a tote, and somewhat resembled a shrunken version of the Haut a Courroies luggage that Hermes made. Her custom bag became the prototype of the Birkin, which was named after her. The bag became desirable partly for its rarity. 'There are a limited number of them created each year,' Ms Halimi said. 'There is the craftsmanship: You can repair, restore and cherish it. And then, in a world of fast fashion and seasonal trends, it's not going to be out of style any time soon. If you are offered one to buy at Hermes, you feel like part of this small club.' The Birkin has become a fixture in pop culture since its inception, namechecked in many song lyrics. It also appeared as a plot line in a 2001 episode of romantic comedy series Sex And The City (1998 to 2004) that included the memorable line: 'It's not a bag, it's a Birkin.' This original bag is different in several ways from the commercially available Birkins. Its size is unique, with a height of just under 36cm and a depth of just under 41cm; its strap is not removable; the hardware is made of brass; the inner zipper is from a different manufacturer; and the studs on the bottom are a different shape. And one more detail: a nail clipper that Birkin had hung on the outside of the bag is included. She was known for not being precious with her Birkins. She covered some in stickers for political causes and frequently hung trinkets off them. On social media, fans have taken to posting their own charm-laden bags or phones, which some call 'Birkinifying'. Over the past year, imitations – or homages – of the bag have received attention online, including the most recent Boatkin, a new style that marries the design of the Birkin and the canvas material of American retail company L.L. Bean's Boat And Tote. But the original Birkin has remained a subject of intense fascination. It was exhibited at New York's Museum of Modern Art as part of the show Items: Is Fashion Modern?, which ran from 2017 to 2018, and again in 2020 at London's Victoria And Albert Museum as part of the exhibition Bags Inside Out. Sotheby's displayed it in the company's Paris galleries in October 2024, and at Sotheby's Maison, Hong Kong in April 2025 . Thousands of people came to see the bag at the Sotheby's showings, Ms Halimi said. Jane Birkin, who died in July 2023 at the age of 76, owned five Birkin bags over the course of her life, one of which sold for around US$160,000 (S$205,000) in a 2021 auction. Actress Jane Birkin's original Hermes Birkin on display at Sotheby's auction house in New York, US, on June 6. PHOTO: EPA-EFE This prototype, which has the added value of being the original, was sold by Birkin at a charity auction for Aids in October 1994. It went to auction again in May 2000, at Poulain-Le Fur, and was purchased by Ms Catherine Benier, a prominent collector and the owner of the Les 3 Marches de Catherine B vintage shop in Paris, for an undisclosed price. 'Acquiring the first Birkin from Hermes was a dream of mine as a collector,' Ms Benier wrote in an e-mail. She said she had read about the 1994 auction but did not participate, and was determined to win the 2000 auction when she heard about it in advance. 'I got the bag after fierce bidding between myself and other foreign bidders. It's the jewel in my collection.' The Birkin has become a fixture in pop culture since its inception, namechecked in many song lyrics. PHOTO: REUTERS Ms Benier kept the bag stored, but the crowds who visited it in 2024 influenced her decision to sell. 'A collection is only worth it if it's shared,' she wrote. She expects the bag to set records, but would not specify a desired number. 'Twenty-five years ago when I acquired it, it was already the most expensive bag in the world,' she wrote. 'All these elements fuel the legend of the first Birkin bag, so certainly a price exists, but what is it? This bag is the object of a lifetime, it's a legend, an icon. Does a legend have a price? Certainly.' NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
News18
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
First Ever Birkin Bag, Once The Most Expensive In The World Up For Sale Jane Birkin
The most expensive handbag in the world is on sale! Sotheby's has now revealed that Jane Birkin's iconic 'The Original Birkin' bag will be auctioned off during their Paris Fashion Icons auction on July 10 in Paris. This legendary bag was created in 1984, inspired by a chance meeting between Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas and actress Jane Birkin on a flight from Paris to London. bollywood news | entertainment news live | latest bollywood news | bollywood | news18 | n18oc_moviesLiked the video? Please press the thumbs up icon and leave a comment. Subscribe to Showsha YouTube channel and never miss a video: Showsha on Instagram: Showsha on Facebook: Showsha on X: Showsha on Snapchat: entertainment and lifestyle news and updates on:
Mint
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
The first-ever Birkin Bag is up for sale; Here's how you can buy
Fashion enthusiasts or not, owning a Hermès Birkin Bag is a dream for many, even seen as a better investment. However, getting your hands on one is not as easy as it may seem- even those with deep pockets and powerful fashion connections often find themselves on endless waiting lists. But, what if we tell you the rarest of them all is about to become available to the highest bidder. Yes, it is the very first Hermès Birkin bag ever created, the OG, once made and carried by the iconic British singer and actor Jane Birkin, is going up for auction soon. The historic bag will be featured in Sotheby's Paris Fashion Icons sale on July 10, offering collectors and fashion enthusiasts a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of fashion history. The first Birkin bag is more than a fashion statement. It marks the beginning of a cultural phenomenon that today symbolises status, craftsmanship, taste and style, with prices starting at around $10,000. Crafted using sleek jet-black leather and accented with Hermès' iconic gold hardware, the first one is a saddle-style Birkin, engraved with the initials J.B. What makes it even more special is its origin story, which many might not know. In 1984, an encounter aboard a flight between style icon Jane Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas led to the creation of what today we know as the most sought-after bag in the world. Going by the story, Birkin's straw tote spilled its contents mid-flight, prompting her to casually remark on the need for a bag that was both stylish and functional. At that moment, Dumas sketched a design on an airplane sick bag, and the first blueprint of the Birkin bag was born. The very first Birkin ever made was gifted to Jane Birkin herself. It was sold by Jane in 1994 to raise funds for AIDS research. The bag found a home when a private collector known only as 'Catherine B,' took it home. Once again the iconic bag will go under the hammer at Sotheby's Paris Fashion Icons sale. Sotheby's has declined to specify a reserve price for the legendary bag publicly. "The Original Birkin holds the potential to redefine records," Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global handbag and fashion head, said in a statement as per AFP. The current record for the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction was set in 2017 in Hong Kong, when a highly customised Hermès Birkin went under the hammer. The luxurious Birkin 30, crafted from rare crocodile skin and adorned with diamonds and white gold hardware, fetched an astonishing $510,000 at Christie's. The prototype Birkin will be exhibited at Sotheby's in New York from June 6 to 12 before being put on show in Paris. Bidding will open online on June 26 and close on July 10.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
The very first Birkin bag ever made is going on sale
The first Hermès Birkin bag, originally designed for Jane Birkin, is up for auction at Sotheby's Paris. This iconic black leather bag, born from a chance encounter in 1984, was previously sold by Birkin for AIDS research. Expected to ignite a bidding war, the bag represents fashion history, ethical considerations, and timeless allure. Struggling to score a Birkin even with all the right connections (and credit cards)? You're not alone and now, the ultimate holy grail of handbags is up for grabs. The very first Hermès Birkin bag ever made, the one that started it all, originally designed for style icon Jane Birkin herself, is hitting the auction block this July. That's right, the Birkin is coming out of its rarefied vault for Sotheby's Paris Fashion Icons sale on July 10, and fashion history is about to have a new owner. Crafted in jet-black leather and finished with signature gold hardware, this saddle-style Birkin isn't just a collector's dream, it's a slice of sartorial legend. The story behind it? A chance encounter in 1984 between Jane Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas aboard a flight, where her overflowing straw bag sparked a moment of genius and gave birth to fashion's most desired arm candy. An undated photo provided by Sotheby's shows the original Hermès prototype for Jane Birkin's iconic bag. The prototype for the Birkin bag will be sold at auction this summer. There is no estimate for how high the bidding may go. (Sotheby's via The New York Times) -- NO SALES; FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY WITH NYT STORY SLUGGED BIRKIN PROTOTYPE AUCTION BY MARISA MELTZER FOR JUNE 5, 2025. ALL OTHER USE PROHIBITED. -- Now, that exact bag-once sold by Jane herself in 1994 to raise funds for AIDS research, is returning to the spotlight. Previously owned by the elusive collector 'Catherine B' (yes, the one with the 'proud owner of the first Hermès Birkin' bio on Instagram), this icon is expected to ignite bidding wars and break records. 'This is a one-of-a-kind moment. The first Birkin is more than a handbag, it's a pop culture artefact,' said Morgane Halimi, Global Head of Handbags and Fashion at Sotheby's. And here's the kicker: it will be sold exactly as Jane Birkin used it, worn-in charm and all. But this isn't just a luxury fantasy. It's a reminder of Jane Birkin's bold ethical stance. She famously asked Hermès to remove her name from the crocodile-skin Birkin after learning of the disturbing animal cruelty practices involved. 'I have asked Hermès to debaptise the Birkin Croco,' she said in a statement that shook the luxury world. With this sale, the original Birkin reclaims centre stage - not just as a style status symbol, but as a cultural relic that tells a bigger story about fashion, ethics, and timeless allure. If there's ever been a handbag worth fighting over, this is it. Let the bidding begin. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
