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The Star
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Jane Birkin's original Hermes bag sold for over RM42mil in an intense auction
Sketched out on an air sickness bag, the first Birkin handbag – the prototype for fashion's must-have accessory – sold for a staggering €8.6mil (approximately RM42.8mil), including fees, on Thursday (July 10) in Paris to become the second most valuable fashion item ever sold at auction. The winning bid of €7mil (RM34.9mil) drew gasps and applause from the audience. The price crushed the previous auction record for a handbag – US$513,040 (RM2.2mil) paid in 2021 for a Hermes White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Retourne Kelly 28. Now, the original Birkin bag, named after the actor, singer and fashion icon that Hermes created it for (Jane Birkin, who died in 2023), is in a new league of its own. Only one fashion item has sold at auction for more: a pair of ruby red slippers from The Wizard Of Oz , which sold for US$32.5mil (RM138.3mil) in 2024, Sotheby's said. The Paris 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'. The bidding started at €1mil (RM4.98mil) but quickly increased, with telephone bidders fighting it out at the end. With Sotheby's fees included, the total price for the winning bidder from Japan was a cool €8.6mil (RM42.8mil) euros, the auction house said. Read more: Can't get your hands on a Birkin? Here's your chance to own THE original Birkin From the starting price, bids rocketed past two million euros, then three million, four million and five million (RM10mil, RM15mil, RM20mil and RM25mil), to astonished gasps. When the price jumped from €5.5mil to €6mil (RM27.4mil to RM29.9mil) in one swoop, there were whistles and applause. The final bids were €6.2mil (RM30.9mil), then €6.5mil (RM32.4mil), then €6.8mil (RM33.9mil) before the Japanese buyer's last winning bid: €7mil (RM34.9mil). Sotheby's didn't identify the buyer. Nine collectors bidding by telephone, online and in the room competed in the 10-minute auction battle, with a private collector from Japan beating a last remaining other bidder at the end. Paris fashion house Hermes exclusively commissioned the bag for the London-born Jane in 1984 – branding it with her initials JB on the front flap, below the lock – and delivered the finished one-of-a-kind bag to her the following year, Sotheby's said. The subsequent commercialised version of Jane's bag went on to become one of the world's most exclusive luxury items, extravagantly priced and with a yearslong waiting list. The bag was born of a fortuitous encounter on a London-bound flight in the 1980s with the then-head of Hermes, Jean-Louis Dumas. Jane recounted in subsequent interviews that the pair got talking after she spilled some of her things on the cabin floor. Jane asked Dumas why Hermes 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 Hermes asked whether it could commercialise the bag in her name. "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," said Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's head of handbags and fashion. "It is incredible to think that a bag initially designed by Hermes as a practical accessory for Jane Birkin has become the most desirable bag in history." The bag became so famous that Jane 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. 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 Hermes 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. Jane's casual, breezy style in the 1960s and early 70s – long hair with bangs, jeans paired with white tops, knit minidresses and basket bags – still epitomises the height of French chic for many women around the world. Read more: Like the famous bag named after her, Jane Birkin is a style icon When Jane chatted to Hermes' 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, Hermes says. Hermes 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 had since been in private hands. The previous owner, who identified herself only as Catherine B, told journalists at the auction that the bag "has all the attributes of a star'. "The price is the price of the Hermes story,' she said. Sotheby's called it "more than just a bag'. "The Birkin has evolved from a practical accessory to become a timeless cultural icon," it 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.' – AFP
The Star
02-07-2025
- The Star
Drugs and sports car caught in Customs net
Wide array: Mohd Nadzri (centre) showing the seized items during a press conference in Ipoh. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star IPOH: Four smuggling attempts were thwarted by Customs officers, with various items worth up to RM10mil, including unpaid duties, seized. They included a luxury sports car worth about RM2.2mil, drugs, e-cigarettes, marble tiles and pig carcasses. Perak Customs director Mohd Nadzri Ariffin said the sports car, a Brabham Model BT62, was seized by the department's Taiping branch in a raid at Westport Container Terminal in Pulau Indah, Selangor, at about 12.15pm on May 27. 'The car, with an excise duty of about RM4.2mil, was inside a container and found to have been imported without a permit. It was declared as parts and toolboxes,' he told a press conference here yesterday. Mohd Nadzri said the case was being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act. 'Those found guilty can be fined up to 20 times the value of the item or maximum five years jail or both,' he added. In another raid on June 5, Mohd Nadzri said enforcement officers seized RM966,084 worth of drugs at a courier company in Petaling Jaya. He said the drugs, believed to be dried cannabis (ganja) flowers, were packed and hidden among two boxes containing an air mattress and inflatable pool. The drugs, which weighed about 9,858g, were found in eight separate plastic bags, he added. 'The items were believed to be meant for the United Kingdom,' he said, adding that no arrest was made. Mohd Nadzri said the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and whipping upon conviction. In two other raids, pig carcasses worth about RM1mil were seized in Pengkalan Hulu on May 29, and 55,320 units of e-cigarettes and vaping liquid worth about RM896,800 were confiscated in Port Klang on June 4. He said two refrigerated truck drivers were arrested at Pengkalan Hulu. 'They are being investigated for smuggling banned items from a neighbouring country under Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Act,' he said, adding that the carcasses had an excise duty of about RM518,100. He said the e-cigarettes and vaping liquid, which had an excise duty of about RM530,670, were declared as plastics. 'We also seized undeclared marble tiles worth about RM70,600 during the same operation,' he said.
The Star
01-07-2025
- The Star
Perak Customs seizes luxury sports car worth RM6.4mil, including excise duties, imported without permit
IPOH: A luxurious sports car with an excise duty of about RM4.2mil was seized by the Perak Customs Department during a raid at Westport Container Terminal in Pulai Indah, Selangor. Perak Customs Department director Mohd Nadzri Ariffin said the car, a Brabham Model BT62, was found to have been imported without permit during the operation on May 27 at about 12.15pm. "The car, found inside a container, was declared as parts and toolboxes. "The car is estimated to be worth about RM2.2mil, and excise duty of about RM4.2mil," he said in a press conference here on Tuesday (July 1). Mohd Nadzri said the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(d) of the Customs Act. "Those found guilty can be fined up to 20 times the value of the item or a maximum five years in jail or both," he said. Separately, Mohd Nadzri said they have also seized some RM966,084 worth of drugs in another operation at a courier company in Petaling Jaya on June 5 at about 2.45pm. He said the drugs, believed to be dried cannabis (ganja) flowers, were found packed and hidden among two boxes containing an air mattress and an inflatable pool. "The drugs, which weighed about 9,858g, were found in eight separate plastic bags. "The items are believed to have been destined for the United Kingdom," he said, adding that no arrest was made. "We will investigate the case under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment and whipping if convicted," he said. In two other unrelated raids, Mohd Nadzri said they have seized pig carcasses worth about RM1mil in Pengkalan Hulu on May 29 and 55,320 units of e-cigarettes and vaping liquid worth about RM896,800 in Port Klang on June 4.
The Star
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
GDEX keeps up optimism as SST measures loom
PETALING JAYA: GDEX Bhd believes the newly expanded scope of the Sales and Service Tax (SST), which comes into effect on July 1, will 'definitely have an impact' on its business and those of its peers, says its managing director and group chief executive Teong Teck Lean. However, on the bigger picture, he remains optimistic that the courier services provider will be able to keep up with its improving performance trend, aided by the group's change in business strategy to a more collaborative one. Speaking to a select media group after GDEX's AGM yesterday, Teong acknowledged that the group is still assessing the overall impact of the expanded SST, especially its inclusion of leasing services at a rate of 8% for companies with annual leasing revenue above RM500,000. 'We are actually leasing many of the premises that we use, some on long leases, and so definitely there will be an effect there because the earlier contracts that were signed between us and our landlords have obviously not included this tax,' he said. As such, the group would need to work out how to navigate this new expense with all related parties, and look for ways to absorb the payment of the SST. Moving forward, Teong commented that GDEX is much more optimistic of its performance this year, banking on a more collaborative strategy with partners and competitors alike, as well as the company's determination to keep exploring and navigating for better growth opportunities. In its latest results release for the first quarter of financial year ended March (1Q25), GDEX remained in the red with a net loss of RM164,000, although this represented a significant year-on-year (y-o-y) improvement from 1Q24 where the group saw a net loss of RM2.2mil. It is also notable that for the financial year ended 2024 (FY24), GDEX's net loss narrowed considerably y-o-y from RM34.9mil in FY23 to RM1.8mil, while also posting a net profit of RM4.8mil for 4Q24 itself. On top of that, GDEX reported an earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of RM53.4mil last year, with net cash reserves of RM197.2mil. The group's shareholders also approved the distribution of a final single-tier dividend of 0.2 sen per share for FY24 at yesterday's AGM, before announcing that it had earmarked RM20mil of its cash for strategic acquisitions this year, in an effort to further broaden its GD Exchange ecosystem. Teong however, reiterated that the group is maintaining its highly selective approach to potential acquisition targets, emphasising that there has to be a synergistic value to the company's core business. 'The most important thing is that the companies we acquire must follow our business direction, and as such we would always prefer to obtain a controlling stake in such transactions to achieve seamless integration,' he added. Furthermore, he revealed that GDEX had invested RM8mil into enterprise resource planning, on top of remarking that the group continues to find it necessary to invest into technology and artificial intelligence as well as environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives. However, he stressed that such investments, especially into ESG, has to offer attractive returns on investment (ROI), citing the example of the group's usage of electric trucks for short distance deliveries within the Klang Valley that mitigates the effect of the rising prices of diesel. Separately, he said GDEX also plans to liquidate its non-core assets, including a property in Ipoh, pointing out that the move jives with the group's focus on cost optimisation and digitalisation, This would allow the company to allocate funds to more essential areas with higher ROI such as technology, talent acquisition, and infrastructure integration.
The Star
12-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
S'gor gurdwara seeks funds for larger facilities
OPTIONAL PHOTO The dining hall of the Sikh temple is 50% completed. GURDWARA Sahib Rawang (GSR) is seeking help to raise RM2.2mil for ongoing renovation works. Treasurer Jimmy Sidhu said the Sikh temple in Selangor was first constructed in 1938. 'While the main building was rebuilt in 1976, the langgar or dining hall has not been rebuilt since 1938. 'The dining hall flooded after a downpour, so the renovation is both necessary and timely,' he added. The total cost is RM3.2mil, of which only RM1mil had been raised so far. 'We still need RM2.2mil to complete the works,' said Jimmy, adding that construction began in February last year and was at 50% completion. To raise funds, the temple has been organising various charity initiatives, including dinners and golf tournaments. 'Donations have also come from our members, numbering 200, and other well-wishers,' Jimmy said. He said the two-storey building, when completed, would serve as a hub for the Sikh community. 'We will use the space upstairs for the Punjabi Education Centre which runs language classes,' he added. Jimmy also highlighted the temple's role in supporting the Rawang community during the Covid-19 pandemic. 'We provided daily provisions to scores of families during the lockdown,' he said. The gurdwara was also among the first in the area to instal solar energy panels, selling the energy generated to Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB). Those interested in donating can bank in their contribution to the GSR Building Fund in CIMB at account number 8008600827. For details, call Jimmy at 012-391 0040 or Harmendar at 016-668 5900.
