Latest news with #Sotheby'sParis
Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
The OG Birkin bag sells for a record-breaking $10 million at auction
Bidders battled for 10 minutes on Thursday for the original Birkin worn by its muse, Jane Birkin. It ended in a $10.1 million sale to a private collector in Japan who bid via telephone. In a video of the live auction, gasps can be heard as the war waged on. "The spectacular sale of the Original Herms Birkin today at Sotheby's Paris marks an important milestone in the history of fashion and the luxury industry more widely," Morgane Halimi, global head of handbags and fashion at Sotheby's, said in a statement. The Birkin, a highly coveted status symbol among the wealthy, was inspired by the late singer-actor after a conversation with Jean-Louis Dumas — who was chairman of Herms at the time — on an airplane in 1981, Jane told Vogue in 2012. She drew the design on an airplane sickness bag and eventually went on to carry the prototype for nearly a decade. It last went up for auction 25 years ago, Sotheby's said. This time around, bidding opened at $1.7 million. It "made me relive my own bidding battle, 25 years ago, and how raw and indescribable the feeling of winning over this wonderful bag was," the bag's previous owner, Catherine B., said in a statement released by Sotheby's. The Birkin bag is a staple for Herms. It starts at around $10,000 and has a long, unofficial vetting process to purchase.
Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
The OG Birkin bag sells for a record-breaking $10 million at auction
A 40-year-old worn-in Hermès Birkin bag has become the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction. Bidders battled for 10 minutes on Thursday for the original Birkin worn by its muse, Jane Birkin. It ended in a $10.1 million sale to a private collector in Japan who bid via telephone. In a video of the live auction, gasps can be heard as the war waged on. "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," Morgane Halimi, global head of handbags and fashion at Sotheby's, said in a statement. The Birkin, a highly coveted status symbol among the wealthy, was inspired by the late singer-actor after a conversation with Jean-Louis Dumas — who was chairman of Hermès at the time — on an airplane in 1981, Jane told Vogue in 2012. She drew the design on an airplane sickness bag and eventually went on to carry the prototype for nearly a decade. It last went up for auction 25 years ago, Sotheby's said. This time around, bidding opened at $1.7 million. It "made me relive my own bidding battle, 25 years ago, and how raw and indescribable the feeling of winning over this wonderful bag was," the bag's previous owner, Catherine B., said in a statement released by Sotheby's. The Birkin bag is a staple for Hermès. It starts at around $10,000 and has a long, unofficial vetting process to purchase. The prototype unseated the Hermès White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Retourne Kelly 28 bag, which sold for a record $513,040 at auction in 2021.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- 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.
Forbes
10-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Record Is Broken As Original Birkin Sells For €8,582,500 At Auction
Jane Birkin's Original Birkin on sale at Sotheby's Paris Few items are as iconic as the Hermès Birkin handbag, which has become the symbol of ultimate luxury and exclusivity. It has been immortalized in popular culture across various disciplines—films, music, literature—and is loved by celebrities who proudly carry it on their arms for us all to admire. There is even a coveted dupe, the Wirkin, sold at Walmart, which has sparked much debate on the subject. Until today, the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction is a White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Returnee Kelly 28, which fetched $513,040, but fashion history was made in Paris this afternoon, when the original Birkin prototype, owned by Jane Birkin herself, was sold at auction for €8,582.500 reflecting a growing trend in the sale of second-hand luxury items. Investing In Collectable Pieces There has been a rise in the sale of luxury second-hand items in recent times, particularly of rare pieces or those with a rich history. Money Week suggests that investing in luxury goods can yield dividends. According to the Knight Frank index, the strongest-performing luxury asset last year was handbags, which posted a 2.8% return, compared to a loss of 9% for whisky and an 18.3% loss for art. Over five years, the handbag sector is up 34%. Furthermore, BCG states that wealthy investors are increasingly seeking alternative investments to diversify their portfolios and hedge against inflation. They cite the example of luxury watches, which have generally delivered strong price performance in the market over the past five to ten years, confirming that the sector is growing. I spoke to Tobias Kormind, co-founder and managing director of 77diamonds. He told me that for the last couple of years he has seen a steady increase in collectable items such as jewelry, art, or uncommon items such as this original Birkin handbag. He added that in an age when micro-trends are rife on social media, and keeping up with them seems to become more and more complicated, these rare and collectable items hold a particular appeal, not only for their investment value, but also for what they represent: something timeless and unchanging, a unique story captured through the object that cannot be replicated in any way. Kormind also explained that people are more interested in purchasing collectables as investment pieces, giving me the example of rare diamonds and jewelry pieces going on auction, such as Marie Antoinette's infamous jewelry collection, which included a necklace that created a lot of controversy in the lead-up to the French Revolution. 'A unique story that opens a window in time, and just cannot be replicated in any other way,' he says. British-French actress, singer-songwriter and fashion model Jane Birkin, UK, 25th October 1968 ... More (Photo by Daily Express/) The Story Of The Original Birkin The Birkin bag is made by Hermès, the luxury house founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès (1801-1878), who opened a leather workshop in Paris at 56 rue Basse du Rempart. There, he produced leather goods for equestrian attire, including horse harnesses, fittings, and bridles, which he'd sew by hand, using a saddle stitch, with a waxed thread and two needles to provide extra strength. The same stitch is still used when creating a Birkin bag, which takes between 18 and 24 hours to make, and is sewn entirely by hand by a single artisan who has undergone years of training before being entrusted with the job. As told by Jane Birkin in an interview with CBS, the story of the unique Birkin Bag begins at an airport. She was flying from Paris to London on an Air France flight when, upon check-in, a flight attendant upgraded her to First Class. Once on board, she found herself seated next to a very polite gentleman. As she was getting settled, her agenda fell on the floor, scattering papers everywhere, to which the gentleman beside her suggested she use an agenda with pockets. Birkin replied, 'What can you do? Hermès doesn't make them with pockets.' At this point, the gentleman revealed his identity: he was Jean-Louis Dumas (Executive Chairman of Hermès from 1978 to 2006). Birkin told him how difficult it was to find a leather bag that met all her needs as a young mother, explaining that she required something larger than the Kelly bag (a smaller Hermès handbag) but not as large as a suitcase. Together, they sketched the desired bag on the back of a paper sick-bag, which Jean-Louis Dumas took away with him. A month later, he called Jane Birkin and invited her to review the prototype, which was made of cardboard. Once they had discussed the details, Hermès asked if they could name the bag after her, to which she agreed. Talking to Kurmind, we discuss the extreme importance of the story behind each piece in connection to its selling value. 'In fact,' he says, 'I would say that it's the story that makes the inherent value of the piece. Without it, it would just be a very luxurious, well-made object; but it's the story that elevates its desirability to incredible levels. Now all that is left to ask is just how high people are willing to pay to own a little piece of history.' Jane Birkin's Original Birkin. Her initials are embossed on the bag Seven Differences The Original Birkin bag is full of character. Jane Birkin used it daily and filled it to the brim. She used to carry keys and charms on it that would create a bell-like sound when she walked. Jane Birkin also placed stickers on her bag in support of humanitarian causes such as Médecins du Monde and UNICEF. In 1994, she donated this bag to the French AIDS charity Association Solidarité Sida for an auction. It was then resold at auction by Poulain Le Fur in May 2000 and has remained in private hands until today, when the legendary accessory headlined the Fashion Icons sale at Sotheby's Paris. Jane Birkin's Original Birkin had a shoulder strap As described by Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's Global Head of Handbags and Fashion, the bag is a true unicorn in the world of fashion and accessories. Being the prototype, the original Birkin bag auctioned today differs slightly from the standard Birkin bags available on the market. Firstly, its size is unique: it has the width and height of a Birkin 35 cm but the depth of a 40 cm Birkin. Unlike later models, it features closed metal brackets and a zip made by the Éclair company (before Hermès began a partnership with the Riri company). It features an attached shoulder strap and has her initials, J.B., embossed on the front flap. Like all Birkin bags, this one has studs on the base, but these are smaller than the standard ones used today. The original also displays gilded brass hardware, which in later models was replaced by gold-plated hardware and other finishes. Finally, the bag comes with a set of nail clippers attached to the base of the strap, a reflection of the practical nature and tomboy aesthetic Jane Birkin personified. Jane Birkin's Original Birkin has a pair of nail clippers attached to the strap Today's record sale comes as no surprise. The Original Birkin bag is a piece of fashion history. Unique in its finish, this iconic piece was made specifically for Jane Birkin. As Kormind says, it's the one she used, the one that started the trend and therefore the one whose story is one-of-a-kind. Jane Birkin
Emirates Woman
09-06-2025
- Business
- Emirates Woman
The first-ever Birkin bag is up for sale. Here's how you can buy it
For fashion connoisseurs and collectors alike, the Hermès Birkin is more than an accessory—it's a cultural artifact, a symbol of status, and, increasingly, a sound investment. Yet even for those with considerable means, securing one is no simple feat. Waiting lists stretch into years, and exclusivity is fiercely guarded. But now, the ultimate sartorial trophy, the very first Birkin bag ever created, is set to go under the hammer. Sotheby's Paris will unveil this historic piece in its Fashion Icons sale on July 10, offering a rare chance to own the prototype that launched a global phenomenon. Estimated to start bidding around $10,000, this isn't just any Birkin—it's the original, once carried by its namesake, Jane Birkin herself. Crafted in supple black leather with gleaming gold hardware, the saddle-style bag bears the engraved initials J.B., a testament to its personal connection with the British-French icon. Its provenance is as legendary as its design: conceived in 1984 during a chance encounter on a flight, when Birkin's straw tote spilled mid-air. Over a casual conversation with Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas, the blueprint for the Birkin was sketched on an airplane sick bag—an origin story befitting fashion folklore. The bag was gifted to Birkin, who later sold it in 1994 to raise funds for AIDS research. It eventually landed in the hands of a private collector, known only as Catherine B. Now, three decades later, it returns to the auction stage, where it could very well shatter records. Sotheby's has remained tight-lipped on the reserve price, but expectations are high. 'The Original Birkin holds the potential to redefine records,' says Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion. The current auction record for a handbag stands at $510,000, set by a diamond-encrusted crocodile Birkin in 2017. Before the Paris sale, the bag will be exhibited at Sotheby's New York from June 6 to 12, followed by a showcase in Paris. Online bidding opens June 26, closing on July 10—marking the end of an era for one collector, and the beginning of a new chapter for another. For those who covet not just luxury, but legacy, this is the ultimate acquisition. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Pinterest
