Latest news with #TheOriginalBirkin
RTHK
10-07-2025
- Business
- RTHK
'Original' Birkin sold for record US$10 million
'Original' Birkin sold for record US$10 million The Original Birkin on display at Sotheby's auction house in Paris before it fetched a record price at auction. Photo: Reuters The first-ever Birkin bag designed by French luxury brand Hermes for celebrity Jane Birkin sold for 8.58 million euros (US$10 million) at a Sotheby's auction in Paris on Thursday, smashing previous price records for a handbag. The modern design classic, owned by a Paris-based handbag collector, sparked a telephone bidding war up to seven million euros, with the final sale price set at 8.58 million with commission and fees, the Sotheby's website showed. "After weeks of anticipation, the bidding opened at 1 million euros - prompting a gasp from the room," Sotheby's said in a statement. The final buyer, who eclipsed eight other rivals, was a "private collector from Japan", the auction house added, without giving further details. The previous record price for a handbag at auction was set by a diamond-encrusted crocodile skin Hermes Kelly 28, which fetched US$513,000 in 2021 at Christie's in Hong Kong. Sotheby's had advised that the Birkin prototype was expected to beat that level during its sale. But the staggering price tag for a well-worn item is in keeping with the fashion world's recent flashy aesthetics. After years of so-called "quiet luxury" dominating catwalks, designers have embraced more ostentatious looks in recent seasons that have been dubbed "boom boom" by some trend forecasters. Modern-day Birkin bags are offered by Hermes to loyal clients, with prices starting at around US$10,000. (AFP)
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
The $12.8m bag: Original Birkin smashes records at Paris auction
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The Original Birkin, the handbag crafted by French luxury fashion house Hermes for artist Jane Birkin and offered to her in 1985, is displayed during a media preview of the Sotheby's sale, in Paris, France, on July 2. PARIS - The first-ever Birkin bag designed by French luxury brand Hermes for celebrity Jane Birkin sold for €8.58 million (S$12.8 million) at a Sotheby's auction in Paris on July 10, smashing previous price records for a handbag. The modern design classic, owned by a well-known Paris-based handbag collector, sparked a telephone bidding war up to €7 million, with the final sale price set at €8.58 million with commission and fees, the Sotheby's website showed. The previous record sale price for a handbag at auction was set by a diamond- and white gold-encrusted crocodile skin Hermes Kelly 28 which fetched nearly US$513,000 in 2021 at Christie's in Hong Kong. 'After weeks of anticipation, the bidding opened at €1 million - prompting a gasp from the room,' Sotheby's said in a statement. Sotheby's had advised that the Birkin prototype was expected to set records. But the staggering price tag is in keeping with the fashion world's recent flashy aesthetics. After years of so-called 'quiet luxury' dominating catwalks, designers have embraced more ostentatious looks in recent seasons that have been dubbed 'boom boom' by some trend forecasters. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties Singapore Up to 90% of air-con units can be recycled, including greenhouse gas refrigerant Singapore KTPH trials 'smart diapers' for adult patients to prevent skin conditions, relieve burden on nurses Singapore Singaporean fugitive nabbed and charged with drug trafficking, may face death penalty Sport World Aquatics C'ships Singapore 2025 declared open by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam World 'Do some homework': 6 key exchanges between US Senator Duckworth and S'pore envoy nominee Sinha Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Singapore CPF Board uses AI to improve call centre services, prioritise help for less tech-savvy users The identity of the buyer has not been revealed so far. Fashion legend The original Birkin has changed hands twice since being put up for sale by Birkin at an auction in 1994 where the proceeds went to an Aids charity, according to Sotheby's. The July 10 seller, Ms Catherine Benier, who has a boutique in the upmarket 6th district of Paris, told The New York Times before the sale that the bag was the 'jewel in my collection'. The birth of the bag has become a modern fashion legend. During a Paris-London flight, the 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. Hermes' original Birkin bag was made in the 1980s for British-French actress and singer Jane Birkin. PHOTO: AFP The result of their conversation was a spacious tote with room for baby bottles, created in 1984 and named the Birkin. It is engraved with the initials J.B. and has several unique features, including closed metal rings, a non-detachable shoulder strap and a built-in nail clipper. Its condition 'reflects the many years of use by the actress and singer,' Sotheby's said beforehand. A slightly differently sized version of the original has become the flagship product of the immensely profitable family-owned luxury French leather goods maker ever since. Produced in very limited numbers, the bag has maintained an aura of exclusivity and is beloved by celebrities from Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez to Victoria Beckham.
CNN
10-07-2025
- Business
- CNN
Birkin bag smashes auction records at $8.2 million
Jane Birkin's Hermès bag has just sold at auction at Sotheby's in Paris for $8.2 million. Known as 'The Original Birkin,' the all-black, leather handbag is the first version of this timeless luxury staple, inspired by its owner -- '60s 'It-girl' Jane Birkin.
Fashion United
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fashion United
Sotheby's to auction off Jane Birkin's original Hermès Birkin bag
Auction house Sotheby's is putting Jane Birkin's original Hermès Birkin bag up for sale as part of its first 'Fashion Icons' lot. The bag, typically known to be 'The Original Birkin', is a black leather prototype featuring design elements 'that set it apart from every Birkin that followed', Sotheby's said, including a stamp with the initials J.B. on the front flap. The bag was designed in 1985 by Hermès' then-creative director Jean-Louis Dumas, who had met Jane Birkin in a chance encounter, created the piece to cater to her needs and ultimately named the final design after the British-French actress. Current Birkin model and the Original Birkin on the plinth. Credits: Sotheby's. The historic accessory will go under the hammer in an auction taking place July 10, alongside other pieces that helped to define fashion trends from the 1950s through to the 2010s. Alongside the Birkin, the first edition of the Fashion Icons Sale will also include a selection of pieces from the late 1980s to early 1990s by Azzedine Alaïa; dresses from 'The Girl Who Lives in a Tree' and 'Plato Atlantis' collections of the late Alexander McQueen; and other pieces by designers considered 'trailblazers' over the last 70 years, including Pierre Balmain, Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano and Thierry Mugler. The auction will be held at Sotheby's Paris galleries, where all the items will be publicly displayed from July 3 to July 9. Azzedine Alaïa, Black Lambskin Ensemble, AW 1983-84 Credits: Sotheby's.
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.
