The original Birkin bag has shattered previous auction records, selling for an astonishing €8.6 million (£7.4 million; $10.1 million) and solidifying its position as the most valuable handbag ever sold. Crafted in 1985 for the late singer and actress Jane Birkin, the bag originated from a casual conversation on an airplane, where a Hermès executive sketched its design on a sick bag. What followed was a heated 10-minute bidding war at Sotheby's in Paris, reflecting the immense desirability and iconic status of the bag.
Original Birkin Bag Fetches £7m at Auction, Sets World Record
Original Birkin Bag Fetches £7m at Auction, Sets World Record
Iconic handbag created for Jane Birkin sells for record-breaking price, confirming its legendary status.
Birkin used the original handbag for ten years before donating it to charity to support AIDS research in 1994. Known for its unique signatures, including her initials and marks from stickers she used to support various causes, the bag is not only a luxury item but a part of fashion history. The winning bid, which included fees, dwarfed the previous record of $513,000 for a handbag, reiterating the lasting legacy of the Birkin.
Sotheby's described the purchase as a “startling demonstration” of the value placed on unique items with significant provenance. Since its commercial launch, the Birkin bag has grown into a global fashion icon, with prices for some models extending into the tens of thousands and years-long waiting lists.
Sotheby's described the purchase as a “startling demonstration” of the value placed on unique items with significant provenance. Since its commercial launch, the Birkin bag has grown into a global fashion icon, with prices for some models extending into the tens of thousands and years-long waiting lists.
