Jane Birkin’s famous Hermès bag became the first handbag to be sold above $10 million after it was auctioned at Sotheby’s in Paris.
The auction marks a new milestone in the world of fashion as it becomes the most expensive handbag ever sold. Collectors and observers of fashion for days now have been left astounded by this spend.
However, this isn’t the first handbag in history to be sold at auction. The question many are left to wonder is what was so special about this particular purse that it sold for such an outrageous amount?
Jane Birkin’s singular origin story
What truly makes this bag exceptional is its story.
In 1984, American actress and singer Jane Birkin was sitting next to Air France’s Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas.
During the exchange, Birkin complained about the difficulty she faced locating a sufficiently stylish and practical handbag for her busy life as a young mother.
That remark seemed to have inspired Dumas because it prompted him to reach for an airplane sickness bag to sketch out a concept right there and then.
And thus the first Birkin bag was created exclusively for her.
This very first piece wasn’t even made to order because it had her initials as well as an exclusive non-removable shoulder strap, features that define it as unmistakably one-of-a-kind in contrast with the subsequent versions.
The Birkin bag is, over the years, much more than a mere accessory, it’s a luxury, craftsmanship, and status symbol worldwide.
Its rarity and careful craftsmanship made it one of the world’s most coveted fashion pieces. While an average Birkin can retail for more than $10,000, special editions have sold as high as $450,000 at auction.
Nevertheless, nothing is quite like the original, the one that began it all.
Not only did it inspire an entire legacy of design, but it also became a cultural icon in its own right.
Record breaking price
The auction was nothing short of dramatic. It kicked off at €1 million, but the bidding escalated almost instantly, far surpassing expectations.
Phone bidders from around the world battled it out in a tense back-and-forth that lasted over 10 minutes.
In the end, a private collector from Japan placed the winning bid: €8.6 million, or about $10.1 million.
To put that into perspective, the previous record for a handbag at auction was $450,000 for a rare Himalaya Crocodile Birkin.
This sale didn’t just break that record, it obliterated it, setting a whole new standard in the luxury market.
The enthusiasts claim that the original Birkin is significant for reasons that go well beyond its materials or craftsmanship.
It marks a turning point in fashion history, born from an unexpected collaboration between a cultural icon and one of the world’s most prestigious luxury houses, they added.
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