The iconic Birkin bag, which has come to symbolize luxury and exclusivity in the fashion world, has shattered auction records with a sale price of €8.6 million (£7.4 million, $10.1 million), setting a new benchmark as the most expensive handbag ever sold.
This black leather Birkin, crafted in 1985, holds a special place in fashion history. It was custom-designed for the legendary singer and actress Jane Birkin after a fateful encounter on a flight with Hermès’ CEO, Jean-Louis Dumas. Birkin, frustrated with her unmanageable bag, famously asked Dumas why Hermès didn’t make larger bags. On the spot, Dumas sketched a design on a sick bag, which would go on to become the prototype for the now-iconic Birkin.
The bag was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in Paris on Thursday to a private collector from Japan, far surpassing the previous record of €439,000 (£378,000, $513,000). Auctioneers at Sotheby’s described the sale as “electrifying,” with nine determined collectors battling for the historic item during an intense 10-minute bidding war.
Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s global head of handbags and fashion, remarked, “This is a startling demonstration of the power of a legend and its capacity to ignite the passion and desire of collectors seeking exceptional items with unique provenance. The Birkin prototype is exactly that—the starting point of an extraordinary story that has given us the modern icon, the Birkin bag.”
The total price of €8,582,500 includes commissions and fees. Sotheby’s did not provide a pre-auction estimate for the handbag.
The original Birkin, with its distinct features, including Birkin’s initials on the front flap, a non-removable shoulder strap, and marks from stickers for causes she supported like Médecins du Monde and Unicef, is more than just a bag; it is a piece of fashion history.
Birkin herself owned and used the bag for a decade before she donated it to charity in 1994, helping to raise funds for an AIDS charity. For 25 years, it was owned by Parisian luxury boutique owner Catherine Benier, who decided to part with it at the recent auction.
The Birkin bag has remained one of the world’s most exclusive luxury items, with certain models costing tens of thousands of dollars. Celebrities such as Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, and Jennifer Lopez have all been spotted carrying various versions of the iconic bag. The original bag’s journey—from personal use to charity donation, and then auction—truly exemplifies its legendary status.
Sotheby’s noted that the previous record was set by a White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Retourne Kelly 28 in 2021. With the Birkin’s latest sale, it’s clear that this beloved accessory continues to captivate the world’s most discerning collectors.
