Jane Birkin's Original Hermès Bag Breaks Records at $10 Million Auction
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Hey everyone, have you heard the incredible news? Jane Birkin’s very own original Hermès bag — yes, that iconic Birkin — has just been sold at auction for a jaw-dropping $10 million. I mean, can you believe it? This isn't just any handbag; this is the first Birkin ever made, the one designed especially for the legendary British actress and singer herself. It's the origin story of a fashion legend, and now it holds the title as the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction.
What makes this so fascinating is that the bag isn’t in mint condition — not even close. It’s scuffed, scratched, and stained, and yet that only adds to its allure. Jane Birkin used this very bag nearly every day from 1985 to 1994. It’s not just a fashion accessory, it’s a lived-in piece of cultural history. Sold by Sotheby’s in an online luxury fashion auction, the final sale included fees that brought the total to €8.6 million — roughly $10 million. The hammer fell after a tense 10-minute bidding war between nine collectors, with the bag eventually going to a private collector in Japan.
This wasn’t just about the bag’s value in materials — it’s a symbol. Sotheby’s called it “an important milestone” in the history of fashion, celebrating both the power of the Birkin name and the enduring spirit of Jane Birkin. She originally sold the bag back in 1994 to raise money for AIDS research, and it’s passed through a few hands since then, even appearing in major exhibitions in New York and London.
What’s amazing is that Birkin never treated it as a treasure to be locked away. She wanted something practical, not precious. She even had nail clippers dangling from the strap — seriously! That kind of everyday utility, combined with its unmatched provenance, makes the story of this bag so compelling. And fun fact: the design came to life when Jane was on a flight with Hermès chairman Jean-Louis Dumas. She sketched her dream bag on an airplane sick bag after complaining about not finding a purse big enough to fit her needs. From that sketch came a legacy.
Even after her passing in 2023, Jane Birkin continues to inspire — and, as she once joked, maybe she will be remembered most for the bag. But honestly, it’s not a bad legacy to leave behind. A practical bag that became a global symbol of luxury, individuality, and timeless style.
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