Inbizzy, Paris, – In a historic moment for the fashion world, the original Hermès Birkin bag owned by the late Jane Birkin has become the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction, fetching a stunning €8.6 million (approx. $9.3 million / Rp163 billion) at Sotheby’s Paris.
This isn’t just any Birkin-it’s the very first prototype created especially for Jane herself. A true piece of fashion history, this worn, loved, and personalized bag represents more than luxury: it embodies the story of an icon.
More Than Just a Bag
Jane Birkin wasn’t just the muse behind the Hermès Birkin-she lived with it, shaped it, and made it part of her everyday life. The bag, complete with ink stains, scratches, and signs of wear, became a symbol of her effortlessly chic and rebellious style.
Described by Sotheby’s as “more than just a bag-it’s a cultural artifact”, the piece was also called “a true one-of-a-kind … a pop-culture phenomenon,” underlining its emotional and historical value beyond fashion.
A Global Bidding War
The Sotheby’s auction drew elite collectors from around the globe, all vying for this legendary piece. In the end, a private collector from Japan emerged victorious after a tense bidding war, securing a place in fashion history.
This milestone sale now holds the record as the highest price ever paid for a handbag at auction, reaffirming the Hermès Birkin as not just a style icon-but a serious investment.
The Birth of a Fashion Legend
The Birkin bag was born in 1984 from a serendipitous conversation between Jane Birkin and Hermès creative director Jean-Louis Dumas during a flight from Paris to London. She famously wished for a bag that was both elegant and practical-and from that wish, the Birkin was born.
Over the decades, it has grown into a status symbol and fashion staple, beloved by style icons, celebrities, and collectors alike.
Quick Facts:
- Bag: First-ever Hermès Birkin prototype, personally owned by Jane Birkin
- Price Sold: €8.6 million (approx. Rp163 billion)
- Auction House: Sotheby’s Paris
- Buyer: Private collector from Japan
- Status: Most expensive handbag ever sold at auction
Fashion as Legacy
This sale is more than a fashion headline-it’s a reminder that style is a legacy, and that personal stories and emotional value often transcend material worth. Jane Birkin may be gone, but her spirit, creativity, and effortless elegance live on-not only in her art, but in the bag that changed the history of fashion forever.
