A handbag sold for $10.1 million

At a Sotheby’s auction in Paris, the original Birkin bag was sold for a record $10.1 million. This marked the most expensive handbag sale in history, setting a new milestone in the fashion world.

This black leather bag was created in 1985 for the famous British-French artist Jane Birkin. While flying on a plane with the head of the Hermès fashion house, her belongings spilled from her bag. The CEO of Hermès then came up with the idea of a more practical and spacious handbag — sketched on a paper bag.

The first prototype based on that sketch, gifted to Jane Birkin, later became the starting point for the globally renowned “Birkin” brand.

This unique prototype bag was purchased by a private Japanese collector at Sotheby’s auction in Paris in July 2025. The auction saw an intense 10-minute bidding war among 9 determined buyers. The previous record was $515,500, and the new price surpassed it nearly 20 times.

Sotheby’s global head of fashion and handbags, Morgane Halimi, called the record price “the power of legend”:

“This bag is one of the most iconic symbols of modern fashion. The original Birkin bag holds not only a unique design but also historic significance.”

The bag changed several owners after Jane Birkin. It retains her initials, her inseparable shoulder strap, a nail clipper she always carried, as well as sticker marks from organizations like UNICEF and Médecins du Monde.

Jane Birkin used this bag for 10 years and donated it to an AIDS charity auction in 1994. It was later purchased by luxury Parisian boutique owner Catherine Benier, who kept it for 25 years.

Today, Birkin bags are recognized as the ultimate status symbol. Owning one often requires years of waiting. Celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, and Jennifer Lopez are proud owners of these bags.

This historic sale reaffirmed not only the Birkin bag’s place in fashion but also its value among collectors. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!