The first Birkin bag ever sold for 7 million euros at an auction in Paris on Thursday. This makes it the most expensive handbag ever auctioned. The bag was owned by the English-French actress and singer Jane Birkin, after whom it is named.
The so-called ‘Birkin Bag’ was made in 1984 by the French fashion house Hermès. In 1984, Birkin happened to be sitting next to Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight to Paris. She asked him to make a larger version of the Kelly bag, so she would have a chic bag to carry baby products in.
Hermès made the bag especially for Birkin, who was often spotted with it afterwards, as can be seen in the photo at the bottom of this article. The Birkin bag grew into an icon in the fashion world and became the symbol of excessive luxury. The bags generally cost tens of thousands of euros, and some versions cost hundreds of thousands or even millions.
The bag that was auctioned was the first that Birkin received. She used it almost daily until 1994, when she sold it and donated the proceeds to AIDS research. Birkin passed away in 2023.
The bag shows damage such as scratches and discoloration, but is still incredibly valuable. According to auction house Sotheby’s, the bag stands out due to its size, the metal rings and the shoulder strap. There are also some unique details added, such as the initials J.B. (Jane Birkin) at the handle.
With the winning bid of 7 million euros, the record for the most expensive handbag ever was shattered. That record was held by a diamond-encrusted crocodile leather Kelly bag. That brought in approximately 440,000 euros in 2021.