‘The most famous bag of all time': How the Birkin came to be
Named after the late actor Jane Birkin, for whom French fashion houses Hermès created it, the auctioneer called accessory the 'the most famous bag of all time'.
(The Birkin bag was notably featured in the 2011 Hindi film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. The film contained several references to its hefty price tag.)
Hermès exclusively commissioned the bag for Birkin in 1984, branding it with her initials J.B. on the front flap, below the lock. The subsequent commercialised version of Birkin's bag went on to become one of the world's most exclusive luxury items, extravagantly priced and with a years-long waiting list.
The bag was born out of an encounter between Birkin and Jean-Louis Dumas, then the head of Hermès, on a flight. Birkin splilt some of her things on the cabin floor, and asked Dumas why Hermès didn't make a bigger handbag. Dumas sketched a design on an aeroplane vomit bag and soon, sent Birkin her specially-made bag.
'There is no doubt that the Original Birkin bag is a true one-of-a-kind… It is incredible to think that a bag initially designed by Hermès as a practical accessory… has become the most desirable bag in history,' said Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's head of handbags and fashion.
Sotheby's said that several design elements on the handcrafted all-black leather prototype set it apart from Birkins that followed. For one, this was the only Birkin with a non-removable shoulder strap — fitting for the busy life and practicality of the singer, actor, social activist and mother. The bag that Hermès handmade for Birkin also has gilded brass hardware, bottom studs and other features that differ from commercial models.
Birkin's casual, breezy style in the 1960s and early 1970s — long hair with bangs, jeans paired with white tops, knit minidresses and basket bags — still epitomises the height of French chic for many.
Birkin kept the prototype for nearly a decade before auctioning it for an AIDS charity in 1994. It was auctioned again in 2000 and has since been in private hands. Sotheby's said.
'Its presence spans the worlds of music, film, television and the arts' and that 'It is a red-carpet staple, a fashion magazine mainstay, and a coveted piece in the wardrobes of celebrities, artists and stylists.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
NYT Mini Crossword Hints July 28: Clues and answers to decode the Monday puzzle
While The New York Times is renowned for its traditional full-size Crossword, available exclusively to subscribers, its free-to-play Mini Crossword has carved out a loyal following as a go-to choice for daily digital brain exercises. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A Trusted Ritual in Word Game Culture NYT Mini Across Clues: From Legal Terms to Subtle Wordplay 1 Across prompted solvers to think of a common abbreviation used for courtroom prosecutors. 4 Across alluded to a verb describing the act of leaving something out. 7 Across hinted at a celebratory phrase often heard in sports contexts, describing a team's strong finish. 9 Across invoked a more abstract concept, focusing on the idea of fine distinctions. 10 Across directly referenced a clue tied to the first Down entry, forming a compound expression. Downward Trail: Faith, Culture, and Idioms Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 1 Down, when paired with 10 Across, was a play on the idea of something being 'completely and utterly.' 2 Down shifted the puzzle toward linguistic variety, asking solvers for a French term for love. 3 Down carried biblical weight, pointing to the mountain associated with Moses and the Ten Commandments. 5 Down moved back to everyday items, asking for a tool typically used when grilling. 6 Down was structured around a commonly heard exclamation. 8 Down brought cultural significance into the grid, referring to the Vietnamese New Year. July 28, 2025 — Full Answers Unveiled 1 Across: DAS – short for District Attorneys 4 Across: OMITS – indicating a deliberate omission 7 Across: WONOUT – slang for finishing on a winning streak 9 Across: NUANCE – highlighting subtle differences 10 Across: RIGHT – complements 1 Down to form 'DOWNRIGHT' 1 Down: DOWN – part of 'downright' 2 Down: AMOUR – French for love 3 Down: SINAI – biblical Mount Sinai 5 Down: TONG – the utensil for grilling 6 Down: SUCH – used in phrases like 'There's no such thing!' 8 Down: TET – Vietnamese New Year Puzzle Culture and Growing Popularity A Quiet Cultural Moment, Night After Night Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Daily Crossword Rituals Continue FAQs What is The New York Times Mini Crossword? What makes the Mini different from the full-size NYT Crossword? The New York Times Mini Crossword for Monday, July 28, 2025, has once again drawn in a wave of word-game enthusiasts, marking another day in the popular puzzle's enduring streak of daily intellectual engagement. Released promptly at 10 p.m. (ET) each evening, the NYT Mini Crossword clues serve as a staple for many who kickstart or wind down their day with this succinct brain the NYT is widely acclaimed for its traditional full-size Crossword puzzle reserved for paid subscribers, The Mini, free to access, has established itself as a widely embraced companion to daily digital brain workouts. Alongside Wordle, Connections, and Strands, The Mini continues to hold its own with a loyal community that eagerly awaits the evening edition for July 28 carried its characteristic mix of brevity and brain-teasing clues, offering both challenge and charm in a compact 5x5 New York Times Mini Crossword clues for the 'Across' entries in the July 28 edition revealed a range of subjects, from legal jargon to expressions of success, as per a report by Parade magazine. These clues were designed to test lateral thinking while keeping players on their toes, as per a report by Parade magazine:These clues, though brief, required nuanced thinking—especially as many words had multiple meanings, depending on the vertical clues on this date brought a balance of religious references, foreign terms, and familiar phrases, as per a report by Parade Magazine:These NYT Mini Crossword not only spanned across themes but required solvers to toggle between common knowledge, idiomatic understanding, and cultural those who struggled to connect the clues to solutions, the answers revealed Monday night tied the puzzle together cleanly, as mentioned in a report by Parade magazine:Each answer reflects how even a minimalist crossword can stretch vocabulary and inference skills. The solutions demonstrate an elegant balance between brevity and mental rise in popularity of the NYT Mini Crossword mirrors a larger trend in bite-sized digital games that offer a daily burst of cognition. Unlike longer puzzles that require a block of time and more obscure knowledge, The Mini can be solved in minutes, making it ideal for commutes, coffee breaks, or moments of users engaging in streaks across other NYT offerings like Wordle and Connections, the Mini becomes part of a broader word game ecosystem. Many solvers consider completion of all three puzzles a badge of linguistic honor for the unique charm of The Mini lies in its ability to offer daily satisfaction. The clues on July 28 exemplified how the puzzle's creators blend wordplay, trivia, and subtle cultural nods. That's the appeal, each grid is a microcosm of language and logic, neatly packed into a five-by-five consistently at 10 p.m. Eastern, the puzzle has formed a dedicated user base that refreshes the NYT Games portal each night. Whether played solo or with family members across generations, the puzzle has grown to be more than just a pastime; it is a shared the month nears its close, puzzle solvers can expect the NYT Mini to continue delivering clever wordplay, unexpected references, and the comfort of routine. Whether a player seeks the thrill of solving solo or the satisfaction of sharing streaks on social media, the Mini continues to anchor itself in the daily lives of countless NYT Mini Crossword is a daily 5x5 puzzle known for its concise yet intellectually engaging format. Released nightly at 10 p.m. ET, it provides a brief but satisfying brain teaser, free to access on the NYT Games the full-size crossword is longer and typically requires a subscription, the Mini is shorter, accessible for free, and solvable in just a few minutes, ideal for quick mental workouts.
Mint
28 minutes ago
- Mint
Why Radhika Gupta is raising the alarm over Dior's ₹1.73cr Lucknowi mukaish coat: ‘No credit, hands remain invisible…'
After Italian luxury house Prada lifted India's Kolhapuri sandals for its runway show uncredited, Edelweiss Chief Radhika Gupta has now called out French fashion brand Dior for failing to credit Indian artisans for its ₹ 1.73 crore worth coat ($2,00,000 price tag), featuring Lucknowi mukaish embroidery technique. Showcased during the Paris Fashion Week in June as part of Dior Homme's Menswear ready-to-wear Spring Summer 2026 collection, the coat heavily featured Lucknowi mukaishi embroidery in its pattern and was presumably priced high for the painstaking days of handiwork involved. Mukaish embroidery involves the use of metallic threads — usually gold or silver — to embellish patterns into fabrics (predominantly silk) and create a shimmering effect. It is often used on decorate traditional Indian clothing. In a hearfelt, lengthy post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Radhika Gupta called out the lack of visibility for the local artisans involved in making luxury brand products and the lack of credit to India and Indian craft as a source of inspiration. She wrote: 'One more handloom, one more headline. Dior sells a $200K coat using Lucknowi mukaish embroidery. 12 Indian artisans. 34 days of work. No credit. No context. No mention of India.' 'The world loves Indian craftsmanship — But rarely credits the craftspeople. And almost never shares the value. Because the branding, storytelling, and pricing power stay elsewhere. The hand that creates remains invisible,' she added. Radhika Gupta noted that India must take a page out of Japan and South Korea's playbook to capitalise on 'soft power' using our local crafts. 'Culture is soft power. Japan did it with design. Korea did it with pop culture. India must do it with craft. From sourcing destination to storytelling nation. A home of global brands. The lion has to come out. And roar,' she added. Notably, this incident from Dior comes only a month after Prada faced backlash from Indian artisans and politicians for using traditional designs without credit in its Spring-Summer 2026 menswear collection. In a letter addressed to Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Prada's head of corporate social responsibility, Lorenzo Bertelli wrote, 'We acknowledge that the sandals... are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage. We deeply recognise the cultural significance of such Indian craftsmanship,' Reuters reported citing the document dated June 27. Talk began after models in the Milan show were seen wearing leather sandals with a braided design — closely resembling handmade Kolhapuri slippers, dating back to the 12th century. According to Bertelli, Prada is committed to responsible design and respecting traditional Indian crafts. The brand wishes to engage with local Indian artisans and ensure they get proper credit for their work, he said.
Hindustan Times
28 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Thammudu OTT release: When and where to watch Nithiin, Laya's family drama
Thammudu OTT release: Venu Sriram's family drama Thammudu, starring Nithiin and Laya in lead roles, was released in theatres on 4 July. The family drama, which explores the bond between siblings, received lukewarm reviews and subpar box office numbers upon release. The film will now hit OTT after 28 days of release in theatres. Know when and where to watch. Thammudu OTT release: Nithiin's latest film will be released on Netflix soon. Thammudu OTT release in August Netflix South India's official X (formerly Twitter) handle announced that Thammudu will be released on the OTT platform on 1 August. It will be available in the original Telugu language, along with Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. Making the announcement, Netflix wrote, 'Thana lakshyanni, akkani thirigi thevadaniki ee thammudu is on a mission! (This brother is on a mission to reach his goal and bring back his sister) Watch Thammudu on Netflix, out 1 August in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada. #ThammuduOnNetflix.' People who watched Thammudu in theatres cracked jokes about how it needn't be watched on OTT, while few others seemed excited about the release. One X user wrote, 'If you missed it in Theatre. Please miss it on Netflix too.' Another commented, 'August 1st – cancel your plans. Mee thammudu vachestunnadu! (Your brother is coming)' Many commented under the post wondering why the film wasn't being released in Hindi, writing, 'Hindi release?' One joked, 'If it's not released in Hindi some fans do dub in Hindi.' About Thammudu Thammudu stars Nithiin as Jai and Laya as his sister Kiranmayi. Sapthami Gowda and Varsha Bollamma also play lead roles in the film. Thammudu tells the story of a brother who goes to extreme lengths to safeguard his sister from harm. A deadly factory blast in Vizag claims several lives, and the owner, played by Saurabh Sachdeva, tries to pressure officials to ensure he isn't blamed for it. When Kiranmayi, an honest officer, finds herself being hunted, Jai steps in to save the day. According to Sacnilk, Thammudu collected ₹5.25 crore in India and ₹7.3 crore worldwide.
