Latest news with #HermèsBirkin
Emirates Woman
2 days ago
- Business
- Emirates Woman
The first-ever Birkin bag is up for sale. Here's how you can buy it
For fashion connoisseurs and collectors alike, the Hermès Birkin is more than an accessory—it's a cultural artifact, a symbol of status, and, increasingly, a sound investment. Yet even for those with considerable means, securing one is no simple feat. Waiting lists stretch into years, and exclusivity is fiercely guarded. But now, the ultimate sartorial trophy, the very first Birkin bag ever created, is set to go under the hammer. Sotheby's Paris will unveil this historic piece in its Fashion Icons sale on July 10, offering a rare chance to own the prototype that launched a global phenomenon. Estimated to start bidding around $10,000, this isn't just any Birkin—it's the original, once carried by its namesake, Jane Birkin herself. Crafted in supple black leather with gleaming gold hardware, the saddle-style bag bears the engraved initials J.B., a testament to its personal connection with the British-French icon. Its provenance is as legendary as its design: conceived in 1984 during a chance encounter on a flight, when Birkin's straw tote spilled mid-air. Over a casual conversation with Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas, the blueprint for the Birkin was sketched on an airplane sick bag—an origin story befitting fashion folklore. The bag was gifted to Birkin, who later sold it in 1994 to raise funds for AIDS research. It eventually landed in the hands of a private collector, known only as Catherine B. Now, three decades later, it returns to the auction stage, where it could very well shatter records. Sotheby's has remained tight-lipped on the reserve price, but expectations are high. 'The Original Birkin holds the potential to redefine records,' says Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion. The current auction record for a handbag stands at $510,000, set by a diamond-encrusted crocodile Birkin in 2017. Before the Paris sale, the bag will be exhibited at Sotheby's New York from June 6 to 12, followed by a showcase in Paris. Online bidding opens June 26, closing on July 10—marking the end of an era for one collector, and the beginning of a new chapter for another. For those who covet not just luxury, but legacy, this is the ultimate acquisition. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Pinterest
Black America Web
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Jane Birkin's Original Bag Is Hitting the Auction Block
Source: Tristan Fewings / Getty The bag that started it all is hittin' the auction block, and it's not just any purse, it's the original Hermès Birkin. The one carried by the late style icon and singer Jane Birkin herself is going up for grabs at Sotheby's this summer. Before it became the ultimate flex in fashion, the bag Beyoncé rapped about and celebs go on waitlists for, it was just a custom carry-all designed for Jane on a flight in the '80s. She casually told the head of Hermès she needed a bag big enough for her day-to-day grind, and boom, the Birkin was born. Now, that one-of-a-kind original, not a remake, not resale, is hitting the auction in Paris from June 26 to July 10. But if you're in NYC, you can see it on display at Sotheby's from June 6 through 12. RELATED: Cardi B's Birkin Collection Has Us A Tad Bit Envious Jane Birkin, who passed in 2023, was more than just a muse. She was a singer, actress, and activist who used her platform to speak out for causes like AIDS awareness and democracy in Myanmar. She had that classic cool-girl energy — and clearly, influence that still echoes today. Sotheby's hasn't dropped the price tag yet, but with resale Birkins going for up to $220K, and Princess Diana's sweater selling for over $1 mil last year, you already know this bag is gonna pull big numbers. And if you've ever wondered why Birkins cost so much? Hermès says it's not about hype, it's about craftsmanship. But let's be real, exclusivity, quality, and culture all play a part. 'Whatever we have, we put on the shelf, and it goes,' said Hermès' creative director. Period. SEE ALSO Jane Birkin's Original Bag Is Hitting the Auction Block was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Mint
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
The first-ever Birkin Bag is up for sale; Here's how you can buy
Fashion enthusiasts or not, owning a Hermès Birkin Bag is a dream for many, even seen as a better investment. However, getting your hands on one is not as easy as it may seem- even those with deep pockets and powerful fashion connections often find themselves on endless waiting lists. But, what if we tell you the rarest of them all is about to become available to the highest bidder. Yes, it is the very first Hermès Birkin bag ever created, the OG, once made and carried by the iconic British singer and actor Jane Birkin, is going up for auction soon. The historic bag will be featured in Sotheby's Paris Fashion Icons sale on July 10, offering collectors and fashion enthusiasts a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a piece of fashion history. The first Birkin bag is more than a fashion statement. It marks the beginning of a cultural phenomenon that today symbolises status, craftsmanship, taste and style, with prices starting at around $10,000. Crafted using sleek jet-black leather and accented with Hermès' iconic gold hardware, the first one is a saddle-style Birkin, engraved with the initials J.B. What makes it even more special is its origin story, which many might not know. In 1984, an encounter aboard a flight between style icon Jane Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas led to the creation of what today we know as the most sought-after bag in the world. Going by the story, Birkin's straw tote spilled its contents mid-flight, prompting her to casually remark on the need for a bag that was both stylish and functional. At that moment, Dumas sketched a design on an airplane sick bag, and the first blueprint of the Birkin bag was born. The very first Birkin ever made was gifted to Jane Birkin herself. It was sold by Jane in 1994 to raise funds for AIDS research. The bag found a home when a private collector known only as 'Catherine B,' took it home. Once again the iconic bag will go under the hammer at Sotheby's Paris Fashion Icons sale. Sotheby's has declined to specify a reserve price for the legendary bag publicly. "The Original Birkin holds the potential to redefine records," Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global handbag and fashion head, said in a statement as per AFP. The current record for the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction was set in 2017 in Hong Kong, when a highly customised Hermès Birkin went under the hammer. The luxurious Birkin 30, crafted from rare crocodile skin and adorned with diamonds and white gold hardware, fetched an astonishing $510,000 at Christie's. The prototype Birkin will be exhibited at Sotheby's in New York from June 6 to 12 before being put on show in Paris. Bidding will open online on June 26 and close on July 10.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Jane Birkin's personal Hermès Birkin bag prototype up for auction
Jane Birkin's personal Hermès Birkin bag prototype up for auction Jane Birkin's Hermés bag was the first ever, personally crafted for her lifestyle and it's now up for auction with record-breaking expectations.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sotheby's to auction Jane Birkin's original Hermès bag
(NewsNation) — The original Hermès Birkin bag, a prototype made for actress and singer Jane Birkin, is going up for auction this summer. The bag will be part of Sotheby's 'Paris Fashion Icons' sale taking place July 10. It will be on view at Sotheby's in Manhattan from June 6 to 10, and then on display at Sotheby's Galleries in Paris from July 3 to 9. Michelle Obama respects Malia's choice to drop last name on film credits The Birkin bag's origin story comes from a conversation between Birkin and then-Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight. Birkin complained that she could not find a bag big enough to fit all the things she needed throughout the day, and the two began to sketch out ideas on a sick bag on the plane. Dumas created the bag for her, and in 1985, Hermès offered the Birkin bag to her and asked for permission to name it after her. 'There is no doubt that the original Birkin bag is a true one-of-a-kind — a singular piece of fashion history that has grown into a pop culture phenomenon that signals luxury in the most refined way possible,' Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global head of handbags and fashion, said in a statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
