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The very first Birkin bag, once owned and used by the late Jane Birkin herself, has shattered records by fetching €8.58 million ($10 million or Rs 86 crore, approximately) at a Sotheby’s auction in Paris, Reuters reported on Thursday. This sale not only marks a historic moment for luxury fashion but also makes it the most expensive handbag ever auctioned.
The record was previously held by a Hermès White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Retourne Kelly 28, sold in 2021 for $513,040. The original Birkin didn’t just top that, it left it far behind.
That offbeat sketch led to what would become one of fashion’s most enduring and exclusive status symbols. Hermès asked Birkin if they could use her name when they launched the bag commercially. She agreed, and the Birkin was born.
This exact prototype–the one Dumas had made for Birkin after their encounter–was the one that went under the hammer this week, ultimately landing in the hands of a private Japanese collector.
Sotheby’s described the jet-black leather piece as “one of the most iconic fashion items ever created,” noting that it carries seven unique design features not found in any subsequent Birkin bags.
“More than just a bag, the Birkin has evolved from a practical accessory to become a timeless cultural icon,” Sotheby’s said. “Its presence spans the worlds of music, film, television and the arts; it is a red-carpet staple, a fashion magazine mainstay, and a coveted piece in the wardrobes of celebrities, artists and stylists.”
And while $10 million might seem like the peak, the Birkin still isn’t the priciest fashion item ever sold at auction. That honour belongs to the ruby red slippers worn in The Wizard of Oz, which went for a staggering $32.5 million in 2024, according to Sotheby’s.
