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Jane Birkin’s Original Hermès Bag Sells for €8.6 Million
Imagine carrying the same handbag every day for nearly a decade. Not switching it out to match your outfit. Not worrying about scratches or stains. Just you, your life, and one beautiful, broken-in bag.
That’s Exactly what Jane Birkin Did.
And now, that very same bag — the first-ever Birkin bag — has just made history. On July 10th, 2025, it sold at Sotheby’s Paris for a jaw-dropping €8.6 million ($10.1 million).
That price makes it the most expensive fashion accessory ever sold at auction in Europe — and the second most valuable fashion item ever auctioned globally, right after Dorothy’s ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz.
In 1984, Jane Birkin was on a flight from Paris to London. She was struggling with her straw bag — papers falling out, no compartments, no structure. Sitting beside her was Jean-Louis Dumas, the artistic director and chairman of Hermès. She casually sketched her dream bag on the back of an airsickness bag
Dumas turned that sketch into a prototype — just for her. A year later, the Birkin bag was born.
But the one that sold for millions? It wasn’t . It was Jane’s original. The bag she carried daily for years.
Her bag was part of her daily life
It had stickers from UNICEF and Médecins du Monde. A pair of nail clippers hung from the handle — a quiet protest against manicured norms.
It was scuffed, softened, and scribbled with history. It even bore her initials, J.B., embossed just below the lock.
Yes, This wasn’t just a bag. It was a diary in leather and brass.
And maybe that’s why it resonated so deeply
The Auction
The auction was held at Sotheby’s Paris, where bidding opened at €1 million — already well above expectations.
In just 10 minutes, nine collectors from around the world battled it out. The final winner? A private collector from Japan, who placed the winning bid of €7 million (before fees).
Gasps, applause, and even whistles filled the room as the price climbed.
According to Morgane Halimi, head of handbags and fashion at Sotheby’s, “It’s a startling demonstration of the power of a legend.” One that embodies craftsmanship, cultural relevance,
More Than a Bag — A Legacy
Jane Birkin passed away in 2023. But this sale is more than a tribute — it’s a reminder of how deeply personal things can become iconic.
The Birkin bag wasn’t designed to be a status symbol. It was created to solve a real problem for a real woman.
Conclusion
In a world obsessed with the new, the shiny, the spotless — this old, worn, sticker-covered bag stopped everyone in their tracks.
Because the most valuable things in life?
They’re not the flashiest.
They’re the ones that carry a life inside them.
That’s what Jane Birkin’s handbag did.
And that’s why it just made history.