Iconic first Birkin bag smashes auction records - Price revealed
Birkin sold at auction for a record sum (photo: Getty Images)
An original Birkin bag that belonged to Jane Birkin was sold at auction for a record amount, according to the website of auction house Sotheby's.
How much was the iconic Birkin bag sold for
On Thursday, July 10, in Paris, historic bidding took place at Sotheby's: the iconic Hermès Birkin bag was sold for an impressive sum of 10.1 million US dollars.
As noted on the auction house's website, the lot generated extraordinary excitement: nine collectors had been competing for the bag within 10 minutes.
The accessory was presented exactly as it was last used by Birkin, with the initials "J.B." and brass hardware.
Made from Box leather, the bag had unusual proportions: its width and height matched the Birkin 35 model, while the depth was that of a Birkin 40.
How the legend was born
The story of the iconic model began in 1981, when Jane Birkin was flying on an Air France flight next to Jean-Louis Dumas, then creative director of Hermès.
During the flight, the actress accidentally tipped over her woven basket, which she was traveling with, and complained in frustration to her seatmate that she couldn't find a convenient yet spacious bag for everyday use.
That conversation inspired Dumas to sketch out the idea of the perfect bag, combining practicality and elegance.
Birkin sold at auction for a record sum (screenshot)
Four years later, in 1985, he presented Jane with the new model and offered to name it after her. This was how the first Birkin came into being.
History of the first bag
This very first bag became especially valuable to Birkin. During her lifetime, she received four more Birkins as gifts from Hermès, but this particular accessory remained closest to her heart.
In 1994, the actress donated it to a charity auction to support the fight against AIDS.
The bag was later resold in 2000 and remained in a private collection until July 2025, when it was put up for sale again.
As the Daily Mail reminds, the Birkin instantly became a status symbol in the fashion world: it was worn by Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, Kylie Jenner, and Jennifer Lopez.
@dailymail The ORIGINAL Birkin bag just sold at auction for a whopping $8.2 MILLION. The bag originally belonged to the late British actor and singer Jane Birkin, who had it commissioned. Reuters #news #birkin #birkinbag #auction #sothebys Millionaire Mindset - bitchbaby
Meanwhile, the most expensive fashion lot in history remains a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the film "The Wizard of Oz," which sold last year for 32.5 million dollars.
Previously, we shared stunning countryside-style outfits worn by Ostapchuk's ex.
