Edith Hejberg
On July 10, 2025, that very bag sold at Sotheby’s for €8.6 million (about $10 million with fees), setting a new world record for the most expensive handbag ever sold
A Handbag Born Mid-Air
The original Birkin bag wasn’t dreamt up in a boardroom, it was scribbled onto an airplane sick bag in 1984. British actress and singer Jane Birkin was seated next to Hermès executive Jean-Louis Dumas on a Paris-to-London flight.
She was complaining about the lack of practical handbags for women, she sketched out her dream tote mid-flight. A year later, Hermès delivered her the very first Birkin.
More Than Just Fashion
Jane Birkin didn’t treat the bag like a luxury item, she used it daily from 1985 to 1994. It was scuffed, scratched, and even stained with stickers from humanitarian causes like Médecins du Monde and UNICEF.
Her initials “J.B.” are stamped on the front flap, and her silver nail clippers still hang from the strap, they were a personal touch she insisted on.
The $10 Million Bidding Frenzy
On July 10, 2025, that very bag sold at Sotheby’s for €8.6 million (about $10 million with fees), setting a new world record for the most expensive handbag ever sold.
Bidding opened at €1 million and quickly escalated during a 10-minute battle between nine collectors. A private buyer from Japan ultimately claimed the prize.
Not Just Another Birkin
Despite its wear, the bag’s uniqueness made it priceless. Unlike later versions, it features distinct hardware, original sizing, and a shoulder strap design that was never replicated.
Its authenticity set it apart from even the rarest diamond-encrusted editions. In fact, it easily surpassed the previous record-holder: a $513,000 Kelly bag.
Jane Birkin’s Quiet Legacy
Birkin sold the bag in 1994 to raise money for AIDS research, and it passed through private hands before resurfacing at auction this year. The seller, known only as Catherine B., said winning it in a previous auction felt “raw and indescribable.”
Birkin herself once joked that she’d be remembered more for the bag than her music or film work, and she may have been right.
A Timeless Piece of Fashion History
While many now treat Birkin bags as investments, some even outperforming gold and the stock market, the original was rooted in practicality and purpose. Hermès gifted Birkin four more bags over her lifetime.
The first bag she recieved is still the most iconic. As Sotheby’s put it, the sale is not just a record-breaker, it’s a tribute to the woman who inspired it.
