Editor’s Note
A piece of fashion history was made in Paris this week as the original Hermès ‘Birkin’ bag sold at auction for a record €8.6 million. This article details the landmark sale to a Japanese firm, marking the model’s first appearance on the auction block in a quarter-century.
On July 10 (local time), the first-ever model of the iconic Hermès ‘Birkin’ bag was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in Paris for a record-breaking 8.6 million euros (approximately 1.47 billion yen). The winning bidder was the Japanese company ‘Valuence Japan’. This marked the first time in 25 years that the original ‘Birkin’ model had been offered at auction.
While the ‘Birkin Himalaya’ is known as one of the world’s rarest bags, the item auctioned was an even rarer prototype: the original black leather model that served as the blueprint for the Birkin bag. Created specifically for French actress Jane Birkin around 40 years ago, this bag still bears marks from stickers she applied at the time.
The winning bidder, Valuence Japan, operates brand buyback services such as ‘Namboya’ and ‘BRAND CONCIER’, pre-owned brand shops like ‘ALLU’, and antique/art buyback service ‘Kobijutsu Hakkodo’. The company is involved in the reuse business of brand goods, watches, jewelry, and precious metals within Japan.
The Hermès ‘Birkin’ was a necessity for Jane Birkin, who famously carried a lot of luggage. There is a well-known anecdote that Jean-Louis Dumas, the fifth chairman of Hermès, designed the bag for her after a chance conversation on a flight, inspired by her struggles with organizing her belongings.
Jane Birkin enjoyed decorating her ‘Birkin’ bag according to her mood. At times, she used items that expressed her views on world affairs, such as a portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi or a Tibetan flag. Her affection for Japan was also evident through charms like a ‘Hinomaru’ sticker, an ‘omamori’ (amulet) from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, a ‘kokeshi’ doll, and a Japanese-pattern drawstring pouch keychain, likely purchased during a visit to Japan. Her approach suggested that the bag was not just to be carried as-is, but could be a ‘canvas’ for personal customization.