The first-ever Birkin bag, designed for the iconic British singer and actress Jane Birkin, is set to be auctioned in Paris on July 10th. This marks a rare opportunity for collectors and fashion enthusiasts to own a piece of fashion history, a prototype that birthed one of the most coveted and expensive handbags in the world.
The bag's journey began in 1984, stemming from a chance encounter between Jane Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight from Paris to London. As the story goes, Birkin's straw tote spilled its contents mid-flight, prompting her to express the need for a stylish yet functional bag. Dumas, inspired by this, sketched a design on an airplane sick bag, laying the foundation for the Birkin bag. The very first Birkin crafted from sleek, jet-black leather with Hermès' iconic gold hardware, was gifted to Jane Birkin herself. It featured a saddle-style design and was engraved with the initials "J.B."
Jane Birkin sold the bag in 1994 to raise funds for AIDS research. It then found a home with a private collector known as "Catherine B," a well-known Paris-based handbag collector. Now, this iconic bag will once again go under the hammer at Sotheby's Paris Fashion Icons sale.
Sotheby's has chosen not to reveal a reserve price for the bag. Morgane Halimi, Sotheby's global handbag and fashion head, stated that "The Original Birkin holds the potential to redefine records." This auction could surpass the current record for the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction, which was set in 2017 in Hong Kong. That bag, a highly customized Hermès Birkin 30 crafted from rare crocodile skin and adorned with diamonds and white gold hardware, fetched an astonishing $510,000 at Christie's.
Before the auction in Paris, the prototype Birkin will be showcased at Sotheby's in New York from June 6th to 12th, offering a sneak peek at this unique piece of fashion history. Online bidding will commence on June 26th and conclude on July 10th, coinciding with Paris Haute Couture Week.
This first Birkin bag has several unique design elements compared to the commercially available model. These include its size, gilded brass hardware, smaller bottom studs, an inner zip from Éclair, and the stamped "J.B." initials. These details highlight the bag's status as a prototype gifted to Jane Birkin.
The Birkin bag has become a status symbol, epitomizing craftsmanship, taste, and style. The bag, so exclusive that Hermès only offers it to loyal clients, typically starts at around $10,000. The auction of the original is expected to draw significant interest from collectors worldwide and could set a new benchmark in the luxury handbag market.
Beyond the Birkin bag, the Sotheby's "Fashion Icons" sale will feature runway pieces from renowned designers such as Christian Dior, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler, and Alexander McQueen, adding further allure to this highly anticipated event.
