In a stunning turn of events that captivated the fashion world, the original Birkin bag created for the late Jane Birkin sold for an unprecedented €7 million (approximately $8.2 million) at Sotheby’s Paris today, July 10, 2025.
The astronomical price shattered all previous handbag auction records, leaving the audience gasping and applauding as bidders fought intensely over this piece of fashion history.
With Sotheby’s fees included, the total price for the winning bidder from Japan reached a staggering €8.6 million ($10.1 million).
A Fashion Icon’s Legacy Lives On
Jane Birkin, the British-French actress, singer, and style icon who passed away on July 16, 2023, at age 76, left behind more than just her artistic legacy.
The bag that bears her name has become the ultimate symbol of luxury and exclusivity in the fashion world.
Ironically, Birkin herself once joked in a 2018 CBS interview that her obituaries would likely say “Like the bag or something,” acknowledging how her name had become more associated with the accessory than her accomplished career in film and music.
The Birth of an Icon: From Airplane Sketch to Fashion History
The story of the Birkin bag’s creation is as legendary as the bag itself.
In the early 1980s, during a flight from Paris to London, Jane Birkin found herself seated next to Jean-Louis Dumas, then chairman of Hermès.
After spilling the contents of her wicker basket on the cabin floor, Birkin lamented the lack of practical yet stylish handbags for busy mothers.
“He said, ‘Well, draw it for me,’ and so I drew it on one of those sick bags – the vomit bags – in the airplane,” Birkin recounted in a 2020 interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.
That impromptu sketch on an air sickness bag would eventually become the blueprint for one of the world’s most coveted luxury items.
Seven Unique Features That Set The Original Apart
The prototype that sold today features seven distinct design elements never repeated together in subsequent Birkin bags:
1. Fixed shoulder strap: The only Birkin ever made with a non-removable strap, perfect for Birkin’s busy lifestyle as a mother and performer.
2. Hybrid size: Combining the width and height of a Birkin 35 with the depth of a Birkin 40.
3. Gilded brass hardware: Later versions used gold-plated hardware instead.
4. Closed metal rings (pontets): Similar to Hermès’ original riding bags.
5. Smaller bottom studs: Differing from all later commercial models.
6. Personal touches: Including a nail clipper attached to the bag, reflecting Birkin’s practical nature.
7. Monogrammed initials: “J.B.” branded on the front flap below the lock.
Record-Breaking Auction Drama
The Paris auction room buzzed with anticipation as bidding opened at €1 million ($1.17 million).
What followed was a breathtaking escalation that left attendees stunned.
The price quickly surpassed €2 million, then €3 million, €4 million, and €5 million to astonished gasps from the crowd.
When the price jumped from €5.5 million to €6 million in one bid, whistles and applause erupted throughout the room.
The final moments saw fierce competition between telephone bidders, with bids climbing from €6.2 million to €6.5 million, then €6.8 million, before the Japanese buyer secured the prize with the winning €7 million bid.
Previous Record Obliterated
This sale completely eclipsed the previous handbag auction record of $513,040, held by a White Himalaya Niloticus Crocodile Diamond Retourne Kelly 28.
The original Birkin is now in a league of its own, setting a new benchmark for luxury accessories at auction.
“There is no doubt that the Original Birkin bag is a true one-of-a-kind — a singular piece of fashion history that has grown into a pop culture phenomenon,” said Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s global head of handbags and fashion.
The Bag’s Journey Through Time
Jane Birkin carried this prototype as her everyday bag for nearly a decade, from 1985 to 1994.
True to her charitable nature, she then donated it to an AIDS charity auction in 1994.
The bag changed hands again in 2000 and had remained in private hands until today’s historic sale.
Cultural Impact Beyond Fashion
While commercial Birkin bags can range from $10,000 to over $400,000, with years-long waiting lists, this original prototype represents something far greater than luxury.
It embodies the intersection of practicality and elegance that Jane Birkin herself represented.
The Birkin bag has transcended fashion to become a cultural phenomenon, appearing in films, television shows, and becoming a status symbol recognized worldwide.
Jane Birkin’s Enduring Legacy
Born in London on December 14, 1946, Jane Birkin became a beloved figure in France, known for her ethereal voice, natural style, and social activism.
Her collaborations with Serge Gainsbourg, including the controversial hit “Je t’aime moi non plus,” made her an icon of the 1960s and 70s.
Beyond fashion and music, Birkin was celebrated for her humanitarian work, campaigning for Amnesty International, Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement, and the fight against AIDS.
The Modern Birkin Phenomenon
Today’s sale comes at a time when the Birkin bag continues to spark debates about luxury, exclusivity, and accessibility in fashion.
Recent controversies include Walmart listing “Wirkin” bags – affordable dupes of the famous design – raising questions about fashion democratization and intellectual property.
Despite such debates, or perhaps because of them, the original Birkin’s record-breaking sale confirms its status as the most desirable handbag in history.
A Fitting Tribute
As the fashion world continues to mourn Jane Birkin’s passing two years ago, today’s extraordinary auction result serves as a testament to her enduring influence.
From a practical sketch on an airplane sick bag to an €8.6 million treasure, the Original Birkin bag’s journey mirrors its creator’s own transformation from shy English girl to international icon.
The bag now begins a new chapter with its Japanese owner, carrying with it the spirit of the remarkable woman who inspired it – a woman who, despite joking about being remembered “like the bag,” leaves behind a legacy that encompasses so much more.
