In a jaw-dropping moment for fashion and collectors alike, Jane Birkin’s original Hermès bag has just shattered records by selling for a whopping $10.1 million at auction — officially becoming the most expensive handbag ever sold.
The legendary accessory went under the hammer this week during Sotheby’s Fashion Icons sale in Paris, and it wasn’t just any old bidding war — nine collectors went head-to-head across the globe, with one anonymous Japanese bidder ultimately snagging the iconic piece after a fierce battle that started at $1.7 million.
From Wicker Baskets to Global Headlines
Back in 1981, Hermès’ then-artistic director Jean-Louis Dumas witnessed Jane Birkin’s belongings spill from her wicker basket mid-flight. That moment of chaos sparked a revolution in luxury fashion. By 1985, the Birkin bag was born — a blend of utility and elegance, named after the effortlessly chic singer and actress herself.
Jane’s original prototype was unlike anything mass-produced. It came with a non-removable shoulder strap, smaller studs, unique brass hardware, and even a chain with a nail clipper attached — because why not? Her initials were engraved right on the front flap, making it a deeply personal piece of fashion history.
Fashion Royalty Meets Auction Royalty
This sale didn’t just break handbag records — it made Jane’s Birkin the second most valuable fashion item ever sold, only trailing behind Judy Garland’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, which went for $32.5 million in 2024.
Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s global head of handbags and fashion, summed it up perfectly:
“This is a landmark moment for luxury fashion — a rare and powerful combination of legend, legacy, and craftsmanship. The original Birkin wasn’t just a bag. It was the beginning of an empire.”
A Bag With a Heart
Jane Birkin wasn’t just a fashion icon — she was a humanitarian. In 1994, she donated the prototypeto raise funds for French AIDS charity Association Solidarité Sida. After being resold at a 2000 auction, the bag remained in private hands until this historic Sotheby’s event.
Though she received four more Hermès bags in her lifetime, Jane never let go of her original creation. Just like her effortless cool and timeless appeal, the Birkin bag remained her signature.
Now, it’s made fashion history.
