The original Hermès Birkin bag, created for British actress Jane Birkin, is set to go under the hammer in Paris on July 10, with fashion insiders predicting a historic bidding war for the iconic piece.
Auction house Sotheby’s, which will oversee the sale, has not disclosed a reserve price, but experts say the prototype could “redefine records” in the luxury accessory market. The bag, a landmark in fashion history, is expected to far exceed the current handbag auction record of $510,000, held by a diamond-encrusted crocodile-skin Birkin sold in Hong Kong in 2017.
Described as the “jewel” of her collection by seller and renowned handbag dealer Catherine Benier, the original Birkin has changed hands twice since Jane Birkin auctioned it in 1994 to support an AIDS charity.
The Birkin, now a symbol of elite fashion, is notoriously difficult to acquire, reserved only for Hermès’ most loyal clients, with retail prices starting at around $10,000.
This sale comes at a time when the fashion world is shifting from “quiet luxury” to bolder, more extravagant styles, a trend some have dubbed “boom boom” fashion. The auction of the historic Birkin prototype could be the ultimate expression of this new era.
Sotheby’s Morgane Halimi, head of global handbags and fashion, emphasized the cultural weight of the sale, calling it “a moment that bridges fashion history and modern opulence.”
