The primary Birkin bag that was designed by French luxurious model Hermes for actress Jane Birkin in 1984, might be auctioned in Paris on July 10, public sale home Sotheby’s mentioned Thursday.
The massive black leather-based tote, whose design went on to turn into one of the crucial well-known and costly luggage on the earth, would be the centrepiece of the “Trend Icons” sale, the public sale home mentioned.
This “historic, handcrafted prototype”, engraved with the initials J.B., has a number of distinctive options, Sotheby’s mentioned, together with closed steel rings, non-detachable shoulder strap and a built-in nail clipper.
The beginning of the Birkin bag has turn into a contemporary trend legend.
Throughout a Paris–London flight, the Anglo-French singer and actress — who died in 2023 — complained to a fellow traveller about not having the ability to discover a bag suited to her wants as a younger mom.
That fellow passenger occurred to be Jean-Louis Dumas, then head of Hermes.
The results of their dialog was a spacious tote with room for child bottles, created in 1984 and named the Birkin.
Forty years later, the leather-based purse has turn into the flagship product of the luxurious French leather-based items maker.
Produced in very restricted numbers, it maintains an aura of exclusivity, with costs starting from a number of thousand euros for the only fashions to a number of hundred thousand for essentially the most luxurious.
Beloved by celebrities together with Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham, the luggage will not be displayed in retailers and can’t be ordered on-line.
The prototype Birkin might be exhibited at Sotheby’s in New York from June 6 to 12 earlier than being placed on present within the French capital earlier than the sale.
Along with the Birkin bag, the Sotheby’s sale will characteristic iconic runway items from designers together with Christian Dior, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler and Alexander McQueen.
Bidding will open on-line on June 26 and shut on July 10.
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com