Japanese company buys original Birkin bags for 1.47 billion yen

The original black leather birkin bag owned and loved by Hermès Muse Jane Birkin has sold 1.47 billion yen (8.58 million euros), which is the Value Japan behind luxury buyer Allu. The historic acquisition, which took place on July 10 at a fashion icon auction in Sotheby’s in Paris, sets a new world record for the most valuable handbag ever.

Sotheby’s opened bids for the Birkin prototype for €1 million and fought fiercely between nine collectors. Value Japan took part in the competition via phone via Sotheby’s Japan head Maiko Ichikawa and won the event after a 10-minute bidding war.

“Today’s sale of the original Hermes Birkin marks an important milestone in the history of the fashion and luxury goods industry,” said Morgan Halimi, Sotheby’s global head of handbags and fashion. “It’s an amazing demonstration of the power of the legend and its ability to inspire collectors’ enthusiasm and desire.

Legendary fashion accessories are exported again

The highly anticipated auction marks the first initial market for Birkin in 25 years. The bag has been sold twice, initially in 1994, when Jane Birkin donated it to an auction that benefited from the French AIDS Charity Association. Once was. ”

It wasn’t on display at Sotheby’s Paris Gallery until last fall, and it wasn’t until the mysterious Birkin was seen by the public last fall. A series of views took place this year at Sotheby’s Maison in Hong Kong, New York and Paris, once again attracted thousands of visitors and attracted global interest from yesterday’s auction.

Jane Birkin brings her sticker Hermes bag in London, 1996 | Photo: Mike Daines/shutterstock

Birkin Bag was originally designed by HERMès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. The story is about Jane Birkin – sitting in a flight beside Dumas, the contents of her wicker basket bag spilled onto his legs, inspiring the then-designated art director to conceptualize a practical handbag that would be enough to accommodate her necessities.

Birkin aims to blend the relaxed elegance of a bohemian actress with durability and functionality, and has evolved into a highly resolved status symbol around the world. The handbag has also been central to many cultural discourses surrounding over-consumption, wealth differences and personality decline over the past decade, and ironically, it was the initial role of Jane Birkin’s self-expression canvas. Her worn purse is decorated with famous decorations with pieces of jewelry, scarves and ornaments.

The original Birkin still carries traces of Jane Birkin’s personalization, including her abbreviation “JB” and nail scissors, hung on the belt of the bag. Made from Hermès black box leather with gold-plated brass hardware, the prototype has a unique construction that blends the width and height of the Birkin 35 with the depth of the Birkin 40. It includes details that are not found in modern models, such as closed metal rings, Eclair zippers, non-changeable belts and small bottom studs.

So…who bought the original Birkin bag?

The buyer who acquired the original Birkin was Tokyo-based company Value Japan, which operates several luxury fashion businesses, including big-name buyers Allu and Nanboya. Japan’s Value stressed that the acquisition was not for resale purposes. Instead, the company sees it as a valuable addition to society, a cultural heritage that can be obtained by a wide audience.

Sakimoto Shinsuke, CEO of Japan Valuence, shared his thoughts on the acquisition. “The manifestation of Ms. Jane Berkin’s freedom and originality resonates with the philosophy of our group,” he told FashionsNap. “We hope the package can be a symbol of empowerment, diversity and confidence.”

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