Nairobi, July 11- The very first Birkin bag has made history after being auctioned for an astonishing KSh1.3 billion ($10 million), becoming the most expensive handbag ever sold.
The sale took place at Sotheby’s in Paris, where a private collector from Japan acquired the iconic black leather bag.
The Birkin bag was first conceived in 1985, following a chance meeting on a flight between British-French singer Jane Birkin and Jean-Louis Dumas, then CEO of luxury fashion house Hermès. During the flight, Birkin’s belongings spilled out of her handbag, prompting a conversation about the lack of spacious, elegant bags for women. Dumas quickly sketched a design on an airplane sick bag, laying the foundation for what would become the Birkin.
The original prototype was never meant for commercial use but eventually inspired a global fashion staple renowned for its exclusivity and status. Hermès went on to mass-produce the bag, which has since become one of the most sought-after accessories in the world.
What makes this particular Birkin especially valuable are its personal touches from Jane Birkin herself. It features her initials on the front flap, a fixed shoulder strap, and even nail clippers she had attached. Visible marks show where she had placed stickers supporting causes like Médecins du Monde and UNICEF.
Jane Birkin, who passed away on July 16, 2023, owned the bag for ten years before donating it in 1994 to support an AIDS charity.
The bag later came into the possession of Catherine Benier, who kept it for 25 years before selling it at the record-breaking auction on Thursday, July 10.
