Original Hermès Birkin Bag Sells for Record $15 Million at Auction

The original Hermès Birkin bag, created exclusively for actress and fashion icon Jane Birkin in 1984, has become the most famous and expensive handbag in history. This one-of-a-kind bag, featuring Birkin's initials and a unique non-removable shoulder strap, was sold at auction for a record-breaking $15 million, making it the second highest-priced fashion item ever auctioned, just behind a pair of ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. The Birkin bag originated from a chance encounter between Birkin and then-Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight, where Birkin expressed her desire for a practical yet stylish handbag, inspiring Dumas to design the spacious tote. Unlike later versions, the original bag has unique features such as gilded brass hardware and a size between the standard 35 and 40 cm models, and it shows wear from Birkin's personal use, including stickers and other customizations. The Birkin has since become a symbol of luxury and exclusivity, often reselling for tens of thousands to millions of dollars, with long waiting lists and high demand, even among celebrities. Despite its high price and exclusivity, affordable lookalike bags inspired by the Birkin design are available from other brands, offering similar aesthetics at much lower prices.