Second-hand Bag Sold for 13.816 Billion Won

[Financial News] The first Birkin bag made by Hermès was auctioned at the highest price ever for a handbag.
On the 10th (local time), according to AP News and others, at the Sotheby's auction held in Paris, France, the first Birkin bag made by the French luxury fashion brand Hermès in 1985 was sold for a total of 8.6 million euros (about 13.816 billion won), including fees.
The pure winning bid was 7 million euros (about 11.243 billion won), and the previous highest bid was set by Hermès' Kelly bag 'Himalaya Kelly28' with white diamonds in 2021, which was 513,040 dollars (about 705.3 million won).
The Birkin bag started at an auction price of 1 million euros (about 1.606 billion won) and was won by a Japanese collector after a competition among 9 bidders. Sotheby's did not disclose the identity of the winning bidder.
The bag was used by the late British singer and actress Jane Birkin for 9 years. The initials 'J.B' are engraved on the front of the bag, and even the sticker marks she attached to the bag remain.
The origin of the Birkin bag dates back to the early 1980s when Birkin and then Hermès chairman Jean-Louis Dumas met by chance on a plane.
At the time, Birkin said, "Why don't you make a bigger handbag?" Hearing this, Chairman Dumas designed the Birkin bag on the spot and later made a prototype to give to her. Chairman Dumas received Birkin's consent and named the product 'Birkin Bag' before launching it.



june@fnnews.com Lee Seok-woo Reporter