Another piece of fashion history has commanded a staggering price at auction, as a Hermes handbag once owned by the late Jane Birkin sold for an impressive $2.86 million (2.45 million euros). The sale took place in Abu Dhabi on Friday, December 5, 2025, according to an announcement from Sotheby's this Tuesday.
The Legacy of an Iconic Design
The Hermes Birkin bag, a modern classic coveted by fashion enthusiasts globally, was first created for the British singer and actress in 1984. Its journey from a personal design to a symbol of ultimate luxury continues to captivate the market. This sale comes just months after the record-shattering auction of Birkin's first prototype bag, which fetched a monumental 8.58 million euros ($10 million) at a Sotheby's event in Paris this past July.
The specific bag sold in Abu Dhabi was a "Birkin Voyageur" model. It was originally gifted to Jane Birkin, the former wife of French music icon Serge Gainsbourg, back in 2003. The final hammer price dramatically surpassed all expectations, coming in at approximately six times higher than the pre-sale estimate of $230,000 to $430,000.
A Fierce Bidding War for a Charitable Legacy
"Jane Birkin's handbag legacy continues to captivate collectors," Sotheby's stated in a release to AFP. The auction house revealed that the winning bid emerged after an 11-minute contest involving six determined collectors. The new owner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, secured the bag via telephone.
This handbag was one of only four personally owned by the celebrity, who was known to sell them to support various charitable initiatives. Adding a deeply personal touch, the bag features a handwritten inscription in French from Birkin herself, which translates to: "My Birkin bag, my globetrotting companion."
The Future of the Birkin Collection
The story of Jane Birkin's iconic bags is not over. A third Hermes bag from her collection is scheduled to be auctioned on December 15 at the Hotel Drouot auction house in Paris. This item was entrusted by Birkin to her friend and biographer, Gabrielle Crawford. Proceeds from this upcoming sale will help establish the future Jane Birkin Foundation, as confirmed by Drouot.
The enduring allure of the Birkin bag lies in its exclusive production and aura of rarity, making it a favourite among A-list celebrities like the Kardashians, Jennifer Lopez, and Victoria Beckham. For context, while this sale set a high bar for handbags, the most expensive fashion item ever sold at auction remains the ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz (1939), which sold for $32.5 million in Dallas, Texas, in 2024.
