01IN 1984 HERMES NAMED A BAG AFTER JANE BIRKIN. ON A FLIGHT SHE
HAD SPILLED HER STRAW BASKET BESIDE JEAN-LOUIS DUMAS, THE
HOUSE'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AND COMPLAINED THAT NOTHING SOLD
HELD A YOUNG MOTHER'S CLUTTER.
02DUMAS SKETCHED A ROOMY, SUPPLE HOLDALL ON THE SPOT, THE
STORY GOES ON AN AIRPLANE SICK BAG, AND PROMISED TO BUILD IT
IF SHE LET HIM USE HER NAME. SHE AGREED. THE PROTOTYPE
REACHED HER THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
03THE BAG CARRIES HERMES SADDLE-STITCHING PERFECTED IN THE
1800S, A FLAP, A TURN LOCK, AND A CLOCHETTE, THE LITTLE BELL-
SHAPED COVER FOR THE KEY. TWO ROLLED HANDLES, FEET ON THE
BASE. BUILT TO BE USED, NOT GUARDED.
04BIRKIN USED HERS HARD. SHE STAMPED HER INITIALS, J.B., ON THE
FLAP, HUNG A NAIL CLIPPER FROM THE STRAP, AND COVERED THE
LEATHER IN STICKERS FOR MEDECINS DU MONDE AND UNICEF. A
WORKING BAG, SCUFFED ON PURPOSE.
05IN JULY OF 2025 THAT FIRST BAG, THE ONE SHE CARRIED DAILY
FROM 1985 TO 1994, SOLD AT SOTHEBY'S PARIS FOR 8.6 MILLION
EUROS, ABOUT 10.1 MILLION DOLLARS. IT IS THE MOST VALUABLE
HANDBAG EVER SOLD AT AUCTION.
06FORTY YEARS ON, THAT FIRST BAG IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE HANDBAG
EVER AUCTIONED, AND BIRKIN KEPT GIVING HERS AWAY TO CHARITY.
A SKETCH ON ONE SHORT FLIGHT, AND IT BECAME THE HARDEST
THING IN LUXURY FASHION TO GET.