The Hermès Birkin is now one of the most recognized luxury handbags in the world. The woman behind its name is none other than French actress and singer Jane Birkin.
A one-of-a-kind prototype created especially for her—the Original Birkin—will go under the hammer at Sotheby’s Fashion Icons auction in Paris, taking place from June 26 to July 10, 2025. This legendary item, etched into the history of fashion, is set to make a remarkable return to the public eye.
The story of this “Original Birkin” began in 1981 with a chance encounter aboard an Air France flight. Seated next to Jean-Louis Dumas, then artistic director of Hermès, Jane casually expressed her frustration over not finding a handbag large enough for everyday use. Inspired by her practicality and effortless style, Dumas sketched a bag on the spot—one that would later become known as the Birkin.
The first official Birkin bag debuted in 1984. However, the bag featured in the upcoming auction predates that launch. It is the original prototype, personally used by Jane Birkin herself. She carried it for nearly a decade, decorating it with stickers from UNICEF and Médecins du Monde, and transforming it into a canvas that conveyed her personal values and humanitarian beliefs.
What makes this bag even more extraordinary are the seven unique design features found only on this one model: a fixed shoulder strap, a distinctive size that differs from commercial models, gilded brass hardware, smaller bottom studs, a zipper made by Éclair, closed metal rings, and her initials “J.B.” engraved on the flap. These elements reflect the original vision that would go on to redefine modern luxury.
Jane parted with the bag in 1994, donating it to a charity auction benefiting an AIDS support organization. It changed hands again in 2000 at another auction and has remained in private hands ever since. Its reappearance at Sotheby’s marks the first time in nearly 25 years that the bag has surfaced on the market.
Fittingly, the bag will be exhibited—and sold—in the exact condition it was last used by Jane. Her initials “J.B..” remain imprinted on the flap, and a nail clipper still hangs from the base of the strap—subtle reminders of the woman who carried it through everyday life.
Ahead of the Paris auction, a preview exhibition is being held at Sotheby’s New York headquarters from June 6 to 12.
More than just a luxury item, this Original Birkin is a cultural archive—a singular fusion of craftsmanship, celebrity, and personal narrative. To acquire it is to hold a tangible piece of fashion history.
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