Previously owned by muse Jane Birkin, the prototype of the iconic Hermès bag bears a few differences from the pieces sold today If there’s one luxury fashion piece everyone dreams of owning, it’s the Hermès Birkin bag. More than just a handbag, it is a global status symbol, representing exclusivity, wealth, and timeless luxury—and it all began with British-born artist Jane Birkin. In 1984, the French luxury house introduced the Birkin bag, initially priced at $2,000, according to Sotheby’s.
Its origin story dates back to 1981, when Jane serendipitously met Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight from Paris to London. In an interview with CBS, she recalled how her bag fell, spilling out its contents, prompting Jean-Louis to suggest she find a bag with pockets to keep her things organized. “What can you do? Hermès don’t make it with pockets,” she responded, unaware that Jean-Louis was the head of the brand.
“He said, ‘I am Hermès’...
I said, ‘Why don’t you make a handbag that’s a bit bigger than the Kelly but not as big as my suitcase?’” Using a sick bag from the flight, Jane sketched a design for an on-the-go woman. A month later, she received a call from Hermès, inviting her to see the prototype. They then asked if the bag could bear her name, to which she happily agreed.
A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) After carrying the bag for years, Jane donated it in 1994 to a charity auction for AIDS research. In 2000, it was resold at an.
