Sotheby's to auction the original Hermès Birkin prototype crafted for Jane Birkin

The Manila Times

Sotheby's to auction the original Hermès Birkin prototype crafted for Jane Birkin  Sotheby's is set to auction the original prototype of the Hermès Birkin bag, famously crafted for and carried by actress, Jane Birkin. The bag was created specifically for Birkin by Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas after a chance meeting on a plane, where Birkin expressed her need for a larger bag. The bag remains in the condition Birkin left it in 1994, complete with stickers and glue marks, a testament to her unique style. A private French fashion collector, who acquired the bag in 2000 and exhibited it in various museums, has decided to pass it on. While the auction estimate is available upon request, Sotheby's anticipates setting a record with the sale. The bag is part of the Fashion Icons sale that will take place on July 10.  REUTERS VIDEO  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net  Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion   Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital   Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher  Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein  Soundcloud: https://tmt.ph/soundcloud   #TheManilaTimes #tmtnews #sotheby #hermes #birkin #janebirkin

Transcript

00:00So this bag is not a bag, this is the original Birkin, the first ever made by

00:05Hermes for Jane Birkin, crafted in 1984. This bag is an icon and a legend because

00:13it was crafted for her to meet her needs. Jane Birkin was sitting next to Jean-Louis Dumas,

00:21the CEO of Hermes, and she was complaining about the fact that she

00:25didn't have a bag big enough to suit her life, and so Jean-Louis Hermes just explained her,

00:34don't worry, I am Hermes, so I can make a bag for you. So the Hermes Atelier made this bag

00:41and they used this old model called Haute Courroie. It's a big, big bag used for the harness maker,

00:49and they decided to put it like a smaller size. So this bag is not really a Birkin

00:55size. It's a mix of Haute Courroie and Birkin. So as you can see here, the hardware is made

01:04with brass, and this particularity makes this bag unique because Hermes never used brass,

01:10and for this bag we assume that the Atelier used it as a prototype, like a sketch. So this is the

01:16exact condition that she just left it. She really loved it, and you know, Jane Birkin was this kind

01:23of modern woman, she always had it open and she wore it like that. And you can see also the stickers,

01:29you still have the glues of the stickers, really the imprint of Jane Birkin on this bag. But it's

01:35not just Jane Birkin bag, this is the prototype and the beginning of what would become the most

01:42soft after, the most important bag in fashion history, the Birkin. They have decided, the Atelier,

01:49Hermes, to produce a non-removable strap. It will not be reproduced again. This is the only bag,

01:56only Birkin and all the collectors of Birkin bag will spot that. This is a non-removable strap. You

02:02will also find on this beautiful bag, the GB initial, of course, for Jane Birkin, and inside,

02:09because it's a secret, there's also a nail clipper. Yes. This bag is the origin of this Birkin

02:17legend and this desire across the world. You can't just predict things like that. The thing is,

02:23this bag is the icon and the origin. You know, a Birkin bag now is the most coveted bag ever,

02:32and you can't just explain a desire, you can't explain love. So I would say this is exactly the

02:37same. It's always difficult to forecast what could be the market. But of course, this piece

02:42is an icon, it's a legend. So basically, we think it can reach records.

03:05We'll see you next time.

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