Skip to main contentSkip to navigationSkip to navigation Print subscriptions Search jobs Europe edition Australia edition International edition The Guardian - Back to homeThe Guardian Show moreHide expanded menu View all News Climate crisis Environment Global development View all Opinion The Guardian view Opinion videos View all Sport Rugby union View all Culture Art & design View all Lifestyle Health & fitness Home & garden Search input google-search Print subscriptions Search jobs Digital Archive Guardian Licensing The Guardian app Newsletters Today's paper Inside the Guardian Guardian Weekly Corrections Search input google-search Search jobs Digital Archive Guardian Licensing Middle East Global development Original Birkin bag sells for record €8.6m in Paris auction – video The first Birkin handbag has sold for a record €8.6m (£7.4m) at a Paris auction on Thursday, making it the most expensive fashion accessory ever sold at auction in Europe. The Birkin bag is a symbol of luxury that was born from a chance encounter between the singer and actor Jane Birkin and the former Hermès boss Jean-Louis Dumas on a flight in the 1980s. They got talking after she spilled some of her things on the cabin floor and Birkin sketched her ideal handbag on a vomit bag Jane Birkin’s original Hermès handbag sells for record €8.6m at Paris auction Source: ReutersThu 10 Jul 2025 21.32 CESTLast modified on Thu 10 Jul 2025 21.41 CEST Explore more on these topics Jane Birkin Accessories Most viewed Most viewed Middle East Global development Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morningSign up for our email Complaints & corrections Work for us Privacy policy Cookie policy Terms & conditions All writers Digital newspaper archive Tax strategy Newsletters Advertise with us Search UK jobs Back to top © 2025 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. (dcr)