The company that paid $10 million for a bag introduced it to the world: “Reflects our philosophy”

The original bag made to order for the late actress Jane Birkin, which later became a fashion icon, was presented to the media in Tokyo on Wednesday by the Japanese company that purchased it for a record 8.6 million euros ($10 million) at a Sotheby's auction held in Paris this year, Reuters reports.

According to fashion legend, the first Birkin bag was conceived when the French-British actress and singer sat next to Jean-Louis Dumas, director of the luxury company Hermes, on a flight in 1984. She would have told him that as a young mother she needed a bag that was both elegant and practical, and Dumas would have sketched a rectangular bag on the spot, with a dedicated space for bottles of baby bottles.

After Jane Birkin received the bag created especially for her, the company began to produce smaller versions for the mass market, making the model an instant success and thus helping to expand the fashion brand.

PHOTO: Kazuki Oishi / ddp USA / Profimedia Images

Shinsuke Sakimoto, co-founder and CEO of Valuence Japan – the company that bought the Birkin bag – said on Wednesday that the story behind the bag reflects the philosophy of his company, which sells second-hand luxury goods.

“We believe that products should not be talked about in terms of price, but through the stories that include the brand's philosophy and values; in other words, they should be talked about according to their meaning,” he said.

Sakimoto added that Valuence plans to display the prized acquisition in museums and other similar spaces, rather than resell it.

Jane Birkin herself auctioned off the bag in 1994 to support Sidaction, a French charity that raises funds to fight AIDS.