Recently, Christie’s announced an auction featuring remarkable fashion history closely tied to one of pop culture's most iconic couples—Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg. The highlight of this auction is an Hermès Haut à Courroies (HAC) handbag, gifted to Birkin by Gainsbourg early in their legendary 12-year romance.
The HAC handbag, a prototype that predates the Birkin bag, was originally designed as a practical travel bag for carrying equestrian gear. This handbag, gifted to Birkin, became an iconic companion for her travels long before future handbag models were born. Despite the Birkin bag recently fetching over $10 million at auction, the HAC handbag maintains a unique status in the fashion world, serving as its direct ancestor and providing creative inspiration for this ultimate luxury accessory.
This auction invites us into the intimate lives of a captivating couple who once shocked Europe with their provocative artworks, revisiting that iconic and controversial single from 1969, I love you... me neither. Birkin, a fashion icon known for her effortlessly chic style, later became synonymous with the handbag that bears her name. This auction of the HAC handbag offers collectors a rare chance to acquire a piece connected to the beginnings of the Birkin story, allowing us to relive a passionate romance that influenced an entire generation of style. The handbag will be auctioned soon in Paris, with preview exhibitions in Hong Kong, Paris, and Bangkok.
