Original Hermès Birkin Bag Sold at $10.1 Million at Paris Auction
In just 10 minutes of bidding on Thursday, Jane Birkin’s original Hermès Birkin sold for $10.1 million at Sotheby’s in Paris, shattering the previous record for a handbag at auction, which stood at around $500,000—by nearly 20 times. Sotheby’s called the sale “a new benchmark for the most valuable fashion item sold at auction in Europe, and the most valuable luxury item ever sold at Sotheby’s Paris.” The all-black leather Birkin prototype, commissioned in 1984 and created specifically for Birkin after a chance meeting with Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas, went on to become one of the world’s most recognizable and coveted handbag styles. The bag helped elevate Birkin, the British actress and singer, from a style icon to a global household name beyond fashion circles. [WWD]
Meryll Rogge Wins 2025 ANDAM Fashion Awards
Meryll Rogge has won the Grand Prize at the 2025 ANDAM Fashion Awards, cementing her reputation as one of fashion’s rising stars. Known for her bold silhouettes and playful tailoring, Rogge was a finalist in last year’s competition and, in 2024, became the first woman named Designer of the Year at the Belgian Fashion Awards. She’s also a 2025 Woolmark Prize finalist, and her designs have been worn by Dua Lipa, Chloë Sevigny, and Rihanna. The ANDAM Grand Prize includes a 300,000-euro grant and mentorship from Sidney Toledano, the longtime LVMH executive who also serves as president of the Institut Français de la Mode fashion school. Other winners this year include Alainpaul, who spent a decade at Vetements and Louis Vuitton before launching his label, Alainpaul, which he co-founded in 2023 with his husband, Luis Philippe. He received the Special Prize. The Pierre Bergé Prize and its 100,000-euro award went to Burç Akyol, who will be mentored by Alexandre Mattiussi, founder and artistic director of Ami. Belgian designer Sarah Lévy of Sarahlevy won the 2025 Accessories Prize, also worth 100,000 euros, and will receive mentorship from Sophie Delafontaine, creative director of Longchamp. [WWD]
Heron Preston Buys Back Brand From New Guards Group
In a major move, Heron Preston has officially announced that he has reacquired full and exclusive rights to his brand from New Guards Group (NGG). This development marks a significant new chapter for the designer, who originally launched his label under the Italian fashion holding company in 2017. Preston now joins a growing list of brands, including Ambush, Palm Angels, and Alanui—that have recently departed NGG’s portfolio, signaling a broader recalibration within the luxury streetwear landscape. In April, AMBUSH founders Yoon Ahn and VERBAL announced they had repurchased their brand, underscoring this industry shift. Preston said, “I have been through hell to protect what I have built. I fought for my name, my work and my vision. Now I am back with more purpose than ever.” [BoF]
Amina Muaddi Opens First Store in Paris
Amina Muaddi opened her first-ever standalone store in Paris this past week. The boutique, unveiled during Paris Couture Week, is located at 6 Avenue Montaigne. “Having a store means having a home, both for our customers and the brand. We are so excited to be able to connect with our community, to let clients experience the brand not just through product but visually, physically and emotionally,” Muaddi said in a statement. “This is only the beginning of a long, new journey within retail, and it’s a huge milestone to be able to start from Avenue Montaigne — the dream address for fashion and luxury.” In celebration of the opening, Muaddi released an exclusive limited-edition capsule collection featuring six shoe styles reimagined in new colorways and embellishments, along with a crystal-embroidered Ami Clutch. [WWD]
Barbie Creates One-off Doll for Type 1 Diabetes Advocate Lila Moss
Mattel’s Barbie has created a one-of-a-kind doll honoring Type 1 diabetes advocate Lila Moss, ahead of the global release of its first dolls living with the same medical condition later this summer. Appearing in the U.K. launch campaign, Lila Moss holds a Barbie designed in her likeness, featuring a continuous glucose monitor on her arm, an insulin pump pod attached to the top of her leg, and a device in her handbag to monitor insulin levels. Lila Moss said, “Receiving messages from people who see my patches and feel represented means everything to me. To be able to now see Barbie dolls with T1D, and to receive a Barbie doll that visibly looks like me, even wearing her patches, is both surreal and special.” Mattel U.K. has also partnered with Breakthrough T1D, a global Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization, donating £20,000 to help fund T1D research, education, and support.
Lila Moss by Jonathan Daniel Pryce | Image courtesy of Mandi’s Basement
Berlin Fashion Week Drummed A New Global Beat
Berlin Fashion Week has officially stepped onto the world stage. Once a strictly local showcase of rising talent, this season’s edition marked a significant shift with a conscious expansion to include emerging international voices beyond Berlin’s borders. With an emphasis on sustainability throughout the week, Models.com was front row to capture it all from David Koma menswear show debut to Ottolinger opening with Kim Petras. Don’t miss out on this recap by Models.com editorial director, Irene Ojo-Felix including images photographed by Tonya Matyu. Click the link here for more.
Kyle Luu On Using Fantasy and Humor As Styling Codes
Growing up in DC and moving to New York at 17, stylist Kyle Luu first fell in love with fashion through cartoons and dreamt of becoming an illustrator. That creative spark ignited when a cousin gifted her a 600-page book filled with designers like Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto, and Iris van Herpen. “That was the first time I’d seen fashion I could truly identify with. Something about it felt so unattainable and unrealistic.” After taking some courses at FIT, Luu quickly became a staple in NYC’s downtown scene, working with brands like Luar and Telfar, and caught the attention of stars like Solange Knowles, whom she styled for the Met Gala and her When I Get Home album. Models.com caught up with Luu to talk about her long-lasting collaboration with Raul Lopez of Luar, her rule-breaking spirit, and what her next big experiment might be. Click the link here to read the interview.
And don’t miss our fashion week content including the models street style shot by Melodie Jeng, a Runway Spotlight at Chanel, and the latest additions to Top 50 and Hot List.
