Shinsuke Sakimoto, the CEO of luxury goods reseller Valuence Holdings Inc., revealed himself as the buyer of a Hermès Birkin bag auctioned last week in an interview with the Khaleej Times on Monday.
The handmade, all-black leather bag sold at Sotheby’s Paris for €8.6 million ($10 million) with fees. The original Birkin was commissioned in 1984 exclusively for—and in collaboration with—actress and fashion icon Jane Birkin by Jean-Louis Dumas, who was then the CEO of Hermès. It had previously sold at auction in Paris in 2000 and remained in a private French collection until last week.
At the time of sale, Sotheby’s said only that the winning bidder was an anonymous Japanese buyer. But Sakimoto is anonymous no more, telling Khaleej Times that winning the bag was “a personal milestone” and a “defining moment for Valuence,” the company he founded in 2011.
Through Valuence and his previous company, Nanboya—a store that resold luxury goods—Sakimoto is a proponent of what he calls “circular luxury,” which he defines as a sustainable and ethical form of luxury that gives such items second lives. Valuence hosts its own auctions and sells fine art, vintage watches, and authenticated resale.
“This isn’t just about a record purchase; it’s about honoring the legacy of one of fashion’s most iconic pieces,” he said. “For me, it was about ensuring this masterpiece would be in the hands of a company that truly values its story, and will share that story with the world. We’re proud, humbled, and deeply excited about what’s ahead.”
Sakimoto said he sees the Birkin as the embodiment of Valuence’s mission, perhaps hinting that he now has something of his own to sell. He said that he plans to eventually show the bag in Japan.