Irina Shayk Named Face of Anine Bing’s New Campaign

Irina Shayk. (AP)
Irina Shayk. (AP)
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Irina Shayk Named Face of Anine Bing’s New Campaign

Irina Shayk. (AP)
Irina Shayk. (AP)

Since the war erupted between Russia and Ukraine, many Russian fashion celebrities have chosen to stay out of the spotlight until the rage against Russians calms down.

However, it seems Russian model Irina Shayk wasn’t affected by this onslaught, probably because she took the proactive step and explicitly denounced the Russian invasion.

She even took part in London’s Burberry show, which was held separately from London Fashion Week. She was also named as the face of the Danish brand Anine Bing’s 2022 Campaign.

Such contracts are usually signed months ahead, so luckily, Bing’s campaign wasn’t affected by the war in Ukraine.

Bing’s campaign this year is special because it celebrates the 10th anniversary of the brand, marking a significant milestone in the fashion industry known for its fluctuations, especially amidst the recent developments which have remarkably affected the fashion world and mostly independent designers.

Based in LA since 2010, Bing faced a lot of challenges and managed to build herself a prestigious position as a designer focused on independent, working women who don’t compromise their elegance in their everyday outfits.

Shayk said the practicality and elegance of her designs are what made her accept to be the face of this campaign.

“Anine Bing is a self-made woman and a creative mother, and these characteristics make me respect her and her classic and practical designs; I can definitely see some parallels between us,” the Russian model said.

Bing acknowledged that since the launch of her brand, she has focused on woman empowerment and the creation of timeless, classic designs that reflect this spirit, boost women’s confidence and help them shine and progress without limits.



The $10 Mn bag: Original Birkin Smashes Records at Paris Auction

The "Birkin" bag and its owner. ALAIN JOCARD, Gilles LEIMDORFER / AFP
The "Birkin" bag and its owner. ALAIN JOCARD, Gilles LEIMDORFER / AFP
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The $10 Mn bag: Original Birkin Smashes Records at Paris Auction

The "Birkin" bag and its owner. ALAIN JOCARD, Gilles LEIMDORFER / AFP
The "Birkin" bag and its owner. ALAIN JOCARD, Gilles LEIMDORFER / AFP

The first-ever Birkin bag designed by French luxury brand Hermes for celebrity Jane Birkin sold for 8.58 million euros ($10 million) at a Sotheby's auction in Paris on Thursday, smashing previous price records for a handbag.

The modern design classic, owned by a Paris-based handbag collector, sparked a telephone bidding war up to seven million euros, with the final sale price set at 8.58 million with commission and fees, the Sotheby's website showed.

"After weeks of anticipation, the bidding opened at 1 million euros — prompting a gasp from the room," Sotheby's said in a statement.

The final buyer, who eclipsed eight other rivals, was a "private collector from Japan", the auction house added, without giving further details.

The previous record price for a handbag at auction was set by a diamond-encrusted crocodile skin Hermes Kelly 28, which fetched $513,000 in 2021 at Christie's in Hong Kong, AFP said.

Sotheby's had advised that the Birkin prototype was expected to beat that level during its sale.

But the staggering price tag for a well-worn item is in keeping with the fashion world's recent flashy aesthetics.

After years of so-called "quiet luxury" dominating catwalks, designers have embraced more ostentatious looks in recent seasons that have been dubbed "boom boom" by some trend forecasters.

Modern-day Birkin bags are offered by Hermes to loyal clients, with prices starting at around $10,000.

'Nostalgic'

The original Birkin has changed hands twice since being put up for sale by Birkin at an auction in 1994 where the proceeds went to an AIDS charity, according to Sotheby's.

Thursday's sale represents an extraordinary pay day for owner Catherine Benier, who has a boutique in the upmarket 6th district in Left Bank Paris.

She said she was "astonished at the result" in a statement sent by Sotheby's.

"I’m already very nostalgic at the thought of knowing the bag is no longer mine but extremely happy it has found a new loving home," she added.

She told The New York Times before the sale that the bag, which she bought at auction 25 years ago, was the "jewel in my collection".

The bag is now the second-most expensive fashion item ever sold at auction, Sotheby's said.

The record was established by a pair of ruby red slippers worn by actor Judy Garland from The Wizard of Oz in 1939, which sold for $32.5 million in 2024 in Dallas, Texas.

'Many years of use'

The birth of the Birkin bag has become a modern fashion legend.

During a Paris-London flight, the singer and film star -- who died in 2023 -- complained to fellow traveler Jean-Louis Dumas, then head of Hermes, about not being able to find a bag suited to her needs as a young mother.

The result of their conversation was a spacious tote with room for baby bottles, created in 1984 and named the Birkin.

The protoype, which Birkin regularly carried with her and customized with stickers, is engraved with the initials J.B. and has several unique features, including closed metal rings, a non-detachable shoulder strap and a built-in nail clipper.

Its condition "reflects the many years of use by the actress and singer", Sotheby's said beforehand.

A slightly differently sized version of the original has become the flagship product of the immensely profitable family-owned Hermes ever since.

Produced in very limited numbers, the bag has maintained an aura of exclusivity and is beloved by celebrities from the Kardashians, Jennifer Lopez to Victoria Beckham.

Frustrated fashionistas in America even sued Hermes in a class-action suit in California last year after they were refused access to the bags.

The former wife of French singing legend Serge Gainsbourg championed a host of causes, including animal rights.