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Earlier this year, when Jane Birkin’s original Hermès Birkin bag sold for over €7 million this summer, the fashion world collectively paused. Not just because of the eye-watering price tag but because it confirmed what style insiders have long known: for some, handbags aren’t just accessories, they’re a true investment.
And for those looking to make another wise handbag investment – just as you would in the stock market – then this upcoming Abu Dhabi event is one you need to mark in your calendars.
Carry Me, a first-of-its-kind handbag festival curated by Sotheby’s, is landing in Abu Dhabi on September 25. Held in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), the event is taking place at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation and marks the beginning of a global tour through luxury capitals across the globe.
At the heart of the event is the “ultra handbag,” the crème de la crème of luxury bags, often so exclusive they never hit the retail floor. “
It’s always been an in-the-know trend,” says Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s Global Head of Handbags and Fashion, “but the Birkin sale has propelled the ultra handbag into the global spotlight.”
This event is as much about community and creativity as it is about collecting.
The festival will present trend insights, secrets of the trade, and table talks with Sotheby’s and a masterclass on collecting bags. The full-day schedule offers a chance for guests to immerse themselves in the world of luxury bags fully. They’ll also have opportunities to observe some bag-styling tricks with scarves and create their own personalised bag charms. Guests will also gain access to a curated collection of rare, highly coveted bags available for purchase, pieces typically reserved for the world’s most elite collectors.
Designed to share, educate, create, and connect, the festival invites collectors, fashion lovers, and cultural tastemakers to come together, exchange stories, and maybe even walk away with a new addition for their closet.
