Bijan? The ‘world’s most expensive store’ that made the handbag seized from Najib
TODAY'S news of the custom-made Bijan handbag that was found among items seized from premises linked to former prime minister Najib Razak is probably the first time most Malaysians had heard of the Hollywood brand.
Articles online about The House of Bijan, located at Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive since 1976, describe it as the most expensive store in the world where entry is by appointment only.
Huffington Post describes it as a place “where only the filthy rich shop”.
The brand is named after the late designer Bijan Pakzad, who was born in Iran but made his fortune in the US designing for and dressing Hollywood society’s upper crust and US presidents.
Bijan is described as not being shy about displaying opulence, and the shop at Rodeo Drive is known for its marble floors, woodwork, crystal chandeliers and luxurious furnishings.
The Most Expensive Journal blog site, which writes on luxury items, puts the price of a tie at US$1,200 (RM4,832) and custom-made suits at US$25,000.
Huffington Post said the store did not produce its accessories and clothes in big numbers, “just a handful at the most” from quality fabrics and materials, to maintain the brand’s exclusivity.
The Bijan bag police revealed today was custom-made and not available on the market, Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Amar Singh Ishar Singh had said.
It was among 567 handbags from 37 brands seized. Amar Singh did not state the bag’s value.
Los Angeles has been named as one of the places Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor was known to shop at in news reports about investigations into funds allegedly stolen from state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
On New Year’s Eve in 2013, there was speculation among some Malaysian bloggers that she and Najib had completed a trip to Los Angeles and were headed to Sydney to usher in 2014.
Amar Singh’s mention of Bijan at his press conference today drew puzzled looks and giggles from reporters present, who had never heard of the brand and had to ask how it should be spelled.
Not too long after news of his press conference went viral on social media, some Twitter users began joking about spelling the brand name backwards: Najib. – June 27, 2018.
A "special order" bag from The House Of Bijan seized from condos linked to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak comes from "the most expensive store" in the world.
During the recent raids, linked to the ongoing 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investigations, the police identified a “Bijan special order bag” as one of the luxury bags seized, but there was no mention of whether it was a bag for men or women.
The House of Bijan is known as the most expensive store in the world.
Headquartered in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, this American brand uses only the finest materials from crocodile skin, kangaroo hide to flawless gemstones for its ultra high-end bags.
A lower-level Bijan crocodile clutch purse costs about US$10,000 (RM40,318).
But, its diamond-encrusted Bijan bags are likely to set buyers back by six figures, in US dollars, or more.
The Bijan bag seized from the Najib-linked condo was among other goods of luxury brands such as Hermes, Chanel, Prada, Versace, Judith Leiber, Chopard, Rolex and Richard Mille.
As with all luxury brands The House of Bijan has a “House” in its branding and a history to preserve its sanctity in the world of opulent retail.
The House of Bijan was founded in 1976 by the late Bijan Pakzad, an American Iranian menswear designer, who migrated to the US in 1973.
Pakzad’s first boutique for the House of Bijan opened on Rodeo Drive, known as the most expensive retail address in Los Angeles and where luxury brands such as Bulgari, Gucci, Cartier, Dior, Jimmy Choo, Tiffany, Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang, Giorgio Armani, among others, are on display.
After Pakzad’s death in 2011, The House of Bijan store on Rodeo Drive was sold for US$122mil (RM491mil) to the parent company of Louis Vuitton, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton in 2016.
There is no question of anyone just simply strolling through the sumptuous doors of its showroom with its blue awnings and bright yellow walls in Beverly Hills.
On its website, The House of Bijan is described as “a universe unto itself” and is legendary for its “by appointment only” showroom.
This “by appointment only” offering by the brand is the heart of its exclusivity and is what differentiates it from other luxury brands.
The brand’s luxury offerings for the well-heeled are available in four categories from jewellery and accessories, driveable art, fragrances to wearable art.
The House of Bijan has collaborated on design with Bugatti Veyron Motor cars and Rolls Royce Motorcars.
It was recognised with The Leadership Honor Roll by President George H.W. Bush, and it even has its own day – where The City of Beverly Hills has proclaimed May 8 as Bijan Day!
According to a report by Huffington Post The House of Bijan counts Barack Obama, George and George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Prince Charles, Pierce Brosnan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hugh Hefner and Monaco’s Prince Rainer among its star-studded client list.
With a special order bag seized from Najib’s properties, it’s likely that our former PM was also on this star-studded client list.
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The House of Bijan belonging to Iranian designer Bijan Pakzad sells clothing and fragrances and also has a collection of alligator handbags for ladies in an assortment of bright colours. — Screen capture via House of Bijan’s website
KUALA LUMPUR, June 27 — Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor can be said to be a connoisseur when it comes to handbags, as can be seen from the brands she chooses for her favourite arm accessory.
After all, it was through her that Malaysians have been educated on the value of a Birkin bag by French fashion house Hermes.
But public interest has now shifted to another new handbag brand, the custom-made Bijan.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Commissioner Datuk Seri Amar Singh had earlier today announced that several Bijan bags were among the stash of high end goods seized last month from properties in the Klang Valley linked to Rosmah’s husband and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Amar estimated the Bijan bags alone to be worth RM1.6 million.
Some Malaysians have noticed that Bijan is an anagram for Najib and have suggested, jokingly, that the brand could even be his own, or that he might have some stake in it.
So what is a Bijan and where does it come from?
The House of Bijan belongs to Iranian designer Bijan Pakzad. Several publications have described it as “the world’s most expensive store”.
Pakzad migrated to the United States in 1973, before setting up an exclusive boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California three years later.
A Huffington Post article listed down Barack Obama, George and George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Prince Charles, Pierce Brosnan, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hugh Hefner and Monaco’s Prince Rainier among its star-studded client list.
The report said one must need an appointment before even entering the store, which has since been sold in 2016 to luxury group LVMH — which owns, among others, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Hublot.
The store sells clothing and fragrances, and as evident by its distinguished clients mostly for men.
So perhaps the bag was Najib’s instead of Rosmah?
Perhaps, but perhaps not. Bijan also has a collection of alligator handbags for ladies in an assortment of bright colours that Rosmah appears to be fond of, apart from her love of jewellery.
