Ultra-luxury Bijan bag seized from Najib-linked condos from 'most expensive store' in the world - Nation

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.

SINGAPORE: What is a Bijan handbag?

Many Malaysians heard the name for the first time on Wednesday (Jun 27) after it was mentioned at a press conference that revealed the list of luxury items seized from residences linked to former prime minister Najib Razak.

Malaysian authorities had conducted raids at residences linked to Najib in connection with investigations into the scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

The total cash and value of luxury items seized came up to about RM1.1 billion (US$270 million), it was said at the press conference. Among the items that raised eyebrows were tiaras - 14 of them - and a custom-made Bijan handbag.

The name was unfamiliar even to reporters at the press conference, one of whom had to ask Amar Singh, the Chief of the Commercial Crime Investigation Department who was leading investigations, to spell out the brand name.

Seeing that Bijan spells out as N-A-J-I-B in reverse, many netizens were also quick to question if the brand was actually owned by the former prime minister himself.

In actual fact, Bijan is a product of the House of Bijan, a boutique store founded by the late American-Iranian designer Bijan Pakzad in Beverly Hills, California.

The House of Bijan, which claims to be the "world's most expensive men's store", has dressed powerful men such as former United States presidents Barack Obama, George and George W Bush, and even Russia's Vladimir Putin.

Here are five things you should know about the ultraluxury brand:

1. Bijan handbag

The custom-made Bijan handbag that was mentioned at Wednesday's press conference stood out from the other luxury brands such as Hermes, which are commonly associated with Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor.

But after a quick look at Bijan's handbags, which are structured similar to the Birkin range of bags from French brand Hermes, it's little surprise that Bijan's collection would suit Rosmah's fancy.

Bijan handbags come in a variety of vibrant colours and some of them are made with crocodile skin. However, it's unclear how much they cost.

2. Bijan's link to politicians

As earlier mentioned, the brand has dressed a slew of influential men both in Hollywood and in the world of politics.

The House of Bijan boutique, located on Rodeo Drive at Beverly Hills, California, is decorated with framed photos of these men, from Sir Anthony Hopkins and Michael Jordan, to Prince Charles.

There is even a dressing room dedicated to the Bush family, with walls adorned with a poster signed by George W Bush and a framed photo of his family, all decked in House of Bijan clothes and accessories.

3. Bijan: Home of the US$1,000 tie

While it's unclear how much Bijan bags cost, the curious can gauge the price tag based on the brand's other items - such as its US$1,000 ties.

In an interview with Forbes in 2017, House of Bijan heir Nicholas Bijan said their range of exclusive of ties are produced in limited numbers for each design. This means that there may be only two ties of the same design in the whole world.

He also showed a jacket made of silk and leather that costs US$10,000.

4. Bijan's luxe boutique

A limited edition Rolls Royce parked outside the boutique is a sure sign that the store is only for the "filthy rich", as described by other media.

A crystal chandelier embellished with dozens of Bijan's bottled perfumes take up the centrepiece of the two-storey boutique, which also prides itself over an original 1968 painting by Colombian artist Fernando Botero that hung on one of its trademark yellow walls.

It has been reported that shoppers who go to the boutique spend an average of US$100,000 each.

5. The Bijan business

Bijan Pakzad died on Apr 26, 2011, due to a stroke. The House of Bijan's Rodeo Drive store was sold to LVMH, the French multi-luxury goods conglomerate, in 2016.

His son, Nicholas Bijan, is the new face and leader of the brand, which reportedly doubled its revenue in 2016 to nearly US$30 million in the year it was sold.

A "special order" bag from The House Of Bijan seized from residences 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.

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 or more.

The Bijan bag seized from the Najib-linked residence was among other seized 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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