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.