Timestamp: Tuesday, September 11, 2007
5:45pm,
The Location: The Hermes store, 691 Madison Avenue
Text, Vivian G. Kelly
Photographs, Travis Brown, Jr.
In the middle of New York Fashion Week, we found ourselves with twenty minutes to burn before the opening of the Lambertson Truex store opening on East 60th street, What to do but indulge in a tour of the uptown Hermes boutique, right across the street?
The economy may be on its way to hell, and the dollar’s officially in the dumpster, but you wouldn’t know that if you were in le Monde of Hermes. The saleswoman on the women’s clothing floor confirmed that certain items, such as a versatile black skirt suit were sold out and on reorder and that business was good, despite the weak dollar. She hadn’t though yet sold the crocodile coat that was upwards of six figures. Jean Paul Gaultier has done a wonderful job in keeping to the classically casual lifestyle the privileged [but never ever vulgar] lifestyle the Hermes woman leads. In addition to the sold-out skirt suit were some beautiful black wool coats, earthy tweeds for windy weekends at the country house and some whimsical print blouses that only JPG could have designed.
Even if that splendid crocodile piece hasn’t sold – yet, [we’re confident some lucky woman will find it under her Christmas tree], there’s always the bags and small leather goods to more than sustain this venerable “maison” through this roller coaster economy.
With that in mind, we have posted images of our February 2007 visit to one of the Hermes Ateliers located above one of the Paris boutiques. We had the privilege to have a look at just how the iconic “Kelly” and “Birkin” are made, thanks to a study tour entitled, “French design, luxury industries, and Intellectual properties” organized and sponsored by Jean-David Levitte, L’Ambassadeur from France and his very able staff, from their D.C. offices. The tour was led by the very personable Olivier Piton., Attaché Public Affairs for the Embassy of France.
The take-away from the Paris and NY Visits: these bags are pricey, no question, but each and every one of them is made by hand and NO mistakes are tolerated. Over 1,500 leather craftsmen toil-away on the always –in-demand bags and job satisfaction is high. Many of these employees have celebrated 35 years working for Herms.
Another way to look at it is as Guillaume de Seynes, Executive Vice President for Hermes does. Quipped Monsieur Seynes, “Our products are not expensive, they are costly.”
Hermes Madison Avenue, tel: 212-751-3181