Pantin, a neighbourhood in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, is where all the leather dreams of Hermès are turned into reality. It is here, in a bright and spacious workshop built in 1992, that some 250 artisans craft the leather goods that the French luxury house has become so famous for.
It's astonishing to discover because of the status and positioning of Hermès at the forefront of global luxury fashion - that the way these goods are made is so simple and traditional. Tools and techniques have remained almost the same as those used when Thierry Hermès founded the house in 1837, with only slight adjustments being made so that they are easier to use. Almost everything is made by hand: A Kelly handle, made up of five pieces of leather, is placed on a clamp, meticulously stitched with beeswax-coated French linen thread and two needles; dye is applied at the edges by an ultrafine brush handled by the steadiest hand; constant gentle tapping of hammers ensuring that hardware is aligned perfectly. There is no whirring of heavy machinery, no factory production lines for assemblage. Here, one bag is exclusively made by one artisan.
This is just one of the many workshops in France (all Hermès leather goods are made in France only). The French house has over 4,000 artisans in 20 or so manufactures located in regions like Normandy, Nouvelle-Aquitaine and more.
Before Hermès became one of the most desirable luxury leather goods houses in the world today, it was - and still is - a harness-maker and saddler. It was birthed in an era when riding horses was a common means of transport, so Hermès' vision was simple and succinct: to create harnesses that are both robust and fine, liberating the horses while revealing their beauty.
Bu hikaye ELLE Singapore dergisinin October 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye ELLE Singapore dergisinin October 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
A Family affair
CHARMAINE HO travels to La Serenissima to discover the magical artistry and history of Buccellati.
Was Working 1195 1145 Tor At Billionaire Worth It?
What started as a dream job began to look increasingly like a nightmare.
rise SHINE
In the middle of an on-going world tour, South Korean girl group ITZY give us a glimpse into their journey and evolution as one of today's hottest K-pop acts.
MARKED for distinction
Do Louis Vuitton watches command attention from across the room? Yes, they do. But as CHARMAINE HO finds out from master watchmaker Michel Navas, there's so much more that goes into their making.
RHYTHM Nation
There's no denying the amount of musical talent we have on our shores. But for a truly Singapore-centric playlist, these names-spanning MalayEnglish rap and chugging guitar riffs, to dulcet, undulating Tamil R&B and Jungle beats-are who you should be bobbing your head to.
WHAT DO women designers WANT
Women are the beating heart of fashion, but female designers remain under-represented in the industry. Here, couture legends show how their identities shape them, and how they're pushing for change.
Keeping up with K-POP
From bogging front-row seats at Paris Fashion Week to leading major campaigns, K-pop idols are still very much in demand as brand ambassadors. And the Korean wave is not showing any signs of subsiding.
Cultural revolution
YUEQI QI's works take on myriad forms. But above all, they love letter to her Chinese heritage.
Drab To Fab
Reclaim your inner light with radiance-enhancing skincare and pigment-erasing treatments.
By Your Side
As the only women in Singapore’s most famous football family, Wendy Jacobs and Iman Fandi reflect on building a career, navigating fame, and maintaining family connections through a strong mother-daughter bond.
