When Hermès, the 175-year-old French luxury house synonymous with timeless elegance launched the silk square or “Carré” in 1937; few could have predicted how a simple 90 by 90 cm square of silk twill would attain such must-have status…
I have loved this brand for most of my life and those around me know my affinity and passion for it. I first got introduced to it by my aunt in Hong Kong as she’s a district manager for Hermès in the Asia region. I remember spending a few hours in the shop at The Peninsula Hotel when I was younger so my mom could browse and purchase any new merchandise. She started a watch collection that I now often and lovingly “borrow”. To this day, I’ll call my aunt excitedly or stop in whenever I’m in HK to say hi and talk shop. Some of the vintage pieces my aunt owns are absolutely to die for. The stuff she has I have never even seen at the store here in Toronto.
What I have always said I love most about this brand is its heritage, focus on craftsmanship, appreciation for its artisans, and its ability to transition its past and make it relevant for today’s consumers.
Through collaborations with some of today’s prominent artists, fun and quirky cartoon drawings featuring their products and famous orange boxes, and lots of short videos showcasing behind-the-scene images of how their luxurious products are made, the House remains at the top of the elite fashion industry.
But what else comes through all of this is the passion of each of their artisans. There is a huge sense of pride to being an Hermès employee. As illustrated through this article alone, silk printing atelier head, Kamel Hamadou, has been with the company for 25 years. And he’s just one of many craftsman who has stuck with the fashion house. There are countless other examples of artisans who have worked their way through their departments and have continued to hone and pass on their skills to the new generation of Hermès workers.
This type of work environment, pride, passion and dedication is what, I believe, sets Hermès apart from other brands. Their constant pursuit of excellence, sourcing of the best materials, and stringent code of products that pass inspection versus those that do not also no doubt helps elevate the brand.
