Hermès Festival Des Métiers

Toronto has been very busy lately with many major Exhibitions coming from London, England. Last October 2nd to the 6th, we were honoured to have the Hermes Festival Des Metiers at the Design Exchange. The Festival featured the expert Craftsmen from Hermès with demonstrations showcasing their tradition in producing their luxury leather products, Jewellery, Porcelain and Fashion Accessories especially their famous scarf. The whole Exhibition was for Free and was presented in French. Luckily there were translators standing beside the Craftsmen explaining in English. I learnt so much from this Exhibition and saw first hand how the Hermès products were created. I also understand now the whole design process, the creation process and lastly how Hermès maintains their highest quality. I also now understand why their products are so expensive. Everything is handmade and created exquisitely. These craftsmen learnt their skills from a long tradition and history of creating these products. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. With Hermès, if you are lucky enough to afford it or receive it as a gift, it is a treasure to be cherished forever and passed on to the next generation.

Hermès was established in 1837 as a French manufacturer of leather Saddles then expanded to luxury leather goods, lifestyle accessories, Perfumery, Jewellery, Furniture, Home wares and Ready to Wear.

Here is the famous Hermès Saddle with demonstration from their Master Saddle Craftsman using the finest leather.

Creating the famous Birkin Bag in their trademark  Hermès Orange.
I am not really an Orange person, but if I will have an Orange bag, I do not mind carrying the Hermès Birkin anytime.

As you know, the Birkin or the Kelly bag takes at least one year to produce depending on the leather material, hardware and colour that you choose. For popular colours like Black, Brown and Red, it could take up to 48 months to create. As you can see, every inch of the bag is hand stitch using their thread that was rubbed with beeswax to make it sturdy and waterproof. One craftsman or woman is responsible for the creation of the Bag from start to finish.

Above are the leather materials and threads used in the creation of these Bags.
The Kelly was named after American Actress, Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco.

The Glove maker with different colours of leather in the creation of the Hermès gloves.

See how big the scissors they use.

Children clothing by Hermès.

Even the Hermès Ties are handmade. 

Monsieur Watchmaker demonstrating the creation of the Hermès watch.

Madame Porcelain Maker. 

Her translator is standing beside here wearing the Hermès silk scarf so fashionably on her waist.

Madame explained that every Hermès porcelain, like this Ashtray, is created using a lavender liquid spirit so that paint will take longer to dry. Then they use a  platinum liquid  worth 2,000 Euros per bottle as she  showed here, to paint the borders. No wonder this section smelled of lavender and no wonder these Hermes porcelains are so expensive.They are painted with lavender and expensive Platinum liquid. I would love to receive this as a gift!!!! Hint! Hint!

During the Festival, there were visitiors who arrived wearing their Hermès scarves. Then Monsieur here excitedly and expertly identified the scarves that were presented to him.  I am always fascinated by these experts from the French Luxury  Houses because they really know the creation, name, the designer and history of their products with just one look. It was fascinating to see the glee on their faces when see their products being presented to them by their owners because it was like seeing their long lost child. This scarf is a really old Hermes scarf  created after 1937 to 1950s.

Hermes started creating silk scarves in 1937 in Lyon, France. The scarves are still created in Lyon using the finest silk and using their different colour dyes here. For the budding artist out there, you can submit your design drawing to Hermès, who knows it could be the next Hermès silk scarf.

The demonstration showing the long traditional and precise process of creating a Hermes silk scarf.
To read more about Crafted Luxury: Hermes Festival Des Metiers.


May you all have an inspiring weekend!