THE ICONIC LUXURY DESIGN HOUSE HERMES HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL LAUNCH ITS FIRST FURNITURE COLLECTION DURING THE SALONE DEL MOBILE, RUNNING 12-17.APRIL. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PIERRE-ALEXIS DUMAS HAS TEAMED UP WITH DESIGNERS INCLUDING ENZO MARI, DENIS MONTEL AND ANTONIO CITTERIO TO CREATE FURNISHINGS, FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN SELECT HERMES BOUTIQUES THIS FALL. IN ADDITION, AS PART OF A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH ITALIAN MANUFACTURER DEDAR, HERMES WILL PRESENT A RANGE OF HOME FABRICS, WALLPAPER AND CARPETS. UNDER THE LABEL OF NEWLY FORMED VENTURE FAUBOURG ITALIA, THE LINE WILL GO ON SALE IN HERMES AS WELL AS DEDAR BOUTIQUES IN MAY.

HERMES TO LAUNCH FURNISHINGS COLLECTION

THE ICONIC LUXURY DESIGN HOUSE HERMES HAS ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL LAUNCH ITS FIRST FURNITURE COLLECTION DURING THE SALONE DEL MOBILE, RUNNING 12-17.APRIL. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PIERRE-ALEXIS DUMAS HAS TEAMED UP WITH DESIGNERS INCLUDING ENZO MARI, DENIS MONTEL AND ANTONIO CITTERIO TO CREATE FURNISHINGS, FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN SELECT HERMES BOUTIQUES THIS FALL. IN ADDITION, AS PART OF A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH ITALIAN MANUFACTURER DEDAR, HERMES WILL PRESENT A RANGE OF HOME FABRICS, WALLPAPER AND CARPETS. UNDER THE LABEL OF NEWLY FORMED VENTURE FAUBOURG ITALIA, THE LINE WILL GO ON SALE IN HERMES AS WELL AS DEDAR BOUTIQUES IN MAY.

HERMES TO LAUNCH FURNISHINGS COLLECTION

FAMED FRENCH LUXURY DESIGNER HERMES HAS RECENTLY CREATED THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY FOR THE WORLD'S BEST-DRESSED GENTLEMAN, A VALET STAND IN SOLID MAHOGANY, FINE LEATHER AND BRASS WITH EBONY DETAILING. THE STUNNING LUXE PIECE, DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE A FULL SUIT OF GENTLEMAN'S CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES, IS A LIMITED EDITION RE-ISSUE OF A CLASSIC ITEM CREATED FOR HERMES IN 1930 BY FAMED FRENCH DECORATOR AND DESIGNER PAUL DUPRE-LAFON. THE ORIGINAL WAS SOLD BY SOTHEBY'S AT ITS ART NOUVEAU 7 ART DECO SALE IN PARIS IN 2007 FOR AN ESTIMATED $65,000. THE STAND, WITH AN ART DECO AND VINTAGE FLAIR, FEATURES A CALFSKIN HANGER FOR THE SUIT, A CALFSKIN TRAY FOR WATCHES AND JEWELRY, A MAHOGANY SHOE RACK AT THE BASE, AND BRASS HOOKS AND RODS FOR TIES AND BELTS. WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $3,000 THE UNIQUE CREATION WILL BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT HERMES BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE.

HERMES GENTLEMEN'S VALET

FAMED FRENCH LUXURY DESIGNER HERMES HAS RECENTLY CREATED THE ULTIMATE ACCESSORY FOR THE WORLD'S BEST-DRESSED GENTLEMAN, A VALET STAND IN SOLID MAHOGANY, FINE LEATHER AND BRASS WITH EBONY DETAILING. THE STUNNING LUXE PIECE, DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE A FULL SUIT OF GENTLEMAN'S CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES, IS A LIMITED EDITION RE-ISSUE OF A CLASSIC ITEM CREATED FOR HERMES IN 1930 BY FAMED FRENCH DECORATOR AND DESIGNER PAUL DUPRE-LAFON. THE ORIGINAL WAS SOLD BY SOTHEBY'S AT ITS ART NOUVEAU 7 ART DECO SALE IN PARIS IN 2007 FOR AN ESTIMATED $65,000. THE STAND, WITH AN ART DECO AND VINTAGE FLAIR, FEATURES A CALFSKIN HANGER FOR THE SUIT, A CALFSKIN TRAY FOR WATCHES AND JEWELRY, A MAHOGANY SHOE RACK AT THE BASE, AND BRASS HOOKS AND RODS FOR TIES AND BELTS. WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $3,000 THE UNIQUE CREATION WILL BE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT HERMES BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE.

HERMES GENTLEMEN'S VALET

THE ARCEAU WRISTWATCH IMAGINED IN 1978 BY HENRI D'ORIGNY LENDS ITSELF IDEALLY TO A POCKET-WATCH VERSION. ITS ASYMMETRICAL ATTACHMENT AND ITS LUGS NATURALLY INVITE A CORD-STRAP FIXED TO THE ARCH LIKE STIRRUP LEATHER TO A STIRRUP, THUS EVOKING THE SADDLE AND HARNESS MAKING ORIGINS OF HERMES. WHETHER IN A TROUSER OR JACKET POCKET, THE MANNER OF WEARING THE ARCEAU POCKET FURTHER ACCENTUATES THE INNATE CLASSIC CHIC OF THE ORIGINAL WATCH DESIGN. THE ARCEAU POCKET PROMENADE DE LONGCHAMP INTRODUCES A NEW DIAL THAT IS A TRUE WORK OF ART SCULPTURE FROM A BLOCK OF NATURAL MOTHER OF PEARL. IT DEPICTS AN EQUESTRIAN SCENE USING A RELIEF MODELING TECHNIQUE: THE CARRIAGE, HORSES AND PROTAGONISTS ARE THEMSELVES ENGRAVED ON TWO SUPERIMPOSED GOLD PLATES. THE PERSPECTIVE LINES, THE VARIOUS PLANES AND THE DEPTH OF FIELD, UNDERSCORED BY THE THIRD DIMENSION OF THE CREATION, INSTILL A DISTINCT SENSE OF LIFE AND MOVEMENT. THE MOTIF EVOKES THE CENTRAL DETAIL OF THE PROMENADE DE LONGCHAMP SILK CARRE DESIGNED BY PHILIPPE LEDOUX IN 1965. THE WHITE GOLD 43.2mm CASE AND SHIMMERING GREY-BLUE MOTHER OF PEARL DIAL RADIATE A SENSE OF DIAPHANOUS HARMONY THAT MAKES A STRIKING CONTRAST WITH THE CORD-STRAP AND POUCH IN MATT HAVANA ALLIGATOR LEATHER.

HERMES ARCEAU POCKET PROMENADE DE LONGCHAMP

THE ARCEAU WRISTWATCH IMAGINED IN 1978 BY HENRI D'ORIGNY LENDS ITSELF IDEALLY TO A POCKET-WATCH VERSION. ITS ASYMMETRICAL ATTACHMENT AND ITS LUGS NATURALLY INVITE A CORD-STRAP FIXED TO THE ARCH LIKE STIRRUP LEATHER TO A STIRRUP, THUS EVOKING THE SADDLE AND HARNESS MAKING ORIGINS OF HERMES. WHETHER IN A TROUSER OR JACKET POCKET, THE MANNER OF WEARING THE ARCEAU POCKET FURTHER ACCENTUATES THE INNATE CLASSIC CHIC OF THE ORIGINAL WATCH DESIGN. THE ARCEAU POCKET PROMENADE DE LONGCHAMP INTRODUCES A NEW DIAL THAT IS A TRUE WORK OF ART SCULPTURE FROM A BLOCK OF NATURAL MOTHER OF PEARL. IT DEPICTS AN EQUESTRIAN SCENE USING A RELIEF MODELING TECHNIQUE: THE CARRIAGE, HORSES AND PROTAGONISTS ARE THEMSELVES ENGRAVED ON TWO SUPERIMPOSED GOLD PLATES. THE PERSPECTIVE LINES, THE VARIOUS PLANES AND THE DEPTH OF FIELD, UNDERSCORED BY THE THIRD DIMENSION OF THE CREATION, INSTILL A DISTINCT SENSE OF LIFE AND MOVEMENT. THE MOTIF EVOKES THE CENTRAL DETAIL OF THE PROMENADE DE LONGCHAMP SILK CARRE DESIGNED BY PHILIPPE LEDOUX IN 1965. THE WHITE GOLD 43.2mm CASE AND SHIMMERING GREY-BLUE MOTHER OF PEARL DIAL RADIATE A SENSE OF DIAPHANOUS HARMONY THAT MAKES A STRIKING CONTRAST WITH THE CORD-STRAP AND POUCH IN MATT HAVANA ALLIGATOR LEATHER.

HERMES ARCEAU POCKET PROMENADE DE LONGCHAMP

THE ICONIC PARISIAN LUXURY DESIGN HOUSE HERMES HAS RECENTLY RELEASED A STUNNING NEW TAKE ON THEIR CLASSIC BIRKIN BAG FOR THEIR SPRING/SUMMER 2011 COLLECTION. THE HERMES BIRKIN CLUB FEATURES THREE DISTINCT STRIPES IN GRIS, PERLE AND MYKONOS BLUE LIZARD MAKING IT UNIQUELY STYLISH AND DIFFERENT. THE BAG HAS BEEN SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO GIVE IT A YOUNG AND SPORTY LOOK AS AN ALTERNATIVE FROM THE CLASSIC BIRKIN AND IS EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE FROM HERMES BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE

HERMES BIRKIN CLUB

THE ICONIC PARISIAN LUXURY DESIGN HOUSE HERMES HAS RECENTLY RELEASED A STUNNING NEW TAKE ON THEIR CLASSIC BIRKIN BAG FOR THEIR SPRING/SUMMER 2011 COLLECTION. THE HERMES BIRKIN CLUB FEATURES THREE DISTINCT STRIPES IN GRIS, PERLE AND MYKONOS BLUE LIZARD MAKING IT UNIQUELY STYLISH AND DIFFERENT. THE BAG HAS BEEN SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO GIVE IT A YOUNG AND SPORTY LOOK AS AN ALTERNATIVE FROM THE CLASSIC BIRKIN AND IS EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE FROM HERMES BOUTIQUES WORLDWIDE

HERMES BIRKIN CLUB

HERMES HAS OPENED ITS FIRST BOUTIQUE FOR ITS NEW BRAND SHANG XIA, A BOLD STRATEGY THAT HIGHLIGHTS CHINA'S GROWING IMPORTANCE TO LUXURY GOODS COMPANIES. 'WE ARE VERY MOVED, THIS IS LIKE THE BIRTH OF A CHILD', HERMES CHIEF EXECUTIVE PATRICK THOMAS SAID AHEAD OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE SHOP IN SHANGHAI. THE STORE, A PICTURE OF MINIMALIST CHIC, OFFERS CLOTHING, HOME FURNISHINGS, SHOES AND TABLEWARE, A COLLECTION INSPIRED BY TEA, AND MADE FROM TRADITIONAL ASIAN MATERIALS SUCH AS BAMBOO, CASHMERE AND PORCELAIN. IN FRONT OF THE STORE, ARTISANS PUT THEIR SKILLS ON DISPLAY FOR THE WIDELY ANTICIPATED OPENING, MAKING TEA CUPS ENVELOPED IN AN INTRICATE WEB OF WOVEN BAMBOO. SHANG XAI, WHOSE NAME MEANS 'UP DOWN' IN MANDARIN, AIMS TO BOOST WHAT THOMAS TOLD AFP LAST MONTH WAS 'VERY STRONG GROWTH' IN MAINLAND CHINA, HONG KONG, MACAU AND TAIWAN, COLLECTIVELY NOW THE COMPANY'S 'PRINCIPAL MARKET'. 'THE IDEA IS TO BRING THE HERMES PHILOSOPHY TO CHINA, TO CREATE A CHINESE HERMES', THOMAS TOLD AFP. THE BRAND, WHICH WILL BE RUN AS A SEPARATE ENTITY, PRESENTS A UNIQUE CHINA STRATEGY FOR AN INTERNATIONAL FASHION HOUSE: BUILDING A BRAND FROM SCRATCH AROUND A BLEND OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE CRAFTSMANSHIP AND CONTEMPORARY DESIGN. 'IF SHANG XAI BECOMES A COMPETITOR TO HERMES, THAT WOULD BE A SUCCESS', SAID THOMAS, WHO ADDED HE IS PLANNING TO OPEN THE NEW LABEL'S STANDALONE STORE IN PARIS, WITHOUT OFFERING A SPECIFIC DATE. THE BRAND'S CREATIVE DIRECTOR JIANG QIONGER, A SHANGHAI-BASED, IS MANAGING A TEAM OF ABOUT 20 ARTISANS WHO WILL BRING TO LIFE THE DESIGN TEAM'S VISION. SALES OF LUXURY GOODS IN MAINLAND CHINA HIT AN ESTIMATED $8.6 BILLION IN 2008, ACCORDING TO THE CONSULTING FIRM BAIN & COMPANY. WHEN PURCHASES BY CHINESE PEOPLE ABROAD ARE FACTORED IN, THE MARKET WAS WORTH $20 BILLION. CHINA IS FORECAST TO BECOME THE WORLD'S TOP BUYER OF LUXURY GOODS BY 2015, ACCORDING TO THE CONSULTING FIRM PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS.

HERMES OPENS NEW CHINESE BRAND SHANG XIA