style
the most expensive Birkin being sold this year
at $221,844
another 15 months of internship in
the Hermes’ House. Only after the
artisans have mastered the art of
creating straps and small leather
goods will they be entrusted with
the independent manufacture of
bags. At the Hermes manufacturer
in Panten (near Paris) there are
about 200 of these specific masters.
As of 180 years ago, each of them
knewthe process formaking almost
any model from beginning to end,
how to skillfully stitchthe hand-sewn
parts of bags with special needles
and using the same technique created
saddles as well. After five years of
successful practice, the master was
thenfinally entrusted with the precious
leatherfromthe emerald Nile crocodile
of Zimbabwe, requiring, as with any
true piece of art, careful protection
against drops of water or any damage
to its surface. The choice of leather
is impressive: Togo and Epsom are
the most common with their light
textures that arealmost completely
scratch resistant; Barenia, perhaps,
is the most resistant to abrasions
and moisture, eventually gaining a
noble patina; the textured Clemence,
is very popular andcompletely scratch
resistant due to its rough surface,
but may blister when exposed to
water. As the crowning feature, the
Hermes logo is embossed with the
number of masters who worked on
the bag. Regardless of how old your
bag is – even the newest model
of this season, Octogone, Farming
Cloute or Harnais –it can berestored
to its originalappearance as created
by the master, returning it to its
owner to his/herfullest and complete
satisfaction.
supported by EUROBAK
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