Hermès showcases the secrets of its craftsmen, from 8 to 16 March in Rome, at the Ara Pacis Museum, in the exhibition "Hermès – Behind the scenes“. To find out how a "Kelly" is born, the iconic bag that bears the name of Grace, Princess of Monaco and Alfred Hitchcock's favorite actress; how to make a pair of impalpable gloves, how to make a saddle with a taste for tradition and the advantages of the most advanced innovation; to be amazed by the techniques, ancient but improved by the advantages of modernity, from which the famous silk "Carrés" for ladies or the ties that no man would want to give up are born, all that remains is to go to the itinerant appointment launched by the more than renowned Parisian luxury house.
Inaugurated on Friday, coinciding not only symbolically with International Women's Day, Hermès – Behind the scenes gives glory – through the meeting of the public with a dozen craftsmen, each with his own skills – from bags to saddlery, from watches to jewels, from ceramics to silk printing – to those who, with their savoir-faire (here in 'literal meaning of knowing how to do) build Hermès' fame in the world every day. The exhibition allows you to see them at work live, while they print a silk scarf (300 cocoons are needed for a 90×90 Carré), sew a tie, cut a pair of gloves (only one for a 45-50 lambskin square decimetres), assemble a bag, paint a porcelain ashtray or build a saddle, with their tools. After Paris, Milan and Moscow, now it's Rome's turn.
The saddlery 
Gloves 
An entire skin for a single glove 
The Ara Pacis Museum
"Here the focus is on our craftsmen, to show the quality of the manufacturing but even more to offer the public the opportunity to meet them, ask questions and satisfy their curiosity. On the other hand, Hermès was born as a maison of artisans and savoir faire since the times when, in 1837, Thierry Hermès, saddler and barder, founded it”. Talking is Guillaume de Seynes, executive vice president and managing director of the luxury house. Beside him, Frances of Carrobbio, CEO of Hermès Italy.
180 years have passed and the group has lived up to its history and family business ethos with record results. In the ten years between 2008 and 2017, the turnover tripled and the 2018 turnover, announced a few days ago, is close to 6 billion, up 10% (at constant exchange rates) on the previous year, the best ever. A margin of 34,6% achieved in 2017 places Hermès at the top of the sector and has made it possible to distribute to its shareholders an ordinary dividend of 4,1 euros per share as well as an extraordinary coupon of a further 5 euros. The 2018 financial results will be announced on March 20 but the consolidated turnover suggests that despite the global uncertainties, especially for the luxury sector, the numbers will not be disappointing. The number of employees has reached almost 14.000, around 7.500 are artisans, around fifty production sites (almost all in France), 304 stores worldwide.
Hermès is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange but retains 66% of the capital firmly in the hands of the family. Not only has it not succumbed to the temptation – followed by many Italian luxury companies – to sell to groups with more robust shoulders to guarantee the growth of its brands, but on the contrary it has rejected the hostile takeover of a giant like Lvmh in 2014. What is so the secret of this success? “Tout change, rien ne change. Everything changes, nothing changes – replies Guillaume de Seynes – ours is a permanent challenge since the time of my grandfather who in 1920 was confronted with the transition from the horse to the car. It is a challenge that is renewed even more today, with the continuous change of technologies, the opening of new markets such as China and Asia, the entry of new customers such as Asian ones with different ages and tastes to those we were used to in the USA and in Europe”.
“The success of Hermès – continues de Seynes – lies in remaining extremely faithful to the original project that puts quality and free creativity ahead of everything, a creativity that does not look at others, aims to surprise and feeds on its tradition. We are in the contemporary world but at the same time faithful to the tradition of the maison: it is our name that we put on every object. This is why we have never given licenses, they would have resulted in a loss of control”.
Hermès – Behind the scenes, Ara Pacis Museum, will remain open from 9 to 16 March, from 12 to 20. Closed on Mondays. Free admission
