Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Hermes: Where “luxury” is still luxury!

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Once upon a time, luxury was only available to the rarefied and aristocratic world of old money and royalty; luxury wasn't simply a product, it was a lifestyle! It meant something - - - a history of tradition, superior quality and a pampered buying experience. Today, the luxury market is less about quality and more about quantity. Well all is not lost; one luxury brand that still has a keen eye for craftsmanship is Hermès.

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Hermès was founded in 1837 to produce leather good equestrian products and saddlery. Since then it is a name that has become synonymous with quality and style, bringing to its customers the very best in fashion, leather goods and stunning porcelain. Hermes porcelain is amazing and my all-time favorite collection is Chaine d'Ancre Blue!!!

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Hermès have added another new collection of luxury lifestyle products to their plate – literally. Their new Fil d'Argent dinner service range is a 14-piece set that was designed by Henri d'Origny. Longtime Hermès customers will know Henri d'Origny from his iconic designs that have adorned Hermès' neckties for close to five decades. The interlocking chain pattern interacts with the Arabesques, while the muted white and gray colors exude a soothing and modern sophistication.

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So what’s the story behind Hermès’s signature color “Orange”? I found this amusing tid bit in Dana Thomas’ new book “Deluxe: How Luxury Lost Its Luster”: Orange was the only color widely available during World War II to the money-saving benefits of raw-edge cutting, which had been marketed to the public as a cutting-edge, avant-garde innovation.

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I am currently reading Ms. Thomas’ new book and I can’t put it down! Dana Thomas
has been the cultural and fashion writer for Newsweek in Paris for 12 years and she has written a crisp, witty social history on the luxury market that’s as entertaining as it is informative. It is a MUST READ!!!

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While most so- called-luxury brands are run by massive corporations that focus only on growth, visibility, brand-awareness, advertising and above all, profits; Hermes is still made to the very highest of standards. I could only dream of a table setting completely adorned in Hermes porcelain; but for me just one teapot will do!

If you’re in New York check out the new Hermes store that opened on June 21. Rena Dumas is the architect of the Hermès store at 15 Broad Street.

32 comments:

gülş said...

hi i've just come up to your blog and it seems really cool. in the following days i'm gonna read it too. :) about the porcelain stuff i want to recommend a european brand to you.
maybe you already know it, villeroy & boch. it's a german brand. youcan check the website http://www.villeroy-boch.com
love
gulsen

Anonymous said...

I love, love, love your blog! I'm obsessed with table settings and entertaining and your blog features what no other blog does. Yea, for being unique and totally filling a niche!!

I totally jones every morning for your posting and obsessively press reload on my bloglines when I don't get it (did I mention that I am insane and totally obsessed with dinnerware?).

I've never commented before, but I must today. I love Hermes (and collect the boxes for storage in my living room). However, you forgot my all time favorite Hermes pattern, Balcons du Guadalquivir: http://usa.hermes.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?jspStoreDir=ConsumerDirectStorefrontAssetStore&catalogId=10052&categoryId=10910&productId=17475&topCategoryId=10895&nbItem=0&langId=-1&leftCategoryId=10908&storeId=10202&ddkey=HermesStoreResolver

Just wanted to mention it. I'm building my collection of it now. Anyway, thanks for blogging!

Sarah Dennis said...

Hi Gulsen, thanks for stopping by Toast and Tables. Yes, I'm very familiar with Villeroy and Boch, they are legendary! Whenever you talk about a history of tradition in the tableware industry you can not go without mentioning the Villeroy and Boch brand. They have over 200 years of experience in producing some of the best designs in tableware and they are still coming on strong.

Here in the States, the "French Garden" pattern is probably by far the #1 seller, it is a staple. My favorite however is "Audun Ferme" because of the pastoral theme and becaue I love the color combination of black, white and yellow.

Thanks for the link and stay tuned for my feature on Villeroy and Boch.

Sarah Dennis said...

Laura, if only you can see my face right now...I think I'm turning red. Red, because I'm blushing behind your most genourous compliments (thank you so much visiting Toast & Tables).

Red, because I'm so excited that I've found someone who is obessed with dinnerware like I am AND collects Hermes boxes (even though I only have one; but you have to start somewhere, right?!?!).

Red because "I'm seeing Red" - - - Inspired by the ornate ironwork on Spanish balconies, Balcons du Guadalquivir, is a beautiful collection and I bow to you if you own that pattern!

Send me pics of your collection, I would love to post them. Again, thanks for visiting, you're welcome at my table anytime!

Liene Stevens said...

sounds like a great book - I will have to check it out. thanks for the recommendation! :)

Brilliant Asylum said...

Another fantastic post. What a fun fact about Hermes Orange! I am loving your blog btw.

Loulla Kassandra said...

Luxury is a way of living...in everything you do. Today, most of the brands are offering 'mass luxury'. It is just a matter of having the money, entering a shop, and you have your item.

Real luxury today are the brands, items, and designers that only the best few know and appreciate. Not everybody knows where to find the best artisan that makes hand-made and made to measure leather boots. Or discover the atelier that makes the best hats. These are the best kept secrets of the cities…(especially in Italy)revealed only by the best...

Hermes is indeed one of the very few known brands that offers luxury items.

Congratulations for your blog!

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