French luxury brand Hermès announced that following the opening of a new factory in Louviers this spring, the company is expanding its handbag and glove factory in Saint Junien, France, and relocating the original workshop to a building with an area of more than 50,600 square feet in the new building, so as to continuously increase production capacity and meet customer demand for brand products.
The new building was originally a disused wool workshop (below), which was transformed by Bruhat & Bouchaudy Architects. The company developed a design plan based on the actual situation and historical background of the factory and paid special attention to protecting the man-made heritage and natural environment where the factory is located. Among them, the building materials for the construction of the new factory come partly from the original stone walls, stone from other old local buildings, and granite stone from a nearby quarry.
It is reported that the new factory will employ about 250 craftsmen, of whom 210 are leather craftsmen and the remaining 40 are glove craftsmen. The factory will mainly produce Hermès' famous Birkin handbags, Kelly Danse handbags, and small leather goods, including the Bearn and To Go collections.
Since 2010, Hermès has opened 11 new factories in France, employing more than 4,700 craftsmen. Among them, factories in Riom, Isle Espagnac, Loupes, and Charleville-Mézières are under construction. The new factory announced this time is Hermès' third production base in southwestern France.
According to the latest financial report of Hermès, in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, brand sales increased by 23% at constant exchange rates. At the same time, this quarter, Hermes also opened new stores in Naples, Florida, and Nanjing, China.
In April this year, Hermes established a new factory in Louviers, in northwest France, covering an area of about 66,700 square feet, which mainly produces the famous Kelly handbag and some harnesses. In May, a 61,400-square-foot factory with 260 artisans opened in Tournes-Cliron, near the Belgian border.
