Hermès has long been a brand that makes headlines.
A deep dive into the brand’s strategy uncovers a blueprint for success that leans into the very things that make Hermès the same… but somehow better.
Hermès bags are functional, but they’re also enjoyable to use.
Hermès bags mimic the shape of a classic handbag but with features that make them better.
Hermès bags are well made but with an added level of craftsmanship that makes each bag a work of art.
To look at an Hermès bag, you likely wouldn’t instantly be able to tell what makes that bag so much more expensive and coveted than one from a high-street brand. An appreciation for Hermès comes with the time spent considering and eyeing up the details, the history, and the story behind both the brand and each bag it creates.
And, while everything about Hermès is designed and chosen to stand out to an extent, one area in which the brand is making waves centres on technology and how the luxury market can embrace innovative and more sustainable trends.
How Does Technology Connect with the Luxury Goods Market?
The beauty of innovation as an underlying concept is that it connects and creates links between anything and everything – including those ideologies that you may not picture together.
Technology is often an industry that we assign to everyday devices and lifestyle tools – not necessarily to fashion. But, as Hermès is proving, technology can very much become a part of what makes the best brands even better.
In 2021, Hermès once again made headlines with the launch of a bag collection made using bio-fabrics. Marking a move away from traditional leather, the idea behind the new collection was to explore fabrics that are made not from leather and animal skin but rather from organisms like mushrooms and fungus, pineapples, grapes, and apples.
The technology involved sought to transform these components into leather alternatives, which allowed products to be made vegan but without using environmentally unstable plastic and other materials that cause further harm to the environment. A market sector with increasing emphasis and funding, this market and its use of biotechnology feeds a very potent demand from consumers for more transparent, eco-friendly, and sustainable solutions to real problems.
But one thing that’s important for luxury lovers, fashionistas, and investment buyers to note, however, is that technology is not taking over every part of the Hermès world.
Finding the Right Outlet for Technology
Technology is becoming increasingly prominent in pretty much every sector and industry. However, when it comes to the luxury goods market, there is a line to be drawn.
Why? Because, when technology is allowed to become overly prominent, you lose some of the artisan technique that makes these bags and products so coveted and high in quality.
At Hermès, technology does not interfere with the handcrafted nature of each individual bag – and that is where the brand ensures innovation is complementary to its vision. Bags are still produced in the brand’s artisan workshops; the Kelly bag still requires between 15 and 20 hours of working time from a single artisan craftsman, and the 200+ years of tradition are still stitched into every detail.
In short, technology is becoming a part of Hermès’ future insofar as the way the brand is developing its use of materials – but it is not being allowed to dominate the manufacturing process that remains steeped in tradition and the kind of quality that comes with being handcrafted.
Is an Hermès Bag a Good Investment?
There has never been a better time to start your investment in the luxury goods industry, namely in one of Hermès’ iconic range of bags.
Whether it’s the coveted Birkin bag, as referenced in shows and movies like Sex and the City, or the Kelly bag named after actress and real-life princess Grace Kelly, an Hermès bag will not only hold its investment but continue to appreciate in value, provided it receives the right care and protection.
Just some of the factors that make an authentic Hermès bag such a good investment include the quality design and manufacturing, the exquisite use of materials, and the craftsmanship, as mentioned earlier in this blog. All of this is further buoyed by the rising demand for luxury and high-end goods from brands like Hermès, with the market seeking out both buyers and sellers who continue to drive the high demand.
This high demand is balanced by a limit on stock, which renders every individual bag exceptionally high in cost. Whether it’s a limited-edition model or one of the classics, the low supply and high demand mean that every Hermès bag has a waitlist of buyers queuing up to get their hands on it.
How to Buy and Sell in the Luxury Market
Unfortunately, challenges are rife in the luxury goods market.
The rise in counterfeit goods, and the increasingly sophisticated fakes and counterfeit goods, means that it’s more important than ever for Hermès buyers and sellers to deal exclusively with resellers that combine a good service with a high-quality reputation.
When selling a luxury Hermès handbag, whether it’s one crafted from the latest innovative fabric or one of the classics, it’s important to ensure you have the right authentication information – including certificates and a formal valuation from a reputable boutique company. As a seller, you can then browse the available stock from that boutique company and invest in a new bag – or you can buy and take home the Hermès handbag of your dreams.
For more insight into the Hermès brand and for an exclusive look at the stock available in our London boutique store, don’t hesitate to reach out to Love Luxury via our website or by booking an appointment to visit us.
