The French house will open four workshops by 2028 as handbag sales outpace the wider luxury market.
Hermès is leaning into momentum rather than waiting for the storm to clear. Days after overtaking LVMH as the luxury market’s most valuable listing, the house confirmed plans to lift handbag output, answering demand that drove a 9 percent rise in first‑quarter revenue and pushed its market value to $276.3 billion.
Leather goods carried the rally. Sales in the division jumped 10 percent, a lift helped by new introductions such as the Médor and Mousqueton bags. “We began the year with low stock levels, especially for leather goods,” executive vice‑president of finance Eric du Halgouët told analysts, setting the tone for a production drive that will unfold over the next three years.
The programme starts now. A workshop in Isle d’Espagnac comes online later this year, followed by sites in Loupes (2026) and Charleville‑Mézières (2027). A dedicated facility in Colombelles, focused on Kelly and Constance models, is slated for 2028. Each unit will bring in about 200–300 artisans who pass through an 18‑month course at the École Hermès des Savoir‑Faire, keeping every stitch firmly anchored in France.
The decision lands as the United States prepares new import tariffs this summer, a cloud gripping much of the sector. While rivals such as LVMH have added capacity in California and Texas, Hermès is doubling down on its Made in France stance, betting that provenance still matters even when the macro picture darkens.
For investors — and for clients who wait months for a Birkin — the message is clear: supply is finally catching up to desire. In a year when caution is the default, Hermès is confident enough to hire, train, and hand‑cut more leather, proving that quiet conviction can sometimes outshine noise.
