Taking into account that I have a background in business, and a passion for lifestyle, it is no wonder that the statement, "If you are friendly, you will withdraw Mr. Arnault" caught my attention. Bernard Arnault is the CEO of LVMH, Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, and has just bought seventeen percent of Hermes' shares, which is one of the last remaining family-owned luxury brands. As much as I like Louis Vuitton, I would hate to see Hermes go corporate and lose some of its most valued reputation as a leader in quality and craftsmanship.
One of the books on my most recent summer's reading list was Deluxe, How Luxury Lost Its Luster, by Dana Thomas, and it took me through how each of Hermes' famous Birkin Bags were made, and why they deserved such the reputation they have (and mighty high price tag). Each bag is hand-sewn, buff, painted, and polished, and take several days to make; the average bag is created after forty-eight hours. Hermes actually started out by making saddles for horses, and then transitioned into leather goods to accompany the saddle. Shockingly enough, Hermes was the inventor of the metal zipper also.
Side note, the first three images below of an official Louis Vuitton ad campaign, features Dree Hemingway, daughter of Ernest Hemingway.
Louis Vuitton Ad Campaign
Louis Vuitton Ad Campaign
Louis Vuitton Ad Campaign
Kelly Ripa in New York City
Olivia Palermo from The Sartorialist
Top photo: Tilda Swinton in "I Am Love"
