Hermès is letting Vancouverites get up close and personal with its craftspeople.
The French luxury-goods brand is holding its “Hermès at Work” exhibition in downtown Vancouver from Sept. 21-25. Previously called Festival des Métiers, the global initiative allows visitors to interact with Hermès artisans and watch them work at their finely honed craft.
Since launching in 2011, the exhibition has toured 34 global cities in 18 countries, including Toronto in 2013. To date, more than 400,000 people have attended the free events.
In Vancouver, Hermès at Work will be housed in a custom enclosure at the outdoor Jack Poole Plaza. Visitors can interact with 10 Hermès artisans visiting from their ateliers in France. The group represents nine trades including silk printing, watchmaking, saddle making, gem setting and leatherwork for handbags.
While each artisan will offer a technical demonstration of their craft, the company said the most important aspect is the conversation between artisans and visitors.
The exhibition “will be a very unique opportunity to interact with artisans grouped in a ‘nomad atelier’ engaged in their highly skilled craft,” said Jennifer Carter, president & CEO of Hermès Canada, in an email to Marketing. “At the heart of this experience is the relationship between visitors and artisans.”
To celebrate Hermès at Work, the Hermès store in Vancouver will have special storefront windows designed by Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave.
Hermès is promoting the event with public relations, as well as digital, print and out-of-home advertising.
