mydigitalfc.com
By Ruchika Chitravanshi
French luxury label Hermes plans to send some of its artisans to India to make them learn indigenous art and craftsmanship of the country. This, according to Christian Blanckaert, executive vice president of Hermes International, is likely to make them produce better products.
Blanckaert, who is in New Delhi to attend International Herald Tribune’s Sustainable Luxury Sumnit, said that although India has been a hot market for many a European brand, for some it’s not merely a consumer’s market. Companies such as Hermes have been outsourcing work from here.
“India is a great source of inspiration for us — we are here to learn.†said Blanckaert talking to Financial Chronicle on the sidelines of the summit.
The consumer of luxury in India has moved from the age-old maharajas to the new aspiring Indian, he said. “Our consumer comes from the middle class who may not be buying the big and the most expensive stuff but things like a scarf or a tie,†he added.
Based in Paris, Hermes is a fashion house specialising in leather products such as luggages, handbags and belts, ready-to-wear products such as ties, scarves and accessories and luxury perfumery goods. The brand boasts of clientele that includes Hollywood actors Nicole Kidman, and Elizabeth Hurley.
The company has one store in India, at the Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi. The store has not made much money for Blanckaert who seems to be happy with one outlet, for now. However, when the brand does increase its footprint in India, it would like to have it on a high street location. Blanckaert ruled out the option of setting up a shop in a mall like Emporio Delhi. “I don’t think we want to be there. A hotel seems to be a better option to us presently,†he said. Hermes does have long-term plans though to reach out to other cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Kolkata. Blanckaert agreed that there were brands that had been affected by the slowdown, but not Hermes. “Traumatic times help us… It will also give us immense opportunity to innovate,†he said.