There’s more to Hermès than signature bags

A leather craftsman from Paris, France, is just about to complete his nine-day visit here, demonstrating the art of making a signature bag by hand-stitching at the Hermès Boutique of the DFS Galleria Saipan.

In an interview with Saipan Tribune, Guillaume Dulatillion shared his knowledge and skills and some amazing information about Hermès as a world-renowned company.

He also talked about the opportunities that his company offers.

For instance, Dulatillion said they currently lack the manpower to supply the increasing demand for Hermès products.

“There’s really a big demand from Japan, Russia and China. Our customers are willing to wait for three years to get the bag they want, even if it costs $8,000. Isn’t that amazing?” Dulatillion said through volunteer translator Kazuyo Tojo.

The company is currently training and hiring interested people, especially the youth, to become experts in making Hermès leather products.

Students, however, undergo a difficult process because of the intricacies of making a signature product. The students spend 13 months before they can learn the proper techniques of making handcrafted leather products.

Dulatillion explained that each year some 250 people enroll for the class and after a year, about 90 percent quit the job.

Kazuyo said that in Dulatillion’s case, the class went down to 15 students and “he was one of the lucky ones.”

The 40-year-old Dulatillion said it’s not just the intricate process that matters but the company also makes sure that the health of the craftsman is taken into consideration.

He said that even the position of the craftsman should have its own pattern and not just for the sake of stitching. He also talked about the importance of knowing the materials and their particular nuances.

The most difficult bag to do is the Kelly Sellier, he said, because it requires special skills and special techniques.

Some of the materials are from skin of calf, crocodile, lizard and other animals.

The most expensive bag on sale on Saipan is worth $26,000, made of crocodile skin and patterned with diamonds.

The company also accepts special orders.

Dulatillion said the interior of the most expensive car in the world today, a Buggati Veyron FGB, is made by Hermes. The car is worth $2.2 million.

He said the company also made the interior design of a private helicopter, a house, including its tables and chairs.

“There is so much demand,” he said.

Dulatillon arrived on Saipan on Dec. 27. He will finish the demonstration on Jan. 4.

Those who have Hermès bags that need to be repaired may bring their bags to him so he could bring the items to France, where the maker of the bags will fix them and then ship them back to Saipan.