![]() The boutique officially opened to the public on Saturday, April 30, but the preview party provided a sneak peek and intimate, celebratory dinner at Brazos Hall. Hermès invited Austin-based artist Sophie Roach to create a joyous and colorful design of geometric shapes that animate the storefront window. Throughout the store, the naturalistic textures of raffia walls and oak panels complement the graphic design of dune-colored carpets.Īmong the artwork selected for the store are two pieces from the Hermès collection of contemporary photographs by American artist Terri Weifenbach and reproductions of the Appaloosa des Steppes scarf design by Alice Shirley. A ramp connects the first floor’s perfume, beauty, jewelry and watch collections to the upper level, which houses collections for the home, ready-to-wear, accessories, and shoe salon. The architectural core of the two-story boutique, designed by the Parisian architecture agency RDAI, is a warm gray terrazzo ramp with amber accents, inspired by skate parks. ![]() ![]() The store’s design seeks to balance both the classic and the contemporary, “an idiosyncratic blend of the Texas desert landscape and Austin’s urban street vocabulary of skate and music culture…defined by minimalistic and natural elements,” according to the official description. Hermès says they chose Austin as a location because they were drawn to the city’s creativity, culture, and individuality, and that the store is an expression of the Parisian house’s heritage fused with Austin's distinctive music scene and Southwestern American spirit. ![]() Think the coveted and hard to procure Birkin and Kelly bags, which can cost anywhere from $12,000 to $2 million, as well as iconic leather belts with a gold H clasp or silk scarves favored by Queen Elizabeth, just one of many iconic ladies known to sport an Hermès scarf. Since 1837, family-owned Hermès has been synonymous with French craftsmanship and luxury. Laurent-Perrier champagne flowed as the well-heeled crowd nibbled on wagyu brisket, chèvre and caviar hors-d’oeuvres, admiring the French-made silks, jewelry, clothing, and equestrian and leather goods. as part of the Music Lane development, the Hermès outpost is Austin's first and the third in Texas. I wish I were a writer for the Onion, but no, this really happened.At the Hermès grand opening on Friday, April 28, the excitement - and occasional French accent - was perceptible as a select number of Austinites received a glimpse of the chic new space. Participants were led through a cardio session while clutching a wallet, all of which were promptly snatched back at the end of class. Last fall, they hosted HermèsFit, a fitness pop-up where customers could choose from classes like “Mirror Mirror With Small Leather Goods,” and a 30-minute “Voguing With Hats” session. This is not Hermès’ first foray into Williamsburg. This begs the question - is Hermès kicking Birkenstock out? Is Hermès honestly kicking out a far more utilitarian brand that adorns the feet of approximately 99.9% of the neighborhood? The flagship store will be located at 111 North 6th Street, currently occupied by the Birkenstocks store. The pop-up’s location at 91 North 6th Streetīut a Hermès store seems like a strange addition to the neighborhood, perhaps even stranger than Google’s recent opening here (as one of my favorite social media comments put it, “Are we supposed to pop in and ask a question?”) While construction takes place at the flagship a few doors down, the pop-up will be located at 91 North 6th Street, currently surrounded by brands that plebs like myself can afford, such as Madewell, Urban Outfitters, and Everlane. Wall Street Journal recently reported how much Williamsburg retail benefitted from locals working from home, so it’s easy to see why a brand would want to cash in on Williamsburg’s (deteriorating, but hanging on by a thread) cool factor. ![]() A long-term pop-up will operate starting in 2023 until a flagship store fully opens in 2026.Īrguably there have been several death knells signaling Williamsburg’s descent into a fully gentrified retail hellscape, exclusively made for the 1%. Hey, all you Birkin Babes and Kelly Cuties - Hermès will open a location of their luxury brand in Williamsburg, according to WWD. ![]()
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