Latest news with #SautHermès
The Province
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Province
The true heart of Hermès leather-making isn't a Birkin or a Kelly. It's a saddle
Saut Hermès celebrates the equestrian spirit and the art of saddle making. Riders compete in the 15th edition of the Saut Hermès competition in Paris, France. Photo by Hermes Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Paris is a memorable city. One made even more so, it turns out, with the addition of horses. The capital of France, which sees some 50 million tourists visit each year, is home to many iconic landmarks, must-see museums, delicious food, and world-renowned fashion brands. And for a few days this spring, the City of Lights was also home to Saut Hermès, an international equestrian competition. Set in the Grand Palais on March 21-23, the 15th edition of the show-jumping tournament brought horses to the heart of Paris with temporary stables erected directly beside the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Inside the tented rows, oversized orb-shaped lighting bathed the stalls in a warm, soft glow while large swaths of faux turf provided a soft footing for the equine athletes to make their way to the competition arena. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Riders of the Paris Metro disembarking at a nearby station were greeted with a glimpse of the horses warming up in a small sand arena located directly beside the entrance of the busy transit station. While inside the cavernous venue, the competition featured some of the world's best horse-and-rider pairings as they sailed over obstacles under the massive glass-domed roof. It was an awesome display of horse power in a historic and stunning setting. Tack, including saddles and girths, of a partner Hermès rider are pictured in the stalls outside the Saut Hermès competition in Paris. Photo by Aleesha Harris / PNG The first customer of Hermès While handbags such as the Birkin or Kelly have long been coveted leather goods from the luxury French house, there is another design at the heart of its leather creation — the saddle. 'We often say at Hermès that the horse was Hermès' first client. (Former Hermès Chairman) Jean-Louis Dumas used to say this,' says Chloé Nobecourt, director of the Hermès Equestrian Métier. ' And actually it is very true. Hermès was founded in 1837 as a harness maker. And saddles arrived right after.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Thierry Hermès started the brand as a small harness-making shop in Paris, setting out to create horsewear that was lightweight and refined — a stark contrast to the heavy, decorated designs that were popular at the time. 'For two main reasons,' Nobecourt explains. 'The first was to free the horse's movement. And the second was to reveal its beauty.' From that simple ambition, a multibillion-dollar brand has been built, applying that same approach of good design, simplicity and quality to a vast array of product categories. 'Still today, this founding principle of functionality, lightness, elegance of movement as we like to say, and comfort are still embedded in every creation that we make,' says Nobecourt. A leather sign on the glass door into a saddlemaking atelier of the French luxury brand Hermès. Photo by Aleesha Harris / PNG A visit to the centre of creation Located at 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the flagship store of Hermès is a hive of retail, history and creation for the brand. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Around the corner from the Faubourg Saint Honoré store, through a big set of wooden doors reachable only after passing through a security checkpoint, many of the brand's standout pieces are made. Unbeknownst to many, this downtown Paris location has long been an epicentre of creation for the brand, including its made-to-measure saddles. 'Most people don't know that actually, since 1880, the workshop is there,' says Nobecourt. In 2023, a new workshop in Normandy, an epicentre of equestrian sport and culture in France, according to Nobecourt, was inaugurated. But a primary aspect of the saddle-making business is still carried out each day above the flagship boutique. 'Faubourg being the heart of Hermès, it's more than a flagship, it's a family house. It's the beating heart of Hermès,' Nobecourt says. 'And Sellierie is the heart of Hermès. They should remain together.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. During a recent tour, artisans could be seen working on a variety of pieces, including handbags, in various stages of creation. And through a glass door, marked simply with an antique leather tag reading 'Atelier de Sellerie Hermès,' is precisely where many of the bespoke saddles come to be. A wall of saddle hooks displays finished saddles like stunning art pieces. Wooden work tables, punctuated with tools, were hubs of activity. On a bookshelf, a row of white notebooks stood, spines facing out. These books contain the detailed measurements of every single saddle ever made by the house of Hermès. 'Every saddle we make is double made to measure. We make them for the horse first and then the rider,' says Nobecourt. 'I always put the horse first because a rider, when you are not comfortable, you will say it out loud, which is easier to work with. We can speak with you about your riding style, do you feel comfortable, and how to adjust? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'But the horse won't speak. So we need to pay extra attention to make sure the saddle we make for him will fit him, that it will free his movement and will allow him to perform at his best.' Each saddle is made by one craftsperson, from start to finish, requiring approximately 30 hours of work to create, according to Nobecourt. The made-to-measure saddles are available by special order in Canada through an Hermès boutique. 'When a craftsperson makes a saddle, they knows for who the saddle is for,' she says. This includes the saddles destined for the company's 14 partner riders (including French professional Simon Delestre, who won the Grand Prix at Saut Hermès aboard the horse Cayman Jolly Jumpe) who ride in the company's saddles — and provide valuable feedback about fit and feel of the top-tier tack. 'It's crucial,' Nobecourt says of the feedback the brand receives from the professional equestrians. 'We often call it a triple alliance. The partner riders, the saddle experts, and the craftsmen. 'They help us to always improve.' Riders compete in the 15th edition of the Saut Hermès competition in Paris. Photo by Hermes For Nobecourt, an equestrian herself, the opportunity to see the saddles in action at Saut Hermès, so close to the origin of the brand's story and creation, presents more than an opportunity to display the equestrian roots of Hermès. 'It's a celebration of everyone's love around horses,' she says with a smile as the sold-out crowd cheered a clear jumping round in the background. 'It's not just a competition, it's much more than that.' Aharris@ Postmedia was a guest of Hermès in Paris. The brand neither reviewed nor approved this article. Vancouver Canucks News News Vancouver Canucks Homes
Vancouver Sun
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
The true heart of Hermès leather-making isn't a Birkin or a Kelly. It's a saddle
Article content Paris is a memorable city. One made even more so, it turns out, with the addition of horses. Article content The capital of France, which sees some 50 million tourists visit each year, is home to many iconic landmarks, must-see museums, delicious food, and world-renowned fashion brands. Article content And for a few days this spring, the City of Lights was also home to Saut Hermès, an international equestrian competition. Article content Set in the Grand Palais on March 21-23, the 15th edition of the show-jumping tournament brought horses to the heart of Paris with temporary stables erected directly beside the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Article content Inside the tented rows, oversized orb-shaped lighting bathed the stalls in a warm, soft glow while large swaths of faux turf provided a soft footing for the equine athletes to make their way to the competition arena. Article content Article content Article content Riders of the Paris Metro disembarking at a nearby station were greeted with a glimpse of the horses warming up in a small sand arena located directly beside the entrance of the busy transit station. Article content Article content While handbags such as the Birkin or Kelly have long been coveted leather goods from the luxury French house, there is another design at the heart of its leather creation — the saddle. Article content 'We often say at Hermès that the horse was Hermès' first client. (Former Hermès Chairman) Jean-Louis Dumas used to say this,' says Chloé Nobecourt, director of the Hermès Equestrian Métier. 'And actually it is very true. Hermès was founded in 1837 as a harness maker. And saddles arrived right after.' Article content Article content Thierry Hermès started the brand as a small harness-making shop in Paris, setting out to create horsewear that was lightweight and refined — a stark contrast to the heavy, decorated designs that were popular at the time. Article content 'For two main reasons,' Nobecourt explains. 'The first was to free the horse's movement. And the second was to reveal its beauty.' Article content From that simple ambition, a multibillion-dollar brand has been built, applying that same approach of good design, simplicity and quality to a vast array of product categories. Article content 'Still today, this founding principle of functionality, lightness, elegance of movement as we like to say, and comfort are still embedded in every creation that we make,' says Nobecourt. Article content Article content Located at 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, the flagship store of Hermès is a hub of both retail, history and creation for the brand. Article content Around the corner from the Faubourg Saint Honoré store, through a big set of wooden doors reachable only after passing through a security checkpoint, many of the brand's standout pieces are made. Unbeknownst to many, this downtown Paris location has long been an epicentre of creation for the brand, including its made-to-measure saddles.
Emirates Woman
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Emirates Woman
Hermès Chevauchée: A bespoke riding adventure across Qatar's desertscape
Fashion by Camille Macawili 34 seconds ago Hermès hosted a private, bespoke riding adventure across the desertscape at Our Habitas Ras Abrouq, Qatar, showcasing the craftsmanship and detail of the brand's equestrian heritage. THE EXPERIENCE To truly understand the essence of Hermès is to embrace its equestrian soul. Founded in 1837 as a harness workshop, the French Maison has never strayed from its origins, elevating the art of horse riding to an unparalleled level of craftsmanship and luxury. The Hermès Chevauchée experience, intertwined with the bespoke service, is not merely about riding; it is about embracing an equestrian lifestyle infused with the Maison's signature savoir-faire and heritage of saddle-making – where craftsmanship meets performance – reflecting the brand's deep-rooted connection to equestrian sports. While Hermès does not offer direct horse-riding experiences, their commitment to the equestrian world is evident through events like the annual Saut Hermès horse show at Le Grand Palais in Paris. This particular ride was past the iconic East-West/West-East by Richard Serra in the desert of Qatar, timed to perfection at exactly sundown as only Hermès could do. The craftsmanship of their equestrian pieces is not less refined in details and like this experience, something you will treasure for life. THE CRAFTSMANSHIP Hermès has been devoted to handcrafted creations. Beyond function, an Hermès saddle is a statement of design artistry. Just as the house's coveted Birkin and Kelly bags are crafted with a dedication to detail, so too is each saddle – reflecting Hermès' dedication to equestrian excellence. Since 1837, every Hermès saddle has been handmade by a single craftsman. The collaborative journey begins with a consultation guided by a master saddler, where a seasoned rider and horse are meticulously measured. Hermès employs the cutting-edge Equiscan system, a tool designed to capture the specificities and anatomical nuances such as the exact curvature of the horse's back, ensuring a perfect fit. Once the specifications are finalised, the saddle is entrusted to a single saddle expert, who dedicates nearly 25 to 35 hours to its meticulous handcrafted labour and care. The leathers, carefully selected from Hermès' exclusive tanneries, are supple yet durable, ensuring longevity and grace in every ride. Each stitch is placed with precision, each curve moulded to enhance the intimacy between horse and rider, fostering an instinctive connection. The result of this technological precision, saddlery know-how, and time-honoured artisanal techniques? A keep-forever saddle that seamlessly blends comfort and control and elevates the riding experience to a level of unparalleled refinement and slick sporting performance – aimed at making the horse and rider as one. A testament to its craftsmanship excellence, an Hermès saddle can be repaired and adapted as it changes over time, by the same craftsman who created it. The saddles have all been numbered so they will never be forgotten – thanks to a hand-updated register – and can be traced including when and by whom the saddle was created, as well as the repairs carried out over time – a practice from the Maison since 1900. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied
