Hermès Opens Its 25th Leather Workshop in France Amid Global Market Shifts The small town of Loupes will soon host a new workshop for the prestigious fashion house

While the conflict in Iran has caused a drop of up to 50% in shopping mall sales across the United Arab Emirates, Hermès continues to expand its production in... France. The group recently inaugurated its 25th leather goods workshop in the town of Loupes, located in the Gironde region. While the site currently employs 140 artisans, its workforce is expected to reach 260 in the coming months. To recruit on such a large scale, Hermès relies on its own unique recipe: its internal "École des savoir-faire" (School of Craftsmanship). This program offers free, paid training to anyone dreaming of becoming a master leather artisan. For the group, opening a new workshop in France -where 100% of its leather goods are produced- allows for increased production without compromising on the craftsmanship that serves as the house's signature. This move also directly addresses the surging demand for its leather goods, led by the iconic Birkin and Kelly bags.

Already established across several sites in the region, Hermès is pushing forward with its expansion despite a tense international geopolitical climate. While these tensions have hurt its competitors' sales, Hermès remains largely unaffected. In 2025, Hermès sales continued to grow (+5.5%, reaching 16 billion euros), defying the slowdown that has impacted the luxury sector for several quarters. By doubling down on its expansion strategy, Hermès is positioning itself to escape the financial instability currently hitting the industry. As competitors often favor offshoring, one wonders: will they follow the Hermès lead?