Hermès' Petit H opens own store on Left Bank in Paris

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Sep 13, 2021

Petit H, the recycling brand with Hermès, has opened its own store on Left Bank in Paris, in a move the house has entitled 'Re-creation in the Re-entry.'

La Rentrée, or Re-entry, is the French term for the return after summer vacations, and the house has feted this year’s homecoming with a novel new store at 17 rue de Sèvres, a key shopping thoroughfare in St Germain, on Paris’ Left Bank.

Petit H’s new 67-square-meter space is located right beside the recently reopened Left Bank flagship of Hermès, located in a former swimming pool next door to the Hotel Lutetia.

The concept behind Petit H is developing playful objects, clothes and accessories using materials and even scraps not used by other Hermès métiers.

“It’s what we call creation in reverse,” Hermès explained after releasing images of new Petit H creations, ranging from bridal print scarves revamped as asymmetrical dresses; leather panda shoe accessories or letter boxes made of discarded silk.

Four times a year, the new store will focus on a certain themes. Its opening idea is earthenware including an earthen jar from its southern French workshop in Ravel, finished with a handle from a Kelly bag.

A house which is famous for its dictum that it likes to only produce products that are worth mending has included a Petit H work stool with apron for handymen, harvesters or dreamers that includes spanners, scissors and rope.

Designed by RDAI, the store features sparking terrazzo floors, and marble dotted with brass from Hermès leather goods department.

Founded in 1837, partially quoted though essentially family-owned, Hermès operates in 45 countries with more than 300 stores, employing 17,000 people worldwide, including 5,600 craftsmen.