Hermes boosts Kelly bag output with new Normandy facility

Top quality: A craftswoman works on a bag at the Hermes workshop opened in Louviers. The company launched its 21st leather goods factory here, which has the distinction of being the only one in the region to also manufacture horse saddles. — AFP

PARIS: Hermes inaugurates a leather goods manufacturing facility in Normandy as the luxury brand seeks to meet the rising demand for Kelly and Constance handbags.

The facility in the town of Louviers has 140 leather workers and aims to double that within four years to produce bags, saddles and small leather goods. The facility in Louviers is making €7,700 (US$8,400 or RM36,964) Kelly bags in the 25-centimetre size and will eventually churn out another model called the Constance mini. One Kelly bag takes between 14 and 20 hours to make and is produced by a single leather worker.