Hermès Debuts in Palo Alto
Photo by Drew Altizer/Drew Altizer Photography
Photo by Drew Altizer/Drew Altizer Photography
Photo by Drew Altizer/Drew Altizer Photography
Photo by Drew Altizer/Drew Altizer Photography
Photo by Drew Altizer/Drew Altizer Photography
Photo by Drew Altizer/Drew Altizer Photography
Photo by Drew Altizer/Drew Altizer Photography
Photo by Drew Altizer/Drew Altizer Photography
Photo by Drew Altizer/Drew Altizer Photography
Photo by Jessica Monroy/Drew Altizer Photography
Photo by Jessica Monroy/Drew Altizer Photography
Photo by Frank Oudeman
Photo by Frank Oudeman
Photo by Frank Oudeman
Photo by Frank Oudeman
On Thursday, May 17, eighty members of the Hermès family arrived in Palo Alto from Paris for the grand launch of the newest Hermès outpost—a sun-filled boutique directly opposite of the glass-cube Apple store at the Stanford Shopping Center in the heart of Silicon Valley. “For Hermès to be in Palo Alto is a dream,” said Hermès CEO Axel Dumas who also performed the ribbon cutting. “It’s a meeting of craftsmanship and technology, of tradition and heritage and invention. We are so happy to be here, in the center of innovation.”
After taking a break from viewing handsome blankets with the iconic “H” on each corner and admiring the fine jewelry, Allison Speer said, “Now we have both an Hermès store in San Francisco and in Palo Alto, so we are always close to the iconic handbags and scarves. For men and women of style, this is heavenly.”
Handbags proved to be a focal point for many more guests. “This new boutique is very exciting for the tech and the equestrian communities, and for serious Hermès collectors like me,” said Olga Dubrovsky, as she assessed a turquoise mini Kelly and a black Clémence handbag custom designed for the opening.
Throughout the event, guests admired the 6,000 square foot boutique’s clean modern lines and interior architecture, designed to feel very residential. In the heart of the shop, an inviting living room with large sofas is surrounded by specialized salons for Hermès fine jewelry, menswear, a home collection, perfume, gifts, scarves and equestrian gear.
Apple Watch designer Jony Ive, who is collaborating closely with Hermès on the Paris company’s chic versions of his timepiece, was given a tour of the boutique by Pierre-Alexis Dumas, creative director of Hermès, and Robert Chavez, president and CEO, Hermès USA. “I’ve pronounced this new showcase ‘splendid,'” said Ive as he gazed into vitrines of Apple Watches front and center.
Later on, guests entered into a fantasy setting for a grand party. With a mythical village scene adorned with objects and furnishings crafted from corrugated cardboard — that allowed nearly three hundred guests to snap the most elegant Instagram images — singers strolled, dancers performed, musicians played and guests dined on frites, potato waffles, and French patisseries.
Written by Diane Dorrans Saeks
Email This To A Friend
