Luxury leathergoods brand Hermès has opened a second leathergoods-making facility in Ardennes, France, alongside the Maroquinerie de Bogny-sur-Meuse, which it opened 20 years ago, writes Leatherbiz.

Hermès employees at the start of the construction 18 months ago

The Maroquinerie de la Sormonne will employ 260 artisans trained at the École Hermès des Savoir-faire, its apprenticeship centre, which trains artisans in cutting and table work.

As well as the 260 saddler-leatherworkers, management, logistics and human resources roles will be based at the centre.

The new building is clad in charred timber and includes 1,900m2 of solar panels on the roof, a geothermal heating and air-conditioning system and high-performance stone-wool insulation, which contribute to the building’s environmental performance.

The site’s trees, which include several hundred-year-old oaks, have been preserved to create a green corridor that will facilitate the migration of species all over the site. Local species of trees, including an orchard, were also planted to create spaces that allow biodiversity to thrive and create a harmonious landscape that can be enjoyed by the employees as they work.

In 2027, this hub will be reinforced by another new facility.

Since 2010, Hermès has opened 11 leathergoods workshops in France, bringing the number of saddlerleatherworkers employed by the group to more than 4,700. Four other projects are currently being developed in Riom (Puy-de-Dôme), L’Isle d’Espagnac (Charente), Loupes (Gironde) and Charleville-Mézières (Ardennes), for which recruitment and training are ongoing.