The Hermès Way
The iconic brand sets up shop just in time for beach season.
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FROM TOP: Robert Chavez; Porcelain plate; Towels exclusive to the East Hampton store and Summer sandal. |
THE EPITOME OF STYLE and luxury, Hermès kicks off the summer in its new seasonal shop in East Hampton. Meanwhile the brand continues to invest in its future, opening stores in Las Vegas and Denver this year, with a Seattle boutique to come. President and CEO of Hermès USA Robert Chavez talks to Hamptons about what the most recent location has in store for us. Full of color, patterns and chic summer staples, the new shop will no doubt become a must-visit.
HAMPTONS: What’s the vision behind the store?
ROBERT CHAVEZ: We have a significant client base out of the eastern part of Long Island, especially during the high season, so we’ve looked at opening in the Hamptons for many years. The space at 63 Main Street provided a wonderful opportunity. The timing and concept of doing a seasonal boutique was very interesting to us.
H: How did you conceptualize the space?
RC: We wanted to keep the space very clean and simple. Every Hermès boutique is unique in its own way, but this one will have a much lighter feel to it. It’s predominately white on the interior to make the merchandise pop even better.
H: Will there be any exclusives to the store?
RC: We’re going to do a special beach towel for the East Hampton boutique.
H: How will the store be merchandised for the Hamptons customer?
RC: The assortment here is significantly brighter, much more colorful, and focuses on categories that lend themselves more to summer living and entertaining. The store has a much more casual feel to it, with a selection of swimsuits, pareos and shorts. There are home products as well, because a lot of our clients entertain.
H: What are your must-haves for the season?
RC: A Hermès cashmere shawl is ideal for summer evenings when it gets a little cool and you don’t want to wear a jacket. A beautiful tie in a fun pattern and a bright color is great for one of those elegant summer events in the Hamptons. Also, the porcelain is ideal for entertaining. There are some beautiful patterns with a very summery feel.
H: What does opening in the Hamptons mean to Hermès?
RC: A lot of our clients spend the season out East, and the new location is a great opportunity to service them more closely, right in their own backyard. It’s also an opportunity to introduce Hermès to more people. People who go to the Hamptons aren’t just from the New York area, they’re from all over the country—and some are even international visitors. We hope somebody strolling by on a summer afternoon is going to wander into Hermès, perhaps for the first time, here on Main Street.
H: What are your favorite things to do while you’re on the East End?
RC: I love taking an early-morning walk on the beach when it’s quiet, which is very, very early. That’s probably my favorite thing of all.
Hermès, 63 Main St., East Hampton, 324-1177
BY AMANDA WEINER
PHOTOGRAPH BY QUENTIN BERTOUX (sandal)
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