Hermès Opens 25th French Leather Workshop in Gironde with Free Training Programs

Hermès inaugurated its 25th leather goods workshop in France on April 10, 2026, in Loupes, Gironde. The new facility is expected to create 260 positions for artisan saddle-leather workers, who will be trained specifically to meet the company’s production standards.

Located near Bordeaux, the Loupes site represents the second workshop opened by the luxury brand in the Gironde department, following the establishment of a site in Saint-Vincent-de-Paul in 2021. This expansion brings the total number of Hermès workshops in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region to six.

Production and Innovation

The Loupes workshop will focus on the production of the brand’s iconic pieces, including the Kelly bag. In addition to the manufacturing of established models, the facility includes a dedicated space for the development of new designs, integrating production and innovation within the same site.

Training and Recruitment Initiatives

To staff the new workshop, Hermès is utilizing an internal training policy conducted in partnership with France Travail Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The company is offering training programs that are free and paid, and accessible to applicants without prior prerequisites.

This recruitment strategy addresses a structural shortage of artisanal skills within the French luxury sector. Currently, there are approximately 20,000 vacant positions across the industry in France, making recruitment a significant challenge for luxury houses.

Financial Performance and Growth

The expansion comes as Hermès continues to report robust financial growth despite a general slowdown in the global luxury market. The group recorded total revenue of 16 billion euros, representing a 5.5% increase.

The leather goods and saddlery division remains the primary driver of this growth. In 2025, this specific segment generated nearly 7 billion euros in revenue, a 9.5% increase over the previous period.

Further National Expansion

The Loupes inauguration is part of a broader long-term investment in French craftsmanship. Hermès has also begun construction on another manufacturing site in Charleville-Mézières, located in the Ardennes region of northeastern France.

Scheduled to open in 2027, the Maroquinerie de Charleville-Mézières will become the company’s 26th leather workshop in France. This facility is expected to create 250 jobs and will operate alongside existing workshops in La Sormonne, which opened in 2023, and Bogny-sur-Meuse, which opened in 2004.

Incoming employees for the Ardennes site will largely be trained at the École Hermès des savoir-faire. Established in Charleville-Mézières in 2021 in collaboration with France Travail, the school provides certification in cutting techniques, and leatherwork. The curriculum focuses on technical skills essential to the brand’s standards, such as precision cutting, polishing, and saddle stitching.

The company has stated that this regional expansion reflects a commitment to maintaining all leather goods production within France to ensure quality control and contribute to local economic development.