Short supply: Birkins, carried by the likes of Kate Moss, are so limited that normal shoppers struggle to buy them in stores
Hermes has vowed to open three new factories as it struggles to keep up with demand for its £6,000-plus leather bags.
The luxury fashion house raked in bumper revenues last year as the world’s wealthy began to spend the money they built up during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hermes’ revenues hit £7.5billion, up 41 per cent on 2020 and 33 per cent on pre-pandemic levels, as demand for leather goods, ready-to-wear clothing lines, accessories, watches, jewellery and homeware all rocketed.
The French giant noted ‘very sustained’ demand for its well-known handbags – including the Della Cavalleria and 24/24, as well as ‘classic’ ranges such as the Birkin and Kelly.
And it said it would open up three new factories in France, as it struggled to produce enough of the bags. Birkins, which have been carried by the likes of Princess Diana and Kate Moss, are so limited that normal shoppers struggle to buy them in stores.
In 2021, Hermes hired 995 more workers, taking its total to 17,595.
Asia and America saw the highest growth in Hermes sales, compared to both 2020 and 2019, while Europe also experienced a boom.
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