Locals can get up close and personal with the craft behind a luxury brand making its return to Chicago.
On Friday, Hermès in the Making opened at Union Station to give people an inside and interactive look at the craftsmanship that goes into the brand’s luxury leather, silk, jewelry and porcelain goods.
The free event brings together craftsmen from France to demonstrate their meticulous tasks in live demonstrations. The event coincides with the reopening of the Hermès store on Oak Street on Monday.
A crowd gathered around the craftsmen, who explained through a translator how their elaborate designs are applied to the silk scarfs with screen printing. Each layer of color on an Hermès scarf is hand pressed onto the silk by craftsmen who have learned their trade through an apprenticeship.
People are even able to try their hand at screen printing on the other end of the room.
Attendees can also try stitching a saddle, or if that seems too daunting, coloring in some Hermès coloring sheets.
Around the grand hall, other stations include watch-making, leather goods repair, working leather for an Hermès Kelly bag, and the making of leather gloves. Videos that were shot with a French company for the exhibition are shown around the hall that further talk about the brand and its products.
People can check out the exhibition from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Nov. 1. The event series has traveled around the world and is now making its second U.S. stop.
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