The French fashion house Hermès has opened a new leather goods workshop in Louviers, creating 280 jobs and strengthening its commitment to sustainable employment.

The second leather goods hub of the house will employ 260 leatherworkers in Normandy. Bags, small leather goods, saddles, and bridles will be produced inside the workshop by the artisans.

By conserving the site’s original trees and redirecting rainwater to the water table, the undulating gardens designed by Belgian landscape architect Erik Dhont conserve local biodiversity. An excellent example of Hermes’ commitment to environmental performance, regional development, and social responsibility is the workshop. But producing leather has an impact on the environment. Indeed, the breeding of animals in farms is a source of nitrate pollution (very involved in global warming).

In addition, industrial cattle breeding causes the release of a large amount of methane (greenhouse gas) into the environment and also massive deforestation. Large areas are deforested for the creation of pasturelands and huge soybean farms for animal feed. But, hush hush… it is Hermès.