Hermès Festival des Métiers Deuxième Partie

The scarf she was working on, and the transparency of a color layer she was drawing in ink.

Beauty shot.

The watchmaker was really into his job, and I was pleased to find out that people actually do take things apart and put them back together to see how they're made in their free time. And when I asked if he did that, he didn't find it strange. 

Shirt makers can make a special order shirt out of five scarves. They line up the design from the front to the sleeves, and the yolk to the back. They can also sew the buttons on in a way that makes the thread into an "h".

The diamond setter was putting diamonds into the studs of a collier du chien bracelet. The white gold band was so heavy it would make a good weapon, but it would be a shame to use it as one because of all the work that man out into setting every. single. diamond. into it.
Watching the woman making a tie was like watching a dancer. And the needle looked like a swimmer in a pool made out of silk. It's very simple because it's mainly just folding and sewing, but it's not easy. She has to sew two of the layers together but leave one out, and she just does it by the way her needle feels. The size of the tie gets one millimeter of leeway on each side, otherwise it gets sent back to her. She had confidence in her motions, but was coquette about it, and the precision of it all mixed with her unpretentiousness was mesmerizing.

It closed before I could get to the saddle makers, but I have a feeling it would have been exciting. 

This is the space. Only looks a little better than my room. 

Even the carpet.

It's really cool to meet the parents of the items that are usually just candy-like orphans to me. Dramatic enough?

All photos: me