A peek inside the Hermès Petit H program

Strips of unused silk, singular buttons, spare hardware, segments of leather and exotic skins. Rather than viewed as waste, the assorted detritus of design are a jumping off point of creation for Godefroy de Virieu. Article content

As the creative director of the Petit h program at Hermès , de Virieu oversees a team of artisans in Paris who use the castoffs and extras from the various metiers of the French luxury fashion house, turning them into one-of-a-kind creations.

“It’s really in the roots of Hermès, from the roots of craftsmanship,” de Virieu says of the up-cycled approach. “We never throw away the materials. And this is very much in the mindset of Hermès.”

At a company known for its desirous designs, Petit h pieces offer a level of rarity that surpasses even that of the covet