LONDON — It’s a moment London has been waiting for since 2009 and now it has finally arrived in a blaze of color, and with a celebration of British tradition, art and craft.
On Friday, Hermès will open its London flagship at 166 New Bond Street, former home of British jeweler Asprey, 17 years after buying the property and following a six-year refurbishment overseen by artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas and his team.
It is the sixth Hermès flagship worldwide, and the opening is a defiant act of optimism in a city plagued by financial challenges that include sky-high taxes on businesses, the repeal of duty-free shopping for foreign tourists and the flight of the rich following the election of a Labour government two years ago.
The store, which comprises six interconnected buildings, is brimming with British history.
The Hermès team dug deep into the 19th century in particular, drawing colors, textures and interiors inspiration from places including Sir John Soane’s museum, former home of the Neoclassical architect and obsessive collector, and from the space itself, which spans nearly 22,000 square feet and has 55 color-coded, art-filled rooms.
