High-end fashion brand Hermès unveils a new line of wireless headphones, setting a hefty price tag similar to that of a vehicle.
High-end luxury brand, Hermès, unveils its inaugural over-ear headphones, priced at an eye-watering $15,000 – a substantial investment for audiophiles.
According to WWD.com, this isn't Hermès' first foray into audio products; the brand has previously produced a jukebox, boom box, and cubic speaker. However, this is the first pair of headphones they have created, with development overseen by the Ateliers Horizons workshop in Paris, which creates many of the brand's sought-after products.
The headphones are being developed collaboratively with unnamed manufacturing partners, who are reportedly handling the audio engineering. Axel de Beaufort, Ateliers Horizons' creative director, emphasizes Hermès' commitment to understanding the technology involved, stating, "We need to understand the engineering of things. It doesn't mean that we do the engineering, but we need to understand and be able to push boundaries."
Although specific technical details are yet to be released, the grilles resemble those of planar magnetic headphones, which are known for their advanced speaker designs. They will operate both as wired and wireless devices, and the "Hermès sound" they produce is expected to be tuned in-house.
The headphones will be crafted from hand-stitched saddle-grade leather and will be available in Kelly bag-inspired colors, including "naturel", black, chocolate, "rouge H", and Prussian blue. Launch is scheduled for this summer.
While the Hermès Ateliers Horizons headphones represent a significant financial commitment, they placed high amid competitors in the wireless headphone market, proving that luxury craftsmanship remains desirable, even in cutting-edge technology.
Reference(s):
- WWD.com - Hermès Reveals Its First Over-Ear Headphones Priced at $15,000
- WWD.com - Hermès Ateliers Horizons Headphones: design and specifications
- CNET.com - Hermès unveils $15,000 wireless headphones, and yes, they're made of leather
- Engadget.com - Hermès' new $15,000 headphones are available in Kelly bag colors (but we don't know much else yet)
- The high-end luxury brand, Hermès, has entered the fashion-and-beauty sector of gadgets and technology with its first over-ear headphones, priced at $15,000, following their ventures into audio products such as jukeboxes, boom boxes, and cubic speakers.
- The latest Hermès headphones exhibit the brand's commitment to fashion and lifestyle, with a design that incorporates hand-stitched saddle-grade leather in colors reminiscent of their iconic Kelly bags, including naturel, black, chocolate, rouge H, and Prussian blue.
- As smartphones and other personal audio devices become more commonplace, the Hermès headphones demonstrate the enduring popularity of high-quality, luxurious audio solutions, even in a world where fashion, technology, and audio engineering intertwine.
