Key Takeaways:
- Hermès has debuted its first set of headphones, crafted by its Ateliers Horizons bespoke division and priced at $15,000.
- The design draws inspiration from the iconic Kelly bag, featuring hand-stitched leather and metallic finishes.
- Each pair is handcrafted by a team of 50 artisans, emphasizing luxury, exclusivity, and meticulous craftsmanship.
Finally, headphones you can include in your will. Hermès has just stepped into personal audio with its first headphones.
Priced at a whopping $15,000 and designed by its bespoke division, Ateliers Horizons, these are not standard tech accessories.
They're artisan-crafted objects that merge high-end design with refined acoustic quality.
Inspired by the iconic Kelly handbag, the headphones are available in limited quantities and will be sold only in select Hermès boutiques.
Each pair is the result of over two years of development and is handcrafted by the 50-person team inside the Ateliers Horizons workshop in Pantin, just outside Paris.
Axel de Beaufort, who has led Ateliers Horizons since 2012, says the goal was not mass production but perfect execution.
“The idea is not to be able to replicate that 10,000 times as a big headset supplier would do.
The idea is to have the few that we will do made perfectly, and that has been a very long learning process," de Beaufort told WWD.
The headphones feature saddle-stitched cowhide leather and polished metallic components.
The minimalist design echoes the hardware and lines of the Kelly, giving the headphones the same kind of presence found in the brand’s most coveted bags.
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The headphones support both Bluetooth and wired connections and are designed more for collectors than audiophiles.
Hermès’ decision to enter the audio market independently, rather than through a tech partner, shows its long-term investment in personal technology.
It suggests that more objects, perhaps even other wearables, may be released in the future.
For now, the headphones stand as a rare example of how traditional techniques can shape a modern category without sacrificing brand identity.
Craft Meets Audio
Hermès has previously collaborated with tech companies, such as its watch partnership with Apple.
But this marks the first time it has produced an audio device entirely in-house.
The brand’s approach involved both traditional craftsmanship and technical precision, opting to work with specialists when needed to meet sound quality expectations.
Ateliers Horizons is known for custom creations ranging from surfboards to cocktail bars, and even the interiors of rare cars.
First look; introducing the Apple Watch Hermes pic.twitter.com/vKRWlT5bla
— British Vogue (@BritishVogue) September 9, 2015
With the headphones, the studio builds on this legacy while extending the Hermès brand into a new product category.
They reflect the company’s belief that product design and craftsmanship should touch even the most unexpected objects.
Meanwhile, Louis Vuitton chose Zendaya to front its latest and final collection with Murakami.
Our Take: Can Luxury Be Heard?
It certainly can! Hermès isn't trying to compete with Apple or Bose on sound specs.
The brand is speaking to a completely different audience, one that values exclusivity, rarity, and story as much as, if not more than, function.
At $15,000, this product is less about listening and more about status and collecting.
It's positioned as an heirloom, a display of craftsmanship, and a conversation starter.
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In doing so, Hermès has drawn a clear line between premium and prestige.
What’s notable is that Hermès took full ownership of the design process. There’s no co-branding, no tech partner.
This preserves brand purity while giving them full control over creative output, pricing, and distribution.
For luxury branding agencies, it sets an example of how to enter a new market without diluting brand heritage.
