And if I close my eyes
I’m flying 40,000 years
to Wilpena in the dream-time,
where the rock sweeps to the air
And the hills run from the mountainside, into a haze of blue
All I have to do is close my eyes
– John Schumann, If I close my eyes
AUSTRALIA. Heinemann Australia is celebrating the successful introduction of a 150sq m Hermès boutique at Sydney Airport earlier this year.
The Hermès boutique, revealed in The Moodie Davitt Report’s special cover story report in our Print and Interactive Edition earlier this month, is in the International Terminal (T1) on the ‘Luxury Boulevard’.
That stretch of boutiques includes Michael Kors, Hugo Boss, Emporio Armani, Tiffany & Co, Gucci, Burberry, Rolex, Max Mara and Coach, featuring magnificent 8m facades. The Boulevard anchors an extensive luxury zone that also includes Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bally, Longchamp and many more.
The Hermès boutique is an Australian travel retail first. Both Heinemann and Hermès are family-run businesses so it’s only natural to see such a partnership unfold, said Heinemann Australia Tax & Duty Free Managing Director Constantin Wiesmann.
“We’re proud to continue our long and successful partnership with Hermès, now in this part of the world,” he said. “The store architecture and customer experience are unique to the Hermès brand, and we are excited to continuously elevate the travel retail experience at Sydney Airport.”
The Hermès boutique was inspired by the graphic ‘dreamwriting’ found in Aboriginal culture [The Dreamtime is the Aboriginal understanding of the world, its creation and its stories. The Dreamtime is the beginning of knowledge, from which came the laws of existence*. -Ed] This ancient artistic form found voice in the store’s construction, geometry, frame, centrality and warm colours, Heinemann said.
Customers can shop from a variety of leathergoods, lifestyle accessories, home decorations, perfumery, jewellery, watches, shoes and ready-to-wear.
Upon entering the store, they first discover Hermès scarves (carrés) as a central point. The offer features current season design and colours embodying the French luxury brand’s traditional craftsmanship and elegance.
To the right stand the brand’s perfumery, fine jewellery and watch collections. These lead into the ‘Women’s universe and Men’s universe’ of ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories. On the left, customers are invited to shop the world of home and fashion accessories.
The boutique is anchored in the centre by Hermès leather department, featuring handbags and small leathergoods.
The boutique is part of Heinemann Australia’s extensive and diverse 8,000sq m retail offer at Sydney Airport, including the world’s largest stand-alone duty free store.
Heinemann Australia, which has 500 employees, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of German travel retailer Gebr. Heinemann.
*Source: Aboriginal Art & Culture
