Hermès Is Getting Into the Skincare and Cosmetics Business

After unveiling a podcast series centered around the craftsmanship and lives of its early employees, Hermès has announced another new venture. Business of Fashion reports that the luxury retailer is aiming to launch a skincare and cosmetics line, set to debut in 2020.

CEO Axel Dumas is acutely aware that entering the beauty industry is no easy feat. Thus, the company will start small by releasing products exclusively in its stores to learn and iterate before scaling to other retailers. The product development will occur in-house, while manufacturing will be handled by third-party companies in France and Italy. Hermès has also pledged to use plastic-free packaging for the new skincare and cosmetics line.

“Obviously, we hope to have the biggest scope possible. We are trying to do it humbly and cautiously, because it’s a big market that’s already full of strong players, and therefore we have to find our place in it,” stated Dumas.

The brand has seen a success in its fragrance line thanks to its popular Terre d’Hermès and Twilly d’Hermès scents, with a 9 percent sales growth in 2018. By adding skincare and cosmetics, the French house hopes to join other luxury brands in the global beauty market and continue to reach audiences beyond fashion and accessories.

Hermès also recently teamed up with Apple to release a series of colorful watch bands for the spring.