Hermès’ boutique at the Duty Free Shoppe hosted Serange for two weeks until last Monday to demonstrate to shoppers how the famous high-end luxury fashion store stitched bags the old-fashioned way — using all natural and environmentally friendly materials — from linen to beeswax to fish oil.
The 30-year-old Serange said his love for leather began at an early age through exposure to horses.
Born in Auvergne, France, Serange said both sides of his parents’ families are associated with horses as well as with blacksmithing.
The rugged mountainous area of Auvergne, in south central France, is famous for its cheeses — Fourmé and Bleu d’Auvergne — and wine.
“If you’re in the field that you’re really interested in, you’ll get fulfilled. I wouldn’t do anything besides this,” said Serange who is referred to as a “sellier” in France.
Making saddles for his family’s horses developed Serange’s special interest in the manufacture of leather goods.
After briefly studying English in London, Serange returned to Paris and trained for three years to make hand-stitched, leather bags and other products for Hermès.
“I moved to England to study English and then returned to France,” he said.
Hermès, which became initially famous mostly through exposure accompanying the royalties and celebrities who used their bags, eventually gained greater popularity overseas during the 19th century.
One of its patrons is the late Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, which Hermès honored with the Kelly bag. Serange said he made a Kelly bag for his mother shortly after working for Hermès.
Serange also refurbished a Hermès bag that supermodel Naomi Campbell got for $200 in a vintage shop in London. Lifetime warranty comes with every Hermès leather product.
Working for Hermès sort-of gave Serange a different status among women than the average Frenchman.
He said if a woman appears to be more interested in Hermès bags than him as a man, he walks away.
“This is my work, my passion. If I sense that they are more interested [in Hermes bags], I walk away,” he said.
In 2007, Serange was assigned to do demonstrations at Hermès’ store in Guam.
This year, he was detailed to Saipan, which he described as “an amazing tiny island, like a paradise.”
During this interview, Yukiko Tatsuta of Kobe, Japan bought a $2,600 bag at Hermès.
Tatsuta said she has seven other Hermès bags which she bought from here and in Hawaii.
She said Hermès is very popular among Japanese women because of its durability and ageless stylish designs.
Through interpreter Kazuyo Tojo, who speaks fluent French, Japanese and English, Tatsuta said the Japanese, especially those with young children, still prefer to travel to Saipan for their vacations because of its close proximity to Japan.
And they frequent stores like Hermès which are popular in Japan.
“This is my anniversary bag,” she said with a smile.
