The smile never left Hermès Canada president and CEO Jennifer Carter’s face. This was the day she had dreamed about for decades: a flagship store in the Burrard Building, with soaring views of the local mountains. Accompanied by several members of the international Hermès team, including artistic director, Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Carter hosted a swish cocktail reception to show off her beautiful new store—including its extensive furniture collection.
Shuttle buses were on hand to transport guests—some of whom had travelled from Hong Kong, Toronto, and elsewhere—to the party. The former Edgewater Casino was unrecognizable: from the moment guests walked through the doors, they entered a different world.
An enchanted forest, a tunnel of stars, a forest of disco balls—at every turn the space offered a new dream to inhabit. As the Champagne flowed, and exquisite canapés from Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar were passed around, the party took on a fantasy life of its own, with dancers dressed in riding gear and Hermès horse heads mingling with guests trying on angel wings or lounging in the “white” space—filled with balloons—wearing virtual reality headsets that whisked them off to another fantasy altogether.
But let’s not forget the store—a stunning piece of design in itself, filled with signature items and limited-edition pieces made only for Vancouver. Officially opening today, it is the city’s new place to see and be seen.
Hermès Vancouver is located in the Burrard Building at 717 Burrard St, Vancouver, B.C.
Read our Summer, 2019 story on Hermès Canada president and CEO Jennifer Carter.
