Hermès reveals luxury bikes
Both bikes come in a choice of charcoal, red and white colors with bull leather saddles and grips, hydraulic brakes and superlight carbon fiber frames created by French bike company Time.
« We really want to work with people who have a very deep expertise, and wherever possible, we try to find them in France, » François Doré, head of the project, told WWD. « We set out to make a real bike, not a decorative object. It had to be simple, efficient, easy to use, pleasant and elegant, » he added.
It’s a growing trend. This fall Marc Jacobs worked with bamboo bike company Panda Bicycles on a range of limited-edition, hand-crafted models which retail at $5,000. The designer was following the lead of ex-fiancée Lorenzo Martone who founded his own bike company Martone Cycling, selling colorful city-bikes priced at $899 earlier this spring.
Although, perhaps the most luxe of all fashion bikes so far was Chanel’s limited edition all-black ride (with the brand’s famous quilted leather on the panniers and seat, of course), released in 2008 and priced at a cool $17,000.
The Hermès bikes will hit the brand’s stores in November, with the Flâneur model retailing at €8,100.
If you’re curious about another classically retro electric bike, look no further than the Super 73 Electric Bike.
