Hermes and Wally Unveil Model for 38 Meter-Wide Luxury Yacht
By Ladka Bauerova
Sept. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Hermes International SCA, the French maker of Birkin handbags, today unveiled a real-size model of a 38-meter-wide yacht, its first foray into luxury vessels.
Hermes teamed up on the project with Monaco-based ship- builder Wally, the two companies said in a joint statement. The model of the vessel, whose width is almost two-thirds of its 58 meter (190 foot) length, was presented today in Ancona, Italy.
Nicknamed WHY 58x38, the yacht features a 25-meter interior swimming pool, three decks and a 36-meter “beach” along the back, which will also be the ship’s widest part. Solar panels covering the roof and sides of the vessel will help save at least 200 tons of diesel fuel a year, Hermes said.
“Space is the biggest luxury at sea, and I believe that the next big thing will be taking the time to appreciate that,” Pierre-Alexis Dumas, the artistic director of Hermes, said in the press release. The Dumas family is the majority owner of Hermes.
It will be the first yacht for Hermes, better known for its $4,000 Birkin handbags and printed silk scarves. The company previously helped design a luxury helicopter and a collection of smart cars, a company spokeswoman said.
Last Updated: September 22, 2009 11:34 EDT
