Hermès has dipped into premium audio with the $15,000 Ateliers Horizons headphones, a stunning blend of tech and artistry that channels the elegance of the brand’s iconic Kelly bag, crafted with hand-stitched leather and sleek metallic finishes by its bespoke division.
Design is where these headphones first command attention. Hermès’ Ateliers Horizons division, known for crafting everything from surfboards to disco balls, has infused the headphones with the elegance of the Kelly bag. Hand-stitched saddle-grade leather wraps the headband and ear cups, paired with polished metallic components that echo the bag’s signature clasps and buckles. Available in colors like natural leather, black, chocolate, rouge H, and Prussian blue, they’re a visual statement. “The minimalist design echoes the hardware and lines of the Kelly, giving the headphones the same kind of presence found in the brand’s most coveted bags,” notes a report on their creation. The Hermès Ateliers Horizons headphones nail versatility with Bluetooth and wired options, swapping flaky touch pads for satisfying physical buttons that give you pinpoint control.
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Handcrafted over two years by roughly 50 artisans in the Ateliers Horizons workshop near Paris, each pair is a labor of love from Pantin’s skilled crew. “The idea is not to be able to replicate that 10,000 times as a big headset supplier would do. The idea is to have the few that we will do made perfectly, and that has been a very long learning process,” says Axel de Beaufort, creative director of Ateliers Horizons since 2012.
Sound quality, while secondary to their aesthetic allure, is crafted to deliver a premium experience. Hermès pursued an original “Hermès sound,” a process de Beaufort describes as “especially complex” due to their commitment to authenticity over simply rebranding existing tech. Tech specs like battery life or noise cancellation are still under wraps, but the headphones aim for audiophile-grade sound, with a grille design hinting at planar magnetic drivers for crystal-clear audio.
With just a few hitting select Hermès boutiques in summer 2025, their rarity is the draw, as de Beaufort says: “It’s about really super high-end craftsmanship.” At $15,000, they’re for Hermès diehards who see them as heirlooms, like a bespoke Kelly bag or a vintage car interior, marking the brand’s gutsy leap into blending legacy with modern tech.
