What is the world coming to when Hermès, the pinnacle of high fashion and luxury, feels obliged to enter into a partnership with Apple, the most democratic product in the American market? Telling of a business world that’s become evermore cutthroat and reliant on mergers of unlikely commodities, the Apple Hermès watch marks a sharp shift in the previously sophisticated path of the lifestyle brand.
Because Apple is rather cracked out in terms of finding a viable marketing approach for one of their most fledgling offerings, perhaps it seemed like a good idea to the company to appeal to those with extra cash to spend on frivolous purchases–“That’ll move some watches!,” one pictures the head of marketing exclaiming at a board meeting. Instead, this seems like a quick way to ruin the credibility of both companies.
The so-called “synergy” that’s supposed to occur with this product simply isn’t there. Rather, it makes Apple look desperate to appeal to as many demographics as possible in order to find one that will take an interest in the watch and it makes Hermès seem hopelessly out of touch with the stately reputation it is supposed to uphold.