Arnault is grasping at another lustrous pearl: Hermes International

In an interview in his headquarters on Tuesday, only hours after Galliano’s firing was announced publicly, Arnault expressed confidence that Dior would shake off its Charlie Sheen moment. He declined to comment on Galliano, who had helped turn Dior into a multi-billion-dollar brand, and with whom he has had a close relationship.

Arnault, France’s richest man and the force behind the vast LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton empire, is eager to put the Galliano affair behind him. For as jarring as this has been for Dior, Arnault is grasping at another lustrous pearl: Hermes International.

Since October, Arnault has been quite publicly circling Hermes, the 174-year-old family fief whose silk scarves and Kelly and Birkin handbags are coveted near and far.

Arnault says he will not interfere with Hermes’ management or traditions. “We are a totally peaceful investor,” he said. “But as a leader in the best quality products in the world, we believe we can bring a certain savoir-faire to improve the functioning of their business.”

Although Arnault was born and raised in France, he is, to his detractors, something of a brassy American in finely tailored Dior. In much of the world, his success in building a wildly profitable, global conglomerate is viewed with envy. But in France, flash, money and wheeling and dealing are still regarded as a bit crass, and Arnault’s style of business has often ruffled feathers.

Arnault says Hermes has nothing to fear. LVMH burnishes the brands it buys, he says. It does not compromise luxury through commercialisation.

That thinking also applies to Hermes. “I would never diminish the quality of Hermes,” he says. “Hermes can be an even rarer and greater quality business, if they ever wanted to work with us.”