Leather has been the cornerstone of Hermès’s oevre for almost two centuries. Little wonder then, that the French luxury brand is dedicating a whole exhibition to the material, making its long-standing love affair the focal point of the aptly-named ‘Leather Forever’.
Hermès turns 175 this year. And with Britain having much to celebrate – thanks to the Olympics and the Queen’s Jubilee – debuting ‘Leather Forever’ in London was the brand’s own canny way of joining in on the cultural celebrations.
‘Leather and craft is our essence and our identity’, said Chief Operating Officer Axel Dumas at the opening. Case in point, an on-site workshop – framed by a wall piled high with the brand’s iconic orange boxes – housing craftspeople from the Hermès workshops in Paris, who are on-hand to demonstrate the brand’s intricate leather-working process.
The exhibition has been sensitively designed by Alexandra Plat, who has created an ultimate fantasy world of leather, filled with surreal touches such as a sunset-lit ‘desert’ flanked by a sandy floor - a tented display of travel-related accessories taking centre-stage. A viewing station, equipped with glittering silver opera binoculars, taunts the viewer's line of vision towards a giant neon Kelly bag, filled with different variations of the brand’s iconic bags through the years.
But the most playful message has been saved for last. In a room containing a toy theatre, a sumptuous red and gold stage curtain opens and closes dramatically. Revealed, are four one-of-a-kind versions of the 'Passe-Guide' bag. Paraded one after the other in rotating fashion, the bags are magically swapped as the curtain closes and then opens. Created specially for ‘Leather Forever’, the bags will be auctioned for charity with Christie’s between 14 to 31 May in a time-based online auction.
The French luxury brand is dedicating a whole exhibition to the material, making its long-standing love affair the focal point of the aptly-named ‘Leather Forever’
The exhibition has been sensitively designed by Alexandra Plat, who has created an ultimate fantasy world of leather. Upon entering, the visitor is greeted by this 'library of skins'
In the following room, an on-site workshop houses craftspeople from the Hermès workshops in Paris, who demonstrate the brand’s intricate leather-working process. Pictured here is the saddle-stitching process
Hermès advertisement from 1929, featuring a steering wheel upholstered in leather and driving gloves in peccary skin
The exhibition is awash with evocative touches, such as a sunset-lit ‘desert’ flanked by a sandy floor - a tented display of travel-related accessories taking centre-stage
A viewing station, equipped with glittering silver opera binoculars, taunts the viewer's line of vision towards a giant neon Kelly bag filled with different variations of the brand’s iconic bags through the years
Pointing visitors towards the entrance of the exhibition is 'Zouzou' the rhinoceros in white ostrich skin, created by Leïla Menchari for the windows of the 24, Faubourg Saint-Honoré store in Paris
Taking centre-stage in the room entitled 'When dreams become reality' is this multicoloured, winged saddle, made at the Hermès Sellerie workshop
Leather has been the cornerstone of Hermès’s oevre for almost two centuries
Ending the exhibition journey is a sumptuous stage curtain, which opens up to reveal four one-of-a-kind versions of the 'Passe-Guide' bag. Created specially for ‘Leather Forever’, the bags will be auctioned for charity with Christie’s from 14 – 31 May in a online auction
The Passe-Guide bag representing England
The Passe-Guide bag representing Ireland
The Passe-Guide bag representing Scotland
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