Friday, 18 May 2012

Leather Forever - 175 Years of Hermès

Let me pose a question: am I crazy to brave a driving rainstorm to attend an exhibit that glorifies the use of animal skin to make useful (and not so useful) articles for man? 

In a word, OUI!  Because you have never seen an exhibit such as Hermès' Leather Forever, presented at the Royal Academy of Arts (8 to 27 May 2012), which gives a more intimate view of the house of Hermès' history and, as a result, a greater appreciation for the art of harness and saddlemakers (the house's humble beginnings) and how it grew to be the icon of classic, tasteful style that it now is. 

Various hues and types of leathers used to produce Hermès designs

It is also remarkable that the House of Hermès is still in the hands of the original family of owners, despite corporate attempts to purchase.  The pride of this ownership pervades every design, every fabric choice, every stitch in execution.  We saw the leathers used to create articles, artisans working at their craft, plus examples of historical and current designs in a variety of presentations, from a stage filled with handbags (with opera glasses provided for us to see their details) to a room filled with fine white sand, with saddles and harnesses hanging against this stark ground.

But the most magnificent articles were the bags -- travel bags of all types, steamer trunks like miniature closets, and a scale model shoe carrier case, complete with miniature shoes, all made to show a design idea to a bespoke client.  The care given to each and every detail shows why Hermès has been around for 175 years, and most likely will be for at least another 175.  You can even bid online for one of your own on the Hermes site by 31 May.  All proceeds from this charitable auction go to the Royal Academy of Arts.

Vive Hermès!

The re-upholstered interior of a Citroen 2CV, with coordinating bags, as done by Hermès

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