Primordial Instincts

An exclusive interview with creative director for Hermès shoes and jewellery, Pierre Hardy reveals that men will always be well equipped for a chance first meeting with Hermès men’s shoe collections.

- Wilson Lim

Beyond its humble origins in saddle-making, Hermès has come to be known as a Maison that epitomises quiet luxury, timelessness and craftsmanship for all lifestyle aspects. Every object crafted by the House heightens a man’s appreciation for the finer things in life. They all undergo the Hermès treatment — luxurious, supple materials deftly handled alongside the saddle stitch.

It is said that upon initial meeting, the footwear is the first article of clothing observed of a person — the type determines the tone of the meeting, the condition determines the person’s attitude while the style is his personal choice. At Hermès, Pierre Hardy, creative director for shoes and jewellery is tasked to offer men an arsenal of delectable shoes for every lifestyle need.

“Hermès is a lifestyle house — it’s neither a fashion nor a couture house. It’s a house that is here to accompany you in every moment of [your] life — the leather bags, the silk, the ready-to-wear, the jewellery — something that is present at many occasions in your life. So I tried to illustrate these different moments, different activities, different needs of life in a global but precise way,” shares Hardy.

“I try to think about the different needs and desires you can have with the shoes but also be efficient and consistent. For example when we were designing the rain boots [in the Fall/Winter ’20 collection], it’s really made so that you can walk in the rain with it — flexible and light in a technical material. I think Hermès is the perfect place for that and I think it is totally consistent with the brand to think about all these different moments of life.”