Back To The Beginning

In the latest instalment of its Hermès Heritage exhibitions, coined “In Motion”, the French heritage house presents an introspective look into its rich archive anchored in the notion of travel.

- Kames Narayanan

WITH A HISTORY that dates back to almost 200 years ago, French luxury maison Hermès counts amongst the oldest of heritage houses in the fashion realm. While Hermès today has risen to the upper echelon of the luxury fashion industry with its repertoire of iconic Birkin bags and a prestigious line-up of ready-to-wear, the brand recalls its humble beginnings in saddlery.

The impeccable craftsmanship that the house is now synonymous with has evolved from its age-old leather-making traditions. Its heritage has come to be an integral part of the brand, revisited every so often even in its contemporary collections.

As an ode to its legacy, the French maison hosts a cycle of touring exhibitions titled Hermès Heritage, the latest instalment of which coined “In Motion” will open its doors this month in Singapore. A sequel to its two prior exhibitions, “Harness the Roots” and “Rouges Hermès”, the third instalment delves deep into the house’s archives. As its name suggests, the latest episode is an open dialogue on the notions of mobility and transport expounded through archival objects from the Émile Hermès collection named after the son of the founder, Thierry Hermès, the Hermès Conservatoire of Creations, alongside its modern creations.

Here, we further explore the conception of the exhibit in a conversation with its curator Bruno Gaudichon, who has also worked on the previous editions of the exhibition.

KAMES NARAYANAN: “In Motion” is the third installment of the series of Hermès Heritage exhibitions. Take me through the inspirations you had in mind when you were curating the exhibition.