Ready-To-Wear Through A Multi-Dimensional Lens

Hermès men’s universe artistic director Véronique Nichanian approaches ready-to-wear through a multi-dimensional lens for the Fall/Winter ’21 collection.

- Wilson Lim

“Everything that can be invented has already been invented” might have been incorrectly attributed to the commissioner of US patent office, Charles H. Duell in 1889 concerning his department’s future. However, it does not change the fact that it is so frequently referenced in predicting the demise of various industries, and many have come to accept the status quo as a sort of utopia. The lack of desire to innovate and improve can be wanting and may also contribute to the death of businesses.

Hermès men’s universe artistic director, Véronique Nichanian has instead operated in an antithetical direction for the French Maison. In each of her collections, Nichanian has never lost sight of the need to design for the everyday man who seeks to elevate his wardrobe with pieces that stand out with luxurious subtleties instead of boasting about his keen eye for the finer details.

While most would think new inventions need to be extraordinarily advanced, many also fail to realise that even the good can be made better — which seems to be the guiding mantra of Nichanian in her 31-year tenure at Hermès. Her Hermès Fall/Winter ’21 collection continues the trajectory of inventing new dimensions of menswear.

The Hermès Fall/Winter ’21 collection’s presentation returns to Nichanian’s recent adoration, the Mobilier National (three out of four of the recent men’s collections have been presented there). She explains, “I am attached to the Mobilier National, which symbolises know-how and the transmission of knowledge, whilst exemplifying creativity. I see Auguste Perret’s minimalist architecture as an expression of masculinity.”