Sandra‘s Closet

The forever scarves are heritage scarves, authentic and alive, that honor the original design in a unique and emblematic color. Neither reworked nor redesigned, they are presented in all their simplicity, true to the original drawing of the artist. This year there are four designs being honored.
This essential Hermès accessory complements any outfit. It can be worn many ways – around your neck, as a top, at the waist or as a headscarf!

COUVERTURES ET TENUES DE JOUR Forever Scarf 90

Designed by Jacques Eudel (1974)
Crème / Rouge H / Bleu / Multicolore

This emblematic scarf is part of the history of the House, whose primary inspiration has always been the horse. It offers us a beautiful glimpse of equestrian coquetry. Elegantly framed by leather bridles, ten stepping horses are having a fitting as their schedule, their stable, their wait or their presentation requires a different and adapted accoutrement. A «French-style», «American-style» or «net-style» blanket, or a chain mail camel or camarillo, Jacques Eudel’s colorful brushstrokes are so realistic and precise that the most difficult task will be to choose one.

JUNGLE LOVE Forever Scarf 90

Design by Robert Dallet (2000)
Marine / Vert / Orange

Just like these two leopards, Robert Dallet had no equal when it came to magnifying – with a continuous concern for truth – such incomparable coats, the strength of their features and the power of these feline bodies. As a collaborator of the Natural Museum of Natural History in Paris and a staunch naturalist, his work is a vibrant and necessary tribute zo the wonders of the wild. Here, he illustrates a page of love that has become an emblematic scarf in the House’s heritage. At the heart of the jungle, the lovers observe each other, a courtship performed under the curious eye of parrots, butterflies and galagos surrounding them.

EPERON D’OR Forever Scarf 90

Designed by Henri d’Origny (1974)
Caramel / Crème / Or

At first glance, it is a skillfully orchestrated composition of leather and metal, loops and circles intertwined in complex harmony – a rosette in the form of a scarf. But as the eye focuses it discerns each of the elements that give this movement its rhythm in a repetition that is as soothing as it is intriguing. An urge draws us to follow this mysterious network with no beginning and no end. Spurs, stirrups, rein hardware and riding crops with three rings of gold: the curves and straight lines of horse tack used by Cadre Noir master riders of France’s prestigious Saumur riding school established in the 19th century.

BRIDES DE GALA Forever Scarf 90 

Designed by Hugo Grygkar (1957)
Noir / Crème / Gold

In 1957, Robert Dumas worked with Hugo Grygkar. He placed two bridles face to face on the floor, and immediately it became clear that the composition was perfect, a scarf with unparalleled simplicity came to life. This was followed by the talent of a precise and subtle hand, which is so dear to the House. This design reflects the first love of a House of saddlers, its attraction to the beautiful, useful, and durable, as well as the enduring legacy of a title whose sounds evoke, as Jean-Louis Dumas once noted, «dazzling ceremonial garments». The interlaced harnesses feature pieces from the Émile Hermès collection. Objects sometimes have a truly wonderful destiny.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and © Hermès
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Love is in the air at Hermès as one of the French House’s most iconic scarf prints «Brides de Gala» has just received a little «affaire de coeur». Designed by the brand’s famous artist Hugo Grygkar, this limited edition is printed with the signature equestrian motif combined with blue and orange hearts. The best is yet to come as the special packaging for Valentine’s Day is an exclusive heart-shaped orange box.

I am truly in love with this…

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès

In celebration of the spirit of craftsmanship, the Hermès Festival des Métiers (Festival of Crafts) made its first stop in Zurich – Switzerland. The French house’s first world-travelling exhibit invites you to meet with the artisans responsible for creating some of the world’s most luxurious leather goods, silk scarves, china and more.

Ever wondered what goes into the making of an Hermès product? Or why the Kelly bag is such a coveted item? Discover the Hermès universe your own way and enjoy the passion that the craftsmen put into every item. As one of them told me, their effort and long hours spent making those pieces is all worth it, once a customer wears and treasures their handiwork.

Open to the public, this free admission event is located at EWZ-Unterwerk Selnau (Selnaustr. 25, Zurich) starting today through June 10th, 2012 from 11 am- 6pm every day. It is a great experience for kids as well.

For all of you that are living abroad, here are some photos that I took yesterday at the pre-opening. Enjoy the craftsmanship!

Hermès has very high requirements for leather and the artisans will take time to find the best one to use. The difference lies also in how the bags are made by hand. It will take approximately 30 hours to create one single piece with only 3 produced per week. This explains the long waiting list for their iconic Birkin or Kelly bags.

It is pretty impressive to watch the craftsman assemble the really tine pieces of the movement for a mechanical watch.

The artwork for the famous silk scarves is designed by an artist, but the Hermès artisans will need to engrave the silkscreens by hand before starting the printing process.

At the printing station, you can see how each silkscreen, one for each colour, are precisely aligned and printed onto silk. Every single aspect of a silk scarf is done by Hermès: They rear their own silkworms, produce their own twills and mix their own dyes. After the printing, the scarves are left to dry, then the colours are locked in during a steam bath. After that, the silk scarves are washed to make them smooth and coated with a protective finish. Finally, they will be hand-rolled and hand-hemmed along the edges by craftsmen.

Every carré (the French name for it) has its own name, as for example the famous Brides de gala that was sketched in 1957 by Hugo Grygkar and which is still used these days.

Perfection and quality is essential to Hermès, the same applies to the tie making process. A craftswoman explains how the twills are rolled, folded and subsequently stitched into ties, using the same silk as for the scarves.

There are not many artisans in the world who can perform this process. Those silk scarves are only made by special order. It is a thicker kind of twill that comes with a velour-like coat. The craftswoman takes away parts of it with a sharp pointed tool. Just to do those red flowers takes her six weeks. She needs to be extra careful in order not to destroy the precious fabric.

The artisan uses real gold to paint the beautiful embellishments of the crystal glasses. The brown colour of the gold will change in the oven. To achieve the shiny effect, each glass has to be buffed by hand.

The fabulous china and porcelain products are also carefully hand-painted by artisans. After watching the process, you feel guilty for every piece you dropped in the past.

Also of interest is the house’s glove-making. When I asked the glover what is the best material for a glove, he said velour leather is his favourite to work with.

Hermès first started with horse-riding accessories and saddles. The equestrian heritage has been celebrated ever since. A saddle by Hermès is like a piece of art, especially when you look at those special editions with wings or leopard print that the saddler showed me yesterday.

I hope that you will enjoy this eye-opening exhibit as much as I did!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht