How Hermes artisans preserve objects, memories and traditions

In the heart of Admiralty, Hong Kong, on the 22nd floor of a high-rise, Fifi sought solace and restoration at one of Hermes' 15 repair workshops. She carried with her a cherished Hermes handbag, a poignant gift from her mother, lost seven years prior. This wasn't just a bag; it was a vessel of memory, a tangible link to the past.

Enter Farid, a Hermes craftsman. With practiced hands and discerning eyes, he meticulously examined the bag, admiring its design and inherent quality. A remarkable coincidence then unfolded: as he delved into the restoration, Farid recognized his own handiwork. Fifteen years ago, in the Hermes workshop in Lyon, he had crafted this very bag.

"We are restoring the emotions carried within objects. These bags travel and live with us, and our lives leave memories upon them. Meanwhile, they subtly influence us," says the craftsman.

"Sometimes the restoration is successful, sometimes it isn't, but I always strive to do a little better. When the restoration is complete, the object is given new life," he adds.

Focusing on the theme of "repair", this is one story from the 16-episode series of documentary shorts Footsteps Across the World produced by French filmmaker Frederic Laffont for Hermes.

Starting in 2016, the episodes were shot in an immersive style both in France and around the world, from Burkina Faso to Italy, China and South Korea, in artisans' workshops, on the streets of major cities and in rural communities. Each of the stories bears witness in its own way to skills perpetuated by artisans in workshops around the world and passed down through the generations.

Infused with Laffont's very human and poetic vision, these films are faithful to the spirit of the Hermes fashion house and its values of transmission and innovation.

"This is a collection of freely produced short documentaries offering fragments of multifaceted and often little-known worlds, which are in fact all parts of the same world," explains the filmmaker. "Human beings, who might initially seem far removed from each other, are united by invisible bonds."

The last two episodes have just been completed and were screened at the Shanghai Center Theatre from May 17 to 24, when Hermes launched its touring exhibition Hermes in the Making in Shanghai. The 16 short movies are available to watch on hermes.com.

In the exhibition, Hermes invites visitors to meet its artisans and discover its spirit of creation and innovation through its unique craftsmanship.

Laid out in an open-plan manner inspired by a craftsman's workbench, the scenography of the event features four themes that form the basis of the history and life of the house: preservation and transmission of knowhow, respect for the quality of materials, commitment to the long term, and regional anchoring.

The exhibition shows how objects designed to last are created using artisanal techniques. Crafted from the finest materials, they develop a patina, become more beautiful over time, and can be passed on and repaired.

Traveling to meet the public, artisans from the different metiers of the fashion house bring with them their tools, their materials, their expertise, and their spirit of transmission.

"The most important quality for a craftsman is that they must be motivated, they must have passion, and be able to adapt to different environments and different materials. They must keep learning throughout their entire career," says Christian Combe, a senior leather craftsman.

"As a leather craftsman, I pass on the spirit of the saddlery craft, which lies at the very heart of Hermes. I make sure all new-generation craftsmen share the same standards when it comes to quality. I teach them hand in hand — not just telling them with words what is good or bad, but truly showing them, step by step, what constitutes good quality and what does not," he adds.

Visitors to the exhibition can engage with artisans and explore interactive activities like saddle stitching and dexterity workshops.

Shanghai is the 15th leg of Hermes in the Making, a unique traveling event that has continued its journey across the world ever since its first stop in Copenhagen back in October 2021.