Hermès took Tatler to a realm of whimsy and wonder, where equestrian inspirations were imbued with artistic energy, in celebration of its latest womenswear collection
An ultra-luxury brand with a history of 186 years, Hermès has done a lot of things right over the years, but perhaps its greatest achievement was its very first: perfecting the craftsmanship behind its harnesses.
In 1837, Thierry Hermès opened a workshop in Paris to make leather 94 harnesses for horses used to pull four-wheeled carriages. While they didn’t look much different from other harnesses on the market, Hermès’s works embodied discreet finesse as well as endurance in all conditions, and were quickly recognised by professional riders.
The first Hermès Haut à Courroies handbag was in the early 20th century designed for equestrians to carry saddles and boots; in 2023, the maison released two new iterations: the Arçon shoulder bag and the Petite Course handbag. The former is inspired by the rounded flaps of a saddle, and the latter by the skirts of the saddles used in equestrian competitions. And now, across 16 product categories, Hermès is reinventing its equestrian and horse-inspired DNA for current and future designs.
Read more: Discover the Hermès autumn-winter 2023 collection, an autumnal return to its equestrian roots
And that’s what sent Tatler to Beijing in August. Hermès invited its VIPs and media friends to a mesmerising show of equestrian influences intertwined with artistic fervour. Titled Jockey Jam, the derby-inspired event was an overview of the maison’s autumn-winter 2023 women’s ready-to-wear, footwear, silk and jewellery.
Jockey Jam took place in a former textile warehouse done up to evoke a garden, with projection screens on the walls that transitioned from day to night as the event progressed. From the entrance, guests walked along a pathway adorned with what seemed like resplendent silk flags, seemingly welcoming them to a race. In fact, they were 20 silk scarves, adorned under the creative direction of Cécile Pesce with Brides de Gala (“gala bridles”), an iconic Hermès design.