I love Hermès scarves.
There is much to love, beginning with their history.
They are well known and well loved for their artistry, attention to detail, their observation of diverse cultural significance.
And I love that there's a story to go with each scarf.
Hermès lovers include a wide range of people from Queen Elizabeth to Madonna.
And me.
I bought my first Hermès scarf in 2019.
I chose Les Clefs du Notre Enfance (The Keys of Our Childhood) because its theme speaks to me.
"The child is father to the man" is a way of saying that the adult's personality is shaped by childhood experiences. Like Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, who in his final breath called out for a childhood treasure, we are all haunted by happy ghosts from the farthest reaches of our past. Whether it be a miniature tram, an English hydroplane or a rocking horse, toys are truly the "keys to our childhood'.
It pairs well with my love of carousels.
I talk more about it here:
Since then I have purchased a couple more vintage designs, and have been gifted one, also vintage.
Collecting Hermès scarves and/or shawls is a hobby for more people than you might realize, considering the cost of some. ALTHOUGH, with patience, there are some good buys available! I am a member of two sister Hermès Facebook groups. One group is a discussion group, the other is for buying, selling and/or trading with knowledgeable, trusted Hermès collectors. I have learned a lot from both, and they've sent me down that proverbial rabbit hole that all curious folks know about and understand in an effort to learn more.
This article might be a fun place to start -
Another fun resource here
There are particular things that Hermès collectors look for.
Number One is authenticity. I am, by no means, an Hermès expert, but I do know a few key items to look for and talked about them here.
Although, since writing that particular post I have learned so much more - including the fact that there are caveats and exceptions to some of the rules.
There are fakes out there, so Buyer Beware.
Do your research.
Ask questions before buying. Make sure you know the return policies.
And remember - "If it sounds too good to be true, it's probably too good to be true."
Some collectors have a favorite design artist (there are over 150 design artists). You can read about some of them here and here and here
Some collect around a particular theme such as those listed at the Hermès on-line store; Animal World, Around the World, Cars, Comic Books, Graphic/Geometric, Heritage, History/Myth, Nature/Floral, Nautical, Objects, Textiles
Some want a particular scarf in a particular colorway.
Some shop only vintage.
Some want only a particular size, or a favorite fabric - cashmere vs. silk vs. mousseline vs. cotton, etc.
Some simply love all things Hermès.
Some search out Hermès "grails," which are hard to find designs. Hard to find because they might have been limited editions, or so popular they rarely come available on the re-sale market, and when they do might be at a price that is limiting to many - like me.
A true Hermès grail I really do love is the Les Toits de Paris Rooftops Silk Scarf by Dimitri Rybaltchenko. It is available in several colorways, none of which come along often, all of which are very expensive. It is also known to be faked a lot.
Who doesn't love the idea of standing on your own Paris balcony overlooking Parisian rooftops?
And some will search out particular scarves they refer to as their own "personal grails." Maybe by a design artist they love and collect, a particular theme, or who knows what someone who is a collector might seek out?
Les Toits de Paris Rooftops is an Hermès scarf i would love to own. Me and many others.
The Jardin de Leila scarf was issued by Hermès in 2014, and is a tribute to Leïla Menchari, Hermès' longtime head stylist, and depicts her private garden in Tunisia.
Gardens inhabit the imagination of landscape gardener, engraver and illustrator François Houtin for whom the plant world is an endless source of inspiration. Some years ago he composed a dreamy personal interpretation of Leïla Menchari’s Mediterranean garden. Menchari discovered this garden in her native Tunisia at the age of 10 and it has inspired decades of creations since. She describes “creepers hugging enormous trees”, “vegetation inhabited by the rustle of bamboo in the breeze”, “the surrealism of this nature” and “the image of paradise”. A few seasons back this scarf was decorated with embroidery, stamps of multicolored flowers, blooming corollas and ornamental foliage. These colorful motifs are reproduced here through the magic of block printing.
First edition in 2014
Hermes silk twill scarf, hand rolled, 36" x 36"
This garden is possessed of the powers of its deep soil, imprinted with Roman ruins, and nourished by the humus of all the seasons. I entered this world at the age of ten, via the beach that runs next to it. By chance? Or fate – I have never left. Vines take root in the vast trees, their strange, almost animal blossoms adding to the climate of mystery. Time becomes fluid, impalpable. This kingdom of plants is inhabited by the murmur of wind in the bamboo, by birdsong and the melodious croaking of frogs from the depths of the ponds. And so I walked straight to the heart of this surreal, natural scene, which later became the source of inspiration for my decorations for Hermès. Anyone entering this place is struck by the graceful beauty of its elements: they will embrace you, or escape you, reconstruct you in the image of your vision of the world, your sensibility, your relationship to the elements. Do we not say that a garden is the image of Paradise?’ -Leïla Menchari
If you're shopping for your first Hermès scarf and don't know exactly where to start, I suggest going to the Hermès on-line store and browsing. Then go to one of the Paris shops, either 24, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré OR 17, rue de Sèvres,
Paris, 75006, France and buy one that speaks to you.
You will not regret it. It will be your "forever souvenir" from Paris.
Additional places for exploring are listed below. Remember to read the return policies carefully in case you are unhappy with a purchase! I am not associated with any of these websites and make no guarantees.
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