The exhibition "Leather Forever," exploring the bond between Hermès and leather, opened on December 2nd at the Hyokeikan Museum in Ueno, Tokyo. Since its founding in 1837 as a harness manufacturer, Hermès has always focused on craftsmanship, leveraging the skills of its harness makers. Leather has always been at the core of the brand and its most important material. The exhibition explores Hermès' leather products from 12 perspectives: "Know-how," "Time-honored elegance," "Shaping dreams," "Horses—our first customers," and "The nomadic spirit." The "Know-how" section allows visitors to experience the knowledge and techniques passed down by the artisans who are the essence of Hermès. Leather has a wide range of textures. Craftsmen use over 30 types of leather, including crocodile, silky box calf, and Veau Barenia, carefully assessing each leather's unique characteristics for each product. The hands of craftsmen carefully examine the leather's condition while cutting. Smooth leather like Vau Barenia occasionally reveals "blood lines," the traces of blood vessels that once ran through it. These lines are proof that the leather once bore precious life. Craftsmen lovingly cut each piece of leather, each one unique, and thread each stitch. Through these artisans' hands, flat pieces of leather are transformed into iconic bags like the Kelly and Birkin, document folders, steering wheels, and, of course, saddles. I've heard that when Hermès first began making saddlery, its harnesses were praised for their gentleness and the fact that they prevented horses from becoming violent. Applying this harness-making know-how, Hermès was one of the first in the world to create leather belts, leveraging the skills of its artisans to create never-before-seen leather items. This is the result of creativity unique to humans. Even in today's increasingly computerized society, ideas like these would never be born. Leather artisans from the Paris atelier are visiting Japan for the exhibition. It's a rare opportunity to see the cutting, sewing, and stitching techniques right before your eyes. Surrounded by piles of leather, watching the artisans' hands elegantly transform leather into bags will surely inspire you to create something yourself.

■Click here for an interview with Hermès Men's Artistic Director, Véronique Nichanian http://www.fashion-headline.com/article/2014/12/04/8729.html

【Event Information】
Hermès "Leather Forever"
Venue: Tokyo National Museum, Hyokeikan
Address: 13-9 Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Dates: December 2nd to 23rd
Hours: 9:30am to 5pm (until 8pm from the 3rd to the 7th)
Closed: Mondays
Admission is free (obtain an admission exchange voucher from http://lfe.hermes.com/jp and show the screen of your mobile phone or smartphone at the designated counter at the main gate of the Tokyo National Museum)