The Hermès Gion store (570-8 Gioncho Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City), which opened on November 3, 2016 in a renovated townhouse on Hanamikoji Street in Gion, Kyoto, is finally reaching its final chapter.
The final event, "LEATHER SPIRIT," which began on June 23, focused on leather items, the origins of Hermès. A wide variety of leather items, including bags, wallets, notebook covers, card cases, coin cases, and key charms, each with its own unique color and texture, were featured.
A large leather monument was installed from the entrance to the center of the completely renovated store. The monument is made of calf leather. Evenly cut and arranged, the pieces create a dynamic gradation of red, yellow, and blue, adorning the interior.
And now, a special collaboration fitting for this final chapter set in Kyoto has been realized. Two Gion special edition refills for Hermès' Vision planner have been released, born from the creative sympathy between Hermès and Karacho, the only remaining karakami paper maker in Japan, founded in Kyoto in 1624. One is "Crepe Stripes," which resembles the silk fabric "Crepe," and the other is "Seigaiha," a wave pattern resembling a series of wave crests, a pattern considered to be auspicious. Both use patterns handed down at Karacho. Available only in Japan, each is priced at 7,400 yen, and will be available for pre-sale at the Gion store and online boutique from June 23rd.
From left) "Seigaiha" and "Crepe Stripe" 7,400 yen each
The second floor of the store is an exhibition space. In line with Hermès' annual theme, "What dwells in objects," the store displays Hermès objects (items) used daily by five people with a connection to Hermès, along with stories behind them. These include manga artist Takemiya Keiko, who has written a book about the company's history, "The Way of Hermès," and photographer Ueda Yoshihiko, who was in charge of the brand's advertising campaigns for Spring/Summer 2016 and Fall/Winter 2016-17. By putting headphones on the borrowed items such as bags, saddles, and coin purses, the objects themselves will talk about how they met their owners and the times they spent together, allowing you to enjoy an elaborate mechanism.In addition, on weekends (excluding July 1st and 2nd) and on public holidays, there will be demonstrations where you can see leather artisans at work up close.
The notebook, a favorite item of ordinary women with a connection to Hermes
The Hermes Gion store held a variety of events to express the craftsmanship spirit and worldview of Hermes, starting with "HERMESMATIC," the opening event in November last year, where Hermes scarves were piece-dyed, followed by "WINTER TIME," which saw the appearance of a "fairy tale forest" and the introduction of heart-printed scarves packaged in heart-shaped orange boxes during the holiday season, "GOOD MOVE!," which transformed the store into a skate park with rows of skateboards, and "SUMMER TIME," which featured the appearance of a beach. As "LEATHER SPIRIT" comes to an end, it will be the perfect opportunity to rediscover the essence of Hermès by experiencing the empathy people feel for objects through long-term use and the soul that resides in those objects through leather, the origin of Hermès.
The final event, "LEATHER SPIRIT," which began on June 23, focused on leather items, the origins of Hermès. A wide variety of leather items, including bags, wallets, notebook covers, card cases, coin cases, and key charms, each with its own unique color and texture, were featured.
A large leather monument was installed from the entrance to the center of the completely renovated store. The monument is made of calf leather. Evenly cut and arranged, the pieces create a dynamic gradation of red, yellow, and blue, adorning the interior.
And now, a special collaboration fitting for this final chapter set in Kyoto has been realized. Two Gion special edition refills for Hermès' Vision planner have been released, born from the creative sympathy between Hermès and Karacho, the only remaining karakami paper maker in Japan, founded in Kyoto in 1624. One is "Crepe Stripes," which resembles the silk fabric "Crepe," and the other is "Seigaiha," a wave pattern resembling a series of wave crests, a pattern considered to be auspicious. Both use patterns handed down at Karacho. Available only in Japan, each is priced at 7,400 yen, and will be available for pre-sale at the Gion store and online boutique from June 23rd.
From left) "Seigaiha" and "Crepe Stripe" 7,400 yen each
The second floor of the store is an exhibition space. In line with Hermès' annual theme, "What dwells in objects," the store displays Hermès objects (items) used daily by five people with a connection to Hermès, along with stories behind them. These include manga artist Takemiya Keiko, who has written a book about the company's history, "The Way of Hermès," and photographer Ueda Yoshihiko, who was in charge of the brand's advertising campaigns for Spring/Summer 2016 and Fall/Winter 2016-17. By putting headphones on the borrowed items such as bags, saddles, and coin purses, the objects themselves will talk about how they met their owners and the times they spent together, allowing you to enjoy an elaborate mechanism.In addition, on weekends (excluding July 1st and 2nd) and on public holidays, there will be demonstrations where you can see leather artisans at work up close.
The notebook, a favorite item of ordinary women with a connection to Hermes
The Hermes Gion store held a variety of events to express the craftsmanship spirit and worldview of Hermes, starting with "HERMESMATIC," the opening event in November last year, where Hermes scarves were piece-dyed, followed by "WINTER TIME," which saw the appearance of a "fairy tale forest" and the introduction of heart-printed scarves packaged in heart-shaped orange boxes during the holiday season, "GOOD MOVE!," which transformed the store into a skate park with rows of skateboards, and "SUMMER TIME," which featured the appearance of a beach. As "LEATHER SPIRIT" comes to an end, it will be the perfect opportunity to rediscover the essence of Hermès by experiencing the empathy people feel for objects through long-term use and the soul that resides in those objects through leather, the origin of Hermès.
