A limited-time boutique offering a glimpse into the Hermès men's world has opened on the first floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Men's Building. Inspired by the story unfolding on the website "Le MANifested' Hermès," which launched in September of this year, the boutique features men's ready-to-wear as well as shoes, bags, leather goods, scarves, and ties. The boutique will run until November 2nd. The venue is divided into five sections, each façade displaying men's items alongside quotes from Jean Cocteau, Stevie Wonder, Aristotle, and others. Also on display are outerwear, knitwear, pants, and accessories featured on the aforementioned website, directed by Hermès Men's Universe artistic designer Véronique Nichanian. The men's shoe lineup, in particular, offers a rich selection of dress shoes, slip-ons, ankle boots, and sneakers. Here, I heard a story that speaks to Hermès. A belt with an "H" buckle caught my eye in the store. The buckle features carvings that appear to be handcrafted. A representative from the Maison said, "This buckle is handcrafted by the Tuareg, a nomadic tribe of the Sahara Desert. At Hermès, we occasionally travel with teams of artisans to discover new skills from around the world. We encountered these artisans on one of these trips. By creating items each season using their carvings, Hermès is able to provide them with a regular income. In keeping with the Hermès philosophy of "creating things through encounters," our approach is to support potentially obsolete techniques through business, rather than volunteering." To coincide with the launch of this limited-time boutique, an Hermès window by Irish artist Richard Gorman will be set up at the main entrance of Isetan Men's Building, showcasing a specially commissioned over two-meter-long washi paper piece. Gorman is the artist behind the "Squeeze" pattern featured in Hermès' Fall/Winter 2015 ready-to-wear collection. He has also had a 20-year relationship with the Echizen washi paper workshop in Fukui Prefecture, where the piece was created. Also from the 21st, Isetan Mitsukoshi is running a company-wide campaign called "JAPAN SENSES" to promote the good things and virtues of Japan, and this message resonates with the brand.

Creations backed by solid techniques and philosophy can be seen as a place that teaches us how to resonate across borders. Hermès takes its creations seriously, yet leaves a light-hearted impression. Enjoying this in conjunction with the website will provide an opportunity to learn about the spirit of the Hermès Maison.

A boutique expressing the same worldview will also be open on the first floor of the Hermès Ginza store from October 29th to November 17th.