Hermès will host "Petit H" at Shoseien Garden in Kyoto from the 4th to the 11th. "Petit H" is a "laboratory of ideas" that combines the supreme craftsmanship of Hermès's various métiers (departments)—silk, leather, jewelry—with the sensibilities of artists and designers to create objects. Launched in 2010 by Pascal Mussard, a sixth-generation Hermès family member, this marks the first time that "Petit H" has been held outside of an Hermès boutique. This marks the second time the event has been held in Japan, following its opening at the Hermès Ginza store in April of this year. The chosen location for "Petit H" is Shoseien Garden, a villa of Higashi Honganji Temple. Upon entering the venue, visitors are greeted by a white noren curtain with the letter "h" in pale blue. Passing through the curtain with a sense of excitement, visitors are greeted by the "Petit H" objects. Beyond the sculptures, the greenery of the garden and Uzuki Pond, with Higashiyama as a backdrop, spreads out before you. This location was chosen from among many potential locations in Kyoto for its view of the pond and its convenient size. Graphic designer Kazunari Hattori, who designed the spatial composition, created the façade with a motif of hand-touched lattices, just like the Ginza event. The clean graph paper, reminiscent of a laboratory, is linked to the lattices of the tatami mats and beams of the shoin-style venue. The venue is filled with unique objects made from crocodile and Saint-Louis crystal, scarves, and ties. A wide variety of items are on display, including bags, card cases, key chains, table clocks, and skipping ropes. Also noteworthy are the objects created in collaboration between Japanese artists and Petit H. One is a hedgehog sculpture created in collaboration with artist Takuma Uematsu, who designed the window display for Maison Hermès in Ginza last year. The hedgehog's facial expression is expressed through the stretch of white leather, while the needles on its back are adorned with hexagonal, richly colored leather. This beautiful object is one of a kind, created through the time-consuming efforts of Hermès artisans and artists, honing their skills and creativity until they were each perfectly satisfied with the finished product.

Also on display are objects and fans crafted using the Japanese technique of Kintsugi (gold repair). Designer Satoshi Itasaka has given Hermès porcelain a new look through Kintsugi. The exhibition features bold designs adorned with gold and silver kintsugi techniques on porcelain pieces that would otherwise be unsuitable for commercial use due to slight imperfections or scratches. An elegant fan with leather-wrapped ribs is the result of a collaboration with Sakata Bunsuke Shoten. Additionally, Shigeki Fujishiro has created an object using Hermès leather, and Shinsuke Kawahara has created a scarf and a jewelry case that combines leather and porcelain. These new creations will add elegance to the "Petit H" exhibition in Kyoto.

In the past, people set out into unknown worlds in search of new materials. Today, when the exquisite materials created by our ancestors are available, Petit H is seeking to depict even greater beauty through encounters that go beyond the realm of craftsmanship. We hope you will come to Shosei-en to experience the playful space and time created by the high-level fusion of skilled techniques and the sensibilities of artists.