Moving to a new place is pretty much a guaranteed slog. Prayers are sent out that floors aren't scuffed and dishes don't break. God forbid you're carrying the load yourself, the burn is brutal. But Hermès makes the process, like everything it touches, look impeccably chic.
The entire ordeal was reenacted last night as the Hermès Parade came to the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica with a live performance dedicated to the brand's home collection. The show traveled from its stop in Seoul late last year. The fusion of dance, design, and storytelling saw blue overall-donning movers bring in a number of crates, the audience waiting with bated breath to see what each would reveal.
The vast, shadowy space housing the show was continually redesigned as pieces were moved into a series of layouts. Envisioned by the choreographer Philippe Decouflé, the parade offered an immersive narrative that exhibited the (typically stagnant) Hermès home collection in a new light. Chloe Fineman, John C. Reilly, Athena Calderone, Chuba Hubbard, and more lined the stage.
With the artistic vision of Charlotte Macaux Perelman and Alexis Fabry guiding the presentation, the event brought in 56 dancers to engage with the items in a series of imaginative sequences. More than 400 pieces of furniture, textiles, tableware, kitchenwear, and more were caught up in the dance.
Hermès, a name synonymous with timeless quality and a dedication to craftsmanship since its inception in 1837, captured its ethos in the imaginative event. The Hermès parade was a live manifestation of what the brand has long stood for, and continues to under the leadership of CEO Axel Dumas: a pursuit of excellence and a deep respect for artisanal traditions.
The stage for the event continuously changed around viewers, a result made possible by the crates shifting in an ever-changing tableau. The event closed when attendees were brought out onto the floor for the “Pony Dance,” an homage to Hermès's well-known equestrian roots. Sadly, for anyone racing to buy a piece of the collection post-show, moving costs are not included in the stated price tag.
