Hermes Re-Opens On Rodeo Drive With A New Store and A $12,900 Basketball.

Slated to open on September 4th, after an 18 month renovation, French luxury brand Hermes will re-open the doors of their overhauled store located at 434 N. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.


above left: the old Hermes Store on Rodeo Drive and above right, a rendering of the new one

The new, 12,000 square foot Beverly Hills flagship was designed by Paris-based RDAI (Rena Dumas Architecture Interieure), who has designed most, if not all, of the Hermes Boutiques worldwide.

The original Rodeo Drive boutique opened in 1972 and fast became a celebrity favorite. According to the Los Angeles Times, Hermès already had a Hollywood following at that time, having outfitted movie star cowboy Tom Mix's horse, made Alfred Hitchcock's swim trunks and created a custom bag, the "Marlene," for Marlene Dietrich.

To commemorate the grand re-opening, Hermès has created a limited edition collection of special items including two luxe blue calfskin leather basketballs costing $12,900 each, made with the same leather and stitching as their famous Birkin Bag, and swimming pool-inspired silk scarves - both of which fit in with the brand's theme for 2013: "A Sporting Life."



above: a page from their 2013 summer catalog, A Sporting Life, with beautiful photos by Nathaniel Goldberg

"The Sporting Life" theme has generated other unique sport-related items from Hermes such as the silk-covered Boxing Gloves created for the launch of their 2013 Summer Collection event in Palm Beach:


above image courtesy of Palm Beach Post

A $12,900 basketball is too rich for your blood? Well, Hermes also makes a baseball bat in ash wood and gold swift calfskin selling for $1,850.00, a Petanque set in carbon steel and natural hunter cowhide selling for $1,150.00 and their $4650 Bicycle in lacquered stainless steel with frame, handles and saddle in Taurillon Clemence leather, all available at their online store.



You can also view a series of cute short videos here.

Hermes

Prestigious Pill-Popping. Designer Drugs by Desire Obtain Cherish.

Addicted to fashion, luxury or status? These sculptures of blister packs of pills with recognizable logos from luxury brands Hermes, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton are UV cast in resin by the Los Angeles based artist Desire Obtain Cherish. Each of the satirical status symbols measures 42" x 27".

CHANEL:

Hermes:

Louis Vuitton:

YSL (Yves Saint Laurent)


Take two and be more chic in the morning.

About: Desire Obtain Cherish


LA-based artist Desire Obtain Cherish received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) at Parson’s School of Design. Since his emergence as a street artist in the 2000s, DOC has blended the concerns and methods of street, pop, conceptual and appropriation art with popular culture to create his own unique satirical message. His work, though often controversial, is always engaging, and explores contemporary obsessions with sex, desire, drugs, gender, celebrity, media, commerce and fame.

DOC’s artwork rarely inspires moderate responses, an indication of his achievements’ importance. With DOC focusing on some of the most banal objects as models, his works avoid typical standards of “good taste” in art, and instead focus on the vulnerabilities of hierarchies and value systems. DOC’s work “reflects a darker, albeit more humorous slant on middle-class American values versus a spiritual or expressive essence of a highly individual artist.”
​
See more of his captivating work here.

Leather Animals In A Paper Jungle For Hermès Window Installation.

For its 13th Carte Blanche, the Hermès store at Hong Kong International Airport is exhibiting a piece by the French artists Zim&Zou, 'The Eternal Jungle', which is an invitation into the wild. (Some of you may recall that I previously posted about the paper crafts of Zim&Zou.)



The window installation creates an intriguing contrast between the jungle, a world that is dominated by wild animals, and one of great refinement, the world of Hermès.




The window is influenced by the abundance of vegetation in Hong Kong and showcases Hermès accessories (such as scarves, jewelry, bets and ties) and a Monkey, a Toucan and a Chameleon crafted of leather off-cuts from the workshops of Hermès.

If this sounds a little familiar, it is much like the lovingly crafted animals made with Louis Vuitton leather goods for their window displays by Billie Achilleous.

Monkey and Hermès tie:

Chameleon and Hermès bracelet:

Toucan and Hermès necklace:


The installation displays the finest skills in paper-cut art and leatherwork. Remaining faithful to its original purity, the artists create intricate objects with the paper, a material both beautiful and versatile.



A look at the impressively crafted animals.

The Monkey:


The Monkey in the display:


The Toucan:


The Toucan in the display:


The Chameleon:


The Chameleon in the display:

The window as it appears in the Hong Kong International Airport:


Zim and Zou

Don't miss this post about another artist who has crafted small animals of leather for Louis Vuitton Window displays:

The $50,000 Leica M9-P Edition Hermès. How It Was Made and What Comes With It.

above composite ©It's Hip, It's Here

The collaborations between Parisian house Hermès and Leica camera keep getting more impressive - and more expensive. This is the third time the brands have teamed up to create a special edition camera.



Launched in two different sets, one of which 300 are available, the other of which only 100 are available, the cameras are wrapped in Hermes' ‘Veau Swift' calfskin in ocre and finished in silver chrome and anodized silver. Below is a look at the luxurious camera and the making of it.

Limited special edition: The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès’






Following the Leica MP and the Leica M7, this is the third in a line of premium special editions of the M-System to be created in collaboration with the well-known Parisian house Hermès. The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' is being offered as a strictly limited edition. The limited numbers, unique product design and premium finishing with numerous extras make this a truly special edition in every respect.

The white-gloved unboxing of the camera:


Craftsmanship of the highest degree


The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' represents the quintessence of a long-standing tradition of master craftsmanship at both Leica and Hermès. So it is only logical that the handcrafted leather supplied by Hermès for the trim of the camera should be applied by hand. Absolute precision is the guiding principle in the construction of this masterpiece.



Luxurious leather by Hermès
The special limited edition Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' is extraordinary in every respect. The highlight is its ‘Veau Swift' calfskin in ocre, supplied by Hermès for the leather finish of the Leica M9-P camera.



This exclusive leather trim by Hermès determines the colour concept of the special edition and ensures a perfect tactile sensation. The fine and supple leather is applied not only to the camera body, but is also used for the shoulder strap included in the set.

Unmistakeable design
In collaboration with automotive designer Walter de'Silva, selected features of the camera body were restyled, including the top and base plates, the shutter speed dial, the multifunction wheel and the shutter release. In addition, the frame selector lever, the accessory shoe and the Leica script on the upper face of the top plate have also been omitted to further emphasize the unique status of this limited edition.



The camera is finished in silver chrome and its lens in anodised silver. In another true master stroke of the Leica factory, the two finishes are absolutely indistinguishable. All protective caps are also manufactured completely in metal.



A video of the making of the Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès:



AVAILABLE IN TWO SETS:

The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' - Set 1

This first of the two Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' sets comes in a worldwide limited edition of 300. In addition to the camera, the set includes a silver anodised Leica Summilux-M 50 mm f/1.4 ASPH. lens.


The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' - Set 2


The Leica M9-P ‘Edition Hermès' - Série Limitée Jean-Louis Dumas, in a strictly limited edition of only 100 sets worldwide, is a memorial to the friendship between the former president of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas, and Leica.

The camera in this set is accompanied by three lenses: a Leica Summicron-M 28 mm f/2 ASPH., a Leica Noctilux-M 50 mm f/0.95 ASPH. and a Leica APO-Summicron-M 90 mm f/2 ASPH., all featuring a stunning silver-anodized finish.



This unique collection of photographic equipment finds a fitting home in a hand-crafted Hermès camera bag that is available exclusively as part of this second set.



As an homage to Jean-Louis Dumas, the second set also includes a book with a selection of his pictures.


This photographic work in two volumes shows an entertainingly diverse portfolio of 200 black-and-white images captured by Jean-Louis Dumas with his Leica M-camera.


all images and information courtesy of Leica.

Gucci, Dior, Hermes Designer Christmas Trees. The 15th Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs.

On December 1st, 2010 the 15th anniversary of the association “Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs” was celebrated at L’Espace Vendôme. The event takes place each year in France where fashion designers, architects and artists create their versions of Christmas Trees to be auctioned off for charity.


above : Jean-Charles de Castelbajac (left) and Jean Paul Gaultier (right) with their Christmas Trees

"Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs”, initiated by Marie-Christiane Marek, uses the biggest names in fashion, design and architecture to create unique art representing Christmas trees to be sold at auction with proceeds benefiting a child-focused charity. This year, like last year, the proceeds will be donated to the Carla Bruni-Sarkozy foundation and allocated for L’enfant @ l’hôpital.




Here's a look at several of the designer Christmas trees from the 15th Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs, followed by a video of the event, both in French and English.

Gucci:


Louis Vuitton:


Chanel:

Marithé + François Girbaud Christmas Tree:

Gaultier  Christmas Tree:
 
Dior Christmas Tree:
 
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac (made with tree branches):

Isabel Marant:

Guerlain:

India Mahdavi:

Ali Mahdavi:

H&M:



Rachid Khimoune:

Patrice Gardera:

Sonia Rykiel:

Maxime Simoes and Olivia Putman:

Repetto:
 
 Hermes:
 
Blind Adam ( Thanos Kyriakides):
 
Damien da Rocha:
 

The 26 participants included Chanel, Christian Dior, Christian Ghion, Dsquared, Gucci, Hermès, H&M, India and Ali Mahdavi, Isabel Marant, Jakob+Macfarlane, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Louis-Marie de Castelbajac, Louis Vuitton, Marithé + François Girbaud, Maxime Simoens, Olivia Putman, Ora Ïto, Patrice Gardera, Rachid Khimoune, Repetto, Sonia Rykiel, Thanos Kyriakides-Blind Adam.



Le Sapins de Noel des Createurs

In french:

La 15ème édition des Sapins de Noël des Créateurs

With English Voiceover:


A 52 minute program of the event co-presented by Marie Christiane Marek and a renowned designer will air on TV5MONDE on December 26th, 2010.

The Charities
For eleven years Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs has been associated with the Fondation d’Auteuil pour la Maison d’Orly. The Fondation d’Auteuil’s mission is to prevent and protect children between the ages of 6 and 21 years old through teaching whilst taking into account the aptitudes of each child. Among other things, a gymnasium, a play ground and a locker room have all been made possible through this relationship.

2007 and 2008: Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs has been involved with Sol en Si (Solidarité enfants Sida), a charity that supports and accompanies children and their families affected by HIV/AIDS in France and Africa. Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs was able to help in the creation of a therapy centre in Togo thanks to the money raised from its auction.

In 2009, Les Sapins de Noël des Créateurs donated the proceeds from its auction to the Fondation Carla Bruni-Sarkozy where it was allocated to the charity L’enfant @ l’hôpital. Founded in 1986, L’enfant @ l’hôpital seeks to help children in hospital in the continuation of their education by providing supplies and IT support. Over the past twenty years, over 100 pediatric services have been provided with this.
images courtesy of © Valérie Paillocher / Le Journal des Femmes, Wire images, Getty images, and France 2


See the trees from last year's event.