The Folklore Hermès carre was designed by accomplished artist and Hermès Artistic Director Henri d’Origny, who has a number of designs to his name including ties, jewelry and of course many famous carres.
Many of his designs are inspired by the Fashion House’s love affair with saddlery and equestrian paraphernalia, but not his Folklore scarf. Instead of bits and stirrups, we find birds and flowers. Well, I stand corrected, Monsieur d’Origny does manage to squeeze a reference to equestrianism into each corner of his Folklore design.
But what did inspire this design? I cannot help but be reminded of my grandmother’s “Zwiebelmuster” or “cibulak” drawings; watching her quietly sitting at her large wooden kitchen table, following each of her lines with my imaginary paintbrush.
(photo courtesy Kaolin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
According to Hermès, Henri d’Origny drew his inspiration on
“…popular Russian and Polish imagery, mixed freely with motifs from his own imagination, Henri d’Origny’s design is an appeal to the Slavic soul, while at the same time expressing his own deep attachment to the equestrian arts. Flowers and stylized birds, bright colors and branching forms are framed with harness straps and braid work in this joyous, multicolored design.”
courtesy © Hermès
