Françoise de la Perrière has designed some truly exceptional scarves for Hermès© and in my humble opinion, the Cuirs du Desert (Leathers of the Desert) might be just one of them.
Hermès© in its tradition to “scorn all walls, fences and restrains of the spirit” decided to make 1988 “The Year of Exoticism, going beyond borders in the spirit of Pierre Loti“.
Pierre Loti gained fame for his semi-autobiographical novel Aziyadé, which was published 1879.
As a young French Naval officer, Loti found himself in Turkey, where he fell in love with a much younger harem girl, Aziyadé. In his book, Loti describes both his love for the harem girl and his love affair with the Turkish culture, which quickly gave birth to his fame as well as his exotica persona.
It is then no surprise, that Hermès© took its 1988 Fall/Winter Collection to exotic Turkey, where the brilliant jewel tones of both the collection and the streets of Istanbul fought the drab of winter.
Close Ups
The artist responsible for giving us the Cuirs du Desert Hermès Carré is Françoise de la Perrière, a former art teacher, who joined Hermès© in the 1950s.
Since her debut with La France, a 1959 commission by Robert Dumas, Françoise de la Perrière has consistently produced stunningly beautiful and intricate designs.
“A perfectionist who is lazy, an extrovert who appreciates quiet” – this self-description from Madame de la Perriere captures the essence of her unique character. Known for her enjoyment of tranquility and her knack for fixing things around the house, she finds inspiration in the soothing melodies of classical music.
As part of the 1988 Year of Exoticism, Hermès© unveiled her Cuirs du Desert, a design that masterfully blends intricate detail with effortless elegance.
Bold and exotic yet undeniably classy, the Cuirs du Desert exemplifies her distinctive design aesthetic!
(Fall Winter 1988/1989)