Have you ever noticed how many of the Hermès carrés seem to hold stories within their threads?
The Hermès Passiflores carré is one such treasure. More than a fashion statement, this luxurious scarf whispers tales of exploration and discovery.
As many of you might recall, I had the great pleasure to meet Valérie Dawlat a couple of years ago and since then we have developed a wonderful and close relationship. More about her journey as an artist in my previous posts.
So when a lovely Passiflores, one of her many very popular designs, came to me, I asked Valérie what inspired this design and this is what she shared with me:
“The passiflores or Passion Flower grows in abundance on my island, Île de Ré, and is found climbing and adorning many of the « venelles », walls, in the village of Ars. (Ars-en-Ré)
“Venelles“, Valerie continues, “are the very narrow paths that lead to secret houses !!
Passiflores is also called fleur de la passion in French, because the center of the flower looks like the crown of thorns and the three nails of Christ’s crucifixion. Unfortunately, the fruit of the local varieties isn’t edible like that of their Caribbean counterparts. “
“It was my second carré that I designed living back on Ré island after our sailing trip to the Caribbean (the first was Jardin Creole) and was the number one (in) sale(s) at its launching : a tremendous success !
I had named it first : Rose des Vents, (compass), but Jean-Louis Dumas didn’t like it because there was already a carré called Rose des Vents.” (by Joachim Metz – 1984)
“The baskets“, Valerie continues “are typically « rhétaises » shapes. The left one is for picking vegetables or fruits or fresh eggs from the poulailler ! It is called « la bazenne ».
“and the other, named « la gourbeuille »
is used to gather shrimp and edible shells at low tide. So the inspiration was really a mix between my Carribean years and being back on Ile de Ré, and the Passiflores is the bridge over the atlantic ocean !!!”
Merci chère Valérie!
Please visit Valérie’s Instagram page to view and purchase her many other stunning & one-of-a-kind jewelry accent pieces designed and handmade exclusively in her Île de Ré studio.
Valérie’s Passiflores carré not only bridges continents, or merely transcends fashion; it is a reminder that true luxury lies in embracing purposeful journeys and the treasures we collect along the way.