As smooth as silk
September 9, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CREATIVITY and quality are two main words for Hermes and its artistic director of feminine silk, Bali Barret. She has been at the helm of Hermes Silk since 2003 and also became deputy artistic director for Hermes' women's collections in 2009.
She has experienced tremendous freedom to use her creativity at one of the oldest and most prestigious family-owned luxury companies in France.
For the Parisian designer, working with Hermes is a very rewarding and encouraging experience. She wanted to tell Chinese people that Hermes is not only about Birkin and Kelly bags. It's more of a mystery and fantasy.
Q: How did you join Hermes nine years ago?
A: I'm a Parisian girl so if you're a Parisian, you know Hermes. When Hermes International artistic director, Pierre-Alexis Dumas came to see me at the time I had my own fashion label which is minimalist with Parisian chic. He was interested in my work and asked if I would like to work for Hermes. I was surprised and said yes. He then asked "why?" My answer was that I thought we had a lot in common in terms of simplicity but not being nothing and showing beautiful things in a very discreet way.
Q: How much has your personal design style and philosophy melted into the designs you have done for Hermes?
A: Yeah, at very beginning, Dumas has told me: "Please design Hermes scarf the way you would love to have them ... your way. In the end when you look at the scarf you need to know it is a Hermes' scarf." That was the brief. Progressively and very naturally, I've learnt the way this house works, the know-how, the craftsmanship.
Q: Regarding the design for garments or accessories, which is the most important to you? Material, function or style?
A: Three of them. The brain of creative people is mixing these notions altogether in order to have the right object in the end.
Q: How do you define your design style?
A: Twisting the tradition.
Q: Where do you find inspirations?
A: Every season when I start designing I know exactly where I want to go. It's about my taste for art, music, life. My eyes are always watching everything.
Q: Hermes has a long heritage of textile design and scarf has been very important for the house for 75 years. Can you introduce a bit about Hermes scarf?
A: Two scarf collections per year are released, along with some re-editions of former drawings picked from our archive and limited editions. Impeccable craftsmanship is the brand's trademark and our focus is to make beautiful things that last forever. One scarf takes at least two years to make. There would be about 80 ways to knot Hermes scarf.
Q: How do you define Hermes women?
A: I think she is a woman with character, a kind of natural elegance and simplicity and at the same time being beautiful, contemporary but not boring.
She has experienced tremendous freedom to use her creativity at one of the oldest and most prestigious family-owned luxury companies in France.
For the Parisian designer, working with Hermes is a very rewarding and encouraging experience. She wanted to tell Chinese people that Hermes is not only about Birkin and Kelly bags. It's more of a mystery and fantasy.
Q: How did you join Hermes nine years ago?
A: I'm a Parisian girl so if you're a Parisian, you know Hermes. When Hermes International artistic director, Pierre-Alexis Dumas came to see me at the time I had my own fashion label which is minimalist with Parisian chic. He was interested in my work and asked if I would like to work for Hermes. I was surprised and said yes. He then asked "why?" My answer was that I thought we had a lot in common in terms of simplicity but not being nothing and showing beautiful things in a very discreet way.
Q: How much has your personal design style and philosophy melted into the designs you have done for Hermes?
A: Yeah, at very beginning, Dumas has told me: "Please design Hermes scarf the way you would love to have them ... your way. In the end when you look at the scarf you need to know it is a Hermes' scarf." That was the brief. Progressively and very naturally, I've learnt the way this house works, the know-how, the craftsmanship.
Q: Regarding the design for garments or accessories, which is the most important to you? Material, function or style?
A: Three of them. The brain of creative people is mixing these notions altogether in order to have the right object in the end.
Q: How do you define your design style?
A: Twisting the tradition.
Q: Where do you find inspirations?
A: Every season when I start designing I know exactly where I want to go. It's about my taste for art, music, life. My eyes are always watching everything.
Q: Hermes has a long heritage of textile design and scarf has been very important for the house for 75 years. Can you introduce a bit about Hermes scarf?
A: Two scarf collections per year are released, along with some re-editions of former drawings picked from our archive and limited editions. Impeccable craftsmanship is the brand's trademark and our focus is to make beautiful things that last forever. One scarf takes at least two years to make. There would be about 80 ways to knot Hermes scarf.
Q: How do you define Hermes women?
A: I think she is a woman with character, a kind of natural elegance and simplicity and at the same time being beautiful, contemporary but not boring.
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