Christophe Lemaire’s debut collection for Hermès was a confidant one, being respectful of the super-refined French-ness of the brand whilst adding his own oriental twist. These two East and West ideas found common ground in the notion of Nomadic travel. To the sound of a live performance on a Chinese Zither, sweeping kaftans, blanket fringed coats, monastic suede tunics and elegant kimonos were offered in tones from the neutrals of desert tribes to imperial red, orange, and jade green. It was a warm, rich collection of roomy tailored leather and double-faced cashmere interspersed with colour-blocking prints of yellow, orange and blue. With a hawk on one model’s shoulder, Lemaire is clearly taking on the challenge of combining the heritage of this label with modernity and a touch of eccentricity.
