How Hermes artisans preserve objects, memories and traditions

Starting in 2016, the episodes were shot in an immersive style both in France and around the world, from Burkina Faso to Italy, China and South Korea, in artisans' workshops, on the streets of major cities and in rural communities. Each of the stories bears witness in its own way to skills perpetuated by artisans in workshops around the world and passed down through the generations.

Infused with Laffont's very human and poetic vision, these films are faithful to the spirit of the Hermes fashion house and its values of transmission and innovation.

"This is a collection of freely produced short documentaries offering fragments of multifaceted and often little-known worlds, which are in fact all parts of the same world," explains the filmmaker. "Human beings, who might initially seem far removed from each other, are united by invisible bonds."

The last two episodes have just been completed and were screened at the Shanghai Center Theatre from May 17 to 24, when Hermes launched its touring exhibition Hermes in the Making in Shanghai. The 16 short movies are available to watch on hermes.com.

In the exhibition, Hermes invites visitors to meet its artisans and discover its spirit of creation and innovation through its unique craftsmanship.

Laid out in an open-plan manner inspired by a craftsman's workbench, the scenography of the event features four themes that form the basis of the history and life of the house: preservation and transmission of knowhow, respect for the quality of materials, commitment to the long term, and regional anchoring.