HERMÈS & ARDMORE – A Special Collaboration
31
Jan
2016
Two very special brands have collided and their origins and heritage couldn’t be more different.
Ardmore is a brand very close to my heart as it is South African. This dynamic organisation began life in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains in KwaZulu-Natal nearly 30 years ago. It all began with Fèe Halsted teaching Bonnie, the daughter of her housekeeper how to work with clay on her farm Ardmore.
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| Fèe Halsted ( via website) |
Gradually more and more women took up the training opportunities offered by Halsted and in so doing, created pieces which began bringing in income for the newly formed studio.
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| via google images |
Ardmore Design Collection launched in 2010 producing superb quality dinnerware, ceramic sculpture, tapestries, fabrics and more. Over the years, Ardmore’s artists have won numerous awards and exhibited in South Africa as well as around the world. Ardmore is currently available not only in South Africa but throughout the world at various galleries and fine art retailers. These artworks are also available through auction houses such as Sotheby’s, Bonhams and Christie’s who have acknowledged Ardmore Artworks as “modern day collectibles”.
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| via google images |
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| via google images |
Back to the collaboration story and obviously, Hermès, the French Luxury brand needs no introductions! Hermès designers approached Fèe Halsted at Maison et Objet in 2013 and the collaboration process was set in motion.
Catherine, Fèe’s daughter, together with several of the Ardmore artists, began working on the designs for the scarves, and the results perfectly capture the brand’s dynamic personality.
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| via House & Leisure |
Two designs have been created – La Marche du Zambèze and The Savana Dance. The former features a central elephant surrounded by indigenous flora and other creatures of the Zambezi.
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| via House & Leisure |
The Savana Dance shows a leopard chasing a monkey, surrounded by protea flowers and other symbols of Zulu Culture. Both scarves come in various colour ways.
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| via House & Leisure |
I visited the Hermès store in Rue de Sèvres this week to view these gorgeous creations!
Walking into this iconic store validated the amazing outcome for this once fledgling South African ceramic studio. I can only think that their continued journey will prove to be astounding. We laid each scarf out on the counter and what a thrill it was seeing them in reality.
There was another customer standing close by and she listened as I told the story of the collaboration. She bought one of them for her daughter “she will love the story behind it all” she said!
The silky folds revealed exquisite, vibrant works of art.
With special thanks to House & Leisure South Africa.
It really is Stacey – the scarves and designs are beautiful!!
Such a fabulous collaboration. Kudos to Hermès for recognizing the amazing work and abilities of the artisans of Ardmore!
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Thank you Marilyn… – it was a special and very happy discovery and I'm so thrilled I got to see the scarves in this iconic store and also to witness how excited the staff were about showing them to me! xx
Hi Naomi, The Zambezi Elephant will look grand on the wall! The various colourways make it very difficult to decide which to buy or even which to like the most! xx
How very special Jenny. I did not know about Ardmore before seeing one of your previous posts and your images show equisite detail and craftmanship which is echoed in the beautiful scarves. What a thrill it must have been to see them knowing the story but more so the people behind the collection.
Marilyn xx
Didn't know it was Ardmore till o read this. I have my eye on the Zambezi one but to put on the wall but I love the other one too. It's a good season this collection. I'm curious to see which one you end up with! X
Thank you FF!!… They are right up there on my wish list!! Xx
Thank you Heidi… To me Ardmore embodies all that is wonderful about South Africa and its people.. They are beautiful creations and how wonderful that Hermès embarked on this collaboration! Xx
Fabulous! Hope you bought a keep sake. xx