With Ateliers Horizons, Hermès Can Make Practically Anything
On an unseasonably warm April night in New York, a glittering crowd gathered at the French maison’s Madison Avenue flagship to celebrate the latest collection
Think of virtually any object, and chances are Hermès can produce a remarkably wondrous version of it. That mission defines the of Atelier Horizons, a bespoke division within the French luxury house that creates unique special-order items for select clientele. Treasures from the latest Horizons collection demonstrated yet again that not only can the métier put its extravagant mark on practically any object you name, but it will create a custom version that can be admired as a bona fide artwork even when used for its traditional purpose.
An energetic Birkin and Kelly-toting crowd joyfully filled the store on Tuesday night. Some of the memorable items included: an Easter-egg toned foosball table, neon-lit circular jukebox motifs straight off iconic Hermès scarves, horse-adorned surfboards, Clémence leather basketballs with the trademark H, and skateboards decorated with Quentin Monge–designed imagery that playfully give a beach-hued tribute to the American West, complete with palm trees and vintage airplanes. Inspiration for the newest Horizons items came from four key concepts: movement, picnic, sound, and play.
Beyond being beautiful, there is a tactile precision best appreciated through the familiarity and time that come with ownership. The Pippa cowhide lining the headphones is luxuriantly soft. Drawers in the trunks pull in and out with a satisfying ease. Leather affixed to the foosball table and the state-of-the art speakers has the same stunningly even topstitching as some of the brand’s coveted bags. And nothing here is just a pretty face. Hermès Atelier Horizons artistic director Axel de Beaufort notes that functionality was as essential as form. Referring to the foosball table, he stated, “We even had the world champion of table football try everything to make sure it was right.”
Although Atelier Horizons creations are intentionally unique firsts among their kind, every applicable bit of learned craftsmanship from nearly 200 years of company history happily filters on to its subsequent relevant uses in unexpected ways. The new Horizons wetsuits have details learned from sportswear that the company made in the 1930s. The silk net on the ping pong table stretches with a delightfully familiar swivel clasp derived from the Kelly bag. Minty green and tastefully muted pink bicycles feature Spad calfskin and lacquered ash wood. And of course, there’s the repeated pleasure of spotting the authentic Hermès Paris seal, often in gold leaf, in the unlikeliest of places.
Hermès has attended to details so exacting that few would think to consider them. Ring holders in the jewelry trunk, for example, contain tiny magnets perfectly calibrated to secure each piece against its weight, so they stay in place at the front of the operational drawer as case doors open and close. And they lift away with just the right light tension. Stemware in the cocktail trunk is cleverly held in place with custom leather holder tabs. Atelier Horizons leaves nothing to chance.
The Horizons installation will be on view at Hermès (706 Madison Ave, New York) until April 25.
