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2022 Hermès Faubourg Tropical Cashmere & Silk Shawl 140x140cm. - The Leopard

Photo courtesy of Hermès



The luxury French house Hermès issued the 90x90 cm. carré Faubourg Tropical that Octave Marsal and Théo de Gueltzl designed for its Spring/Summer 2021 collection. The 140x140 cm. shawl format appeared for the first time in the Spring/Summer 2022 collection. As stated in the Hermès catalogue: “The first Hermès store opened at 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris in 1880, in a building of modest dimensions that also housed saddlery workshops and private apartments. The current neoclassical façade is the result of audacious building work carried out between 1924 and 1926, extending upwards to create additional floors and a surprising roof terrace. It is from this terrace that the exuberant tropical forest designed by the duo of Octave Marsal and Théo de Gueltzl appears to unfurl. Cheetahs, monkeys and cockatoos blend into this botanical canopy, which also conceals the unexpected figure of the mounted cavalryman from the top of Faubourg Saint-Honoré, who has escaped to the jungle.” 



Photo Courtesy of Archaeological Museum of Olympia
Hermes and the Infant Dionysus

In Greek mythology, the leopard is associated with the twice-born Dionysus (Bacchus). The Messenger God Hermes hid and saved the newborn Dionysus from danger. After Dionysus grew up, he became the Greek god of wine, vegetation, pleasure and fertility. He was depicted wearing leopard skin and using a leopard as the transportation carrier.

Mosaic of Dionysus riding a Leopard c.180 AD. House of Masks, Delos, Greece.

The transportation method has changed since automobiles were invented. The invention and adoption of automobiles replaced horses as the standard form of transport for people and goods. In 1908, the number of cars passed the number of horses for the first time irrevocably. In addition, there was a material shortage during World War I from 1914 to 1918. It was a tough time economically for the workshops like Hermès that produced only equestrian products. Émile-Maurice Hermès (1871-1951) is the younger son of Charles-Émile Hermès and grandson of the company founder Thierry Hermès. Émile-Maurice Hermès’s elder brother Adolphe Hermès wished to sell the workshop at that time.






However, Émile-Maurice Hermès had a unique perspective on how businesses could survive and thrive during challenging times. Émile-Maurice Hermès saved the family business. He purchased the Maison from his older brother Adolphe Hermès in 1922. Since then, Émile-Maurice Hermès has successfully led the business transformation and diversification from an equestrian production workshop to one of the world’s most valuable luxury brands. As mentioned in the previous in-depth research article Faubourg Tropical Part 1 - The Human Odyssey, the snake or its related elements metaphorically represent Hermès. Below the snake, the domineering leopard lies in a prominent position in the carré, metaphorically representing the former Hermès equestrian workshop.






In 1937, the famous Hermès silk scarf was born, the first series created by Robert Dumas, Émile Hermès’ son-in-law. The cashmere silk shawl is one of the most popular and luxury Hermès products for the fashionista who loves effortless and chic style. Cashmere wool is one of the softest fibres in the world and is usually just known as cashmere. For thousands of years, cashmere has been manufactured in Mongolia, Nepal, Tibet, and Kashmir. The word “Cashmere” is derived from the Anglicisation of Kashmir when the Kashmir shawl was introduced to Europe in the 19th century. The Kashmir goat has two layers of hair; the thick curly guard hair and a think soft cashmere undercoat. Sometimes the word cashmere is misinterpreted and applied to incredibly soft wools. Theoretically, only the Kashmir goat hair product is genuine cashmere. The shawl that Hermès produced contains 70% cashmere and 30% silk with hand-rolled edges. The cashmere is extremely lightweight yet insulating. The best quality silk makes the shawl stronger and prevents cashmere from stretching and loosening, keeping the shape of the shawl for longer. It is a mélange of the velvety warmth cashmere and strong lustre silk.


Photo courtesy of Hermès

Hermès Faubourg Tropical Cashmere & Silk Shawl 140x140cm. 
Colour and Reference Number:

, 
Naturel/Gris/Anthracite  H243602S 12
Blanc/Rouge/Corail         H243602S 11
Gris Chiné/Encre/Jaune   H243602S 05
Blanc/Bleu/Abricot          H243602S 08
Gris Chiné/Rose/Vert       H243602S 02
Blanc/Vert/Bleu                H243602S 09


The Hermès scarf lovers are familiar with the eight splendid colourways of the 90x90cm. carré version. The six new colourways of the 140x140cm. shawls are surprisingly dazzling and enhance the entire Faubourg Tropical collection. The colour palettes of the Faubourg Topical shawls range from classic grey neutrals, romantic Rosey schemes and crisp spring renewal. The shawls would be beautiful companions to wear in the muted winter, misty spring or flourishing summer seasons. 










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