December 15, 2025 |
Hermès’ creative director Nadège Vanhée unveiled the second chapter of her AW25 women’s collection in spectacular style on the banks of Shanghai’s North Bund area. Guests were given a full-immersion Hermès experience, entering a huge show space lined in the same orange as the house’s shopping bags and gift boxes. As the sun set, a wall swung open to reveal the city; across the Huangpu River, the futuristic skyline of the Lujiazui district blazed with coloured lights. It was a dazzling symbol of China’s modernity and aspiration.
from left: Awar, Mary, Rejoice and Marte wear HERMES
The energy of the city was reflected in the collection, which picked up where the Paris show left off. The Hermès woman is never passive. She has places to go and things to do, and she demands a wardrobe that meets her needs. This Hermès collection was made for just such a strident, confident customer. Vanhée playfully titled it Au Galop! (Translation: At a gallop.)
Horsey references are a given at the house. Vanhée used the Dressage Tressage-printed silks for detachable linings and on quilted jackets, and she also fashioned equestrian blankets into coats. Models strode down the catwalk with pace and purpose. They wore modern, dynamic and multifunctional clothes, with many pieces designed to be worn a multitude of ways. Undo a zip on a leather dress and it became a pencil skirt and gilet; snap open the interior poppers on a leather coat and its Dressage Tressage-printed lining can be detached to be worn on its own. A sense of freedom and possibility has been designed into every look.
For Vanhée, versatility equals longevity. “You can actually transform your clothes, so you can have it all the day long, all the season long, but all life long too,” she said. Craft and innovation sit side by side in her universe.
Yilan, Ella, Larissa, Rejoice, Lexi, Kiki and Karolina wear HERMES
Wearing knits tied around their waists, in layered- up looks and with sturdy shoes built for striding down city streets, the mood was urban but rooted in the finest natural fabrics: silk, leather, cashmere. The big accessories story? Alongside braided leather belts, inspired by equestrian plaiting, and sturdy riding boots, how about a pair of leather-lined Hermès headphones? They’re the latest creation from Hermès’ Atelier Horizons. And if you’re looking for a new way to wear the Mini Kelly, try slinging it high, cross-body, so that it functions almost as a necklace. Don’t mind if we do.
Taken from 10+ Issue 8 – FUTURE, JUBILEE, CELEBRATION – out now. Order your copy here.
HERMES: A SHANGHAI SECOND CHAPTER
Photographer SAMUEL LIN
Sittings Editor SAORI MASUDA
Text CLAUDIA CROFT
Date JUNE 13, 2025
Location SHANGHAI, CHINA
Creative Director NADEGE VANHEE
Models LEXI BOLING at Heroes Model Management, KAROLINA SPAKOWSKI at Kult Hamburg, ELLA MCCUTCHEON at Ford Models Paris, KIKI WILLEMS at DNA Models, REJOICE CHUOL at Select Model Milano, LARISSA MORAES at AN Models Management, AWAR ODHIANG at Mode Models International, MARY UKECH at 90s Model Management, MARTE MEI VAN HAASTER at Platform Agency and YILAN HUA at Dov Model Management
Hair GARY GILL
Make-up GREGORIS PYRPYLIS
Casting JULIA LANGE at Art Partner
