An imaginative showcase of upcycled objects arrives on our shores.
An imaginative showcase of upcycled objects arrives on our shores.
From plastic bottles to vintage military gear, discarded objects have in recent years become a popular source of raw materials for luxury fashion brands looking to offer new products in a sustainable manner. Hermes has been doing so – with its signature playful wit, of course – since 2010 with its Petit H collection. Headed by creative director Godefroy de Virieu, the Petit H workshop transforms unwanted materials from Hermes’ other workshops into whimsical objects.
Inspired by the materials that they have on hand, artisans create delightfully random and imaginative items such as a basketball net made of colourful woven leather and a swing made of ash wood and leather. The Petit H collections travel to Hermes stores around the world two or three times a year, and now, it comes to our shores.
From Nov 22 to Dec 15, the Petit H showcase will pop up at the Hermes store at Liat Towers. Paying homage to our green city, special sets created by local industrial designer Olivia Lee will provide a backdrop for the collection, including special flora and fauna-themed objects such as fish-shaped bags and mushroom paperweights. They’re fabulous, fun and – not least of all – functional. Time for some serious Christmas shopping.
LUXURY 24/7
Luxury retailers often maintain that they are firm proponents of the brick-and-mortar store experience. But now, if you’re a Louis Vuitton fan with little time to head down to its boutiques, the brand’s recently launched Singapore e-commerce platform lets you place an order for a bag (or three) any time the desire hits you. The website offers a wide range of the brand’s clothing, leather goods and other accessories, as well as customisation services such as engraving and hot stamping. Choose from free same- or next-day delivery, or to “click and collect” if you want to swing by its Ngee Ann City store to pick up your order with no fuss. www.louisvuitton.com
STEP BACK IN TIME
Since Kris Van Assche took the reins as the creative head of Berluti last year, he’s been busy updating the house codes for a modern audience: Think traditional dress shoe styles with trendy, thick soles, and sportier sneaker silhouettes. With his version of Berluti’s signature Alessandro whole-cut Oxford shoes – which features an upper made from a single piece of leather without any visible seams – the designer shows that tradition is very much part of his playbook as well. While Berluti regularly updates the Alessandro, Van Assche’s take stays faithful to the original 1895 model and is made from the brand’s own Venezia Storico leather, which is stamped with a rounded pattern to create a unique grained appearance.
HIGH IMPACT
Mixing studs, beads and square pyramids in one dynamic collection of jewellery for both sexes, Clash de Cartier is the French jeweller’s major launch for 2019. The flurry of activities centred on this collection continues with the Clash de Cartier Studio – an experiential pop-up that promises an “unconventional and immersive” experience, although we had yet to find out what that means at the time of print. But with Cartier’s flair for the dramatic, we know it will definitely be worth finding out. The Clash de Cartier Studio takes place from Nov 15 to 17 at the STPI Creative Workshop & Gallery (41 Robertson Quay).
