It is contrasts that give stories life, tension, a raison d’être. If everything was easy and complimentary, life would certainly be beige. After 181 years of crafting the finest luxury goods on earth, Hermès knows a thing or two about crafting a narrative as well. Telling a story of freedom – with the literal and figurative use of chains – is what makes its new ‘Enchaînements Libres’ fine-jewelry collection so utterly compelling.
The origins of the maison lie in harness-making and saddlery, with chains evoking both the house’s equestrian heritage and also the control it takes to master the free-spirited, unbroken horse. Pierre Hardy, the creative director behind Hermès jewelry, intended to disrupt the story of bondage by using chains reworked in unexpected materials and done at larger, more provocative scales to signify freedom – freedom from convention and predictability. Through the métier of photography, ‘Enchaînements Libres’ thrills with electrifying composition, equal only to the exquisite pieces that form the collection.
