The dedicated scarf is a joyful piece structured around the Greek word ‘Eleftheria’, “freedom” in Greek.
Its flag-like design sets the letters within landscapes characteristic of the three regions of the country: mainland Greece, the Peloponnese and the Aegean Islands. Houses perched on mountainsides, bell towers, ancient colonnades, bridges and garden terraces nestle in lush surroundings.
In the centre, superimposed over a lake, the letter ‘θ’ takes the form of a blue eye, which, for the Greek, wards off bad luck. Here, it symbolises how contemporary citizens have embraced their cultural, social and human heritage, their gaze firmly focused on the future.
Greece’s history is universal, and as Europeans, our destiny is linked to the destiny of Greece.
This special scarf stands out with its unique composition, bringing together an exquisite design and an exclusive colouration. The artist explains that the design aims to evoke a sense of appreciation for the gift of freedom, which we often take for granted, as well as the true essence of independence in today’s world.
‘Greece’s history is universal, and as Europeans, our destiny is linked to the destiny of Greece’, says Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Artistic Director of Hermès, underlining the wish for the house to narrate the story of Greece’s independence. ‘I see the scarf as a book, as a documentary, as a story printed on silk’, he adds.
Ever since the creation of Hermès silk scarves in 1937, creation and exceptional know-how have been at the heart of its silk collections’ philosophy. Celebrated for its tradition of storytelling, Hermès works with artists who devise illustrations and interpret them in the language of silk, constantly enriching the narrative universe of the house.
The limited-edition scarf will be available at the Hermès Athens store from 26 March 2021. Faithful to Hermès’ engagements and values of solidarity and social welfare, the house will donate part of the proceeds for each limited-edition scarf sold to Sotiria Thoracic Diseases Hospital of Athens.
I see the scarf as a book, as a documentary, as a story printed on silk.
Since 1837, Hermès has remained faithful to its artisan model and its humanist values. The freedom to create, the constant search for beautiful materials, the transmission of savoir-faire of excellence, and the aesthetic of functionality all forge the singularity of Hermès, a house of objects created to last. An independent, family owned company, Hermès is dedicated to keeping the majority of its production in France through its 43 workshops and to developing its network of 311 stores in 45 countries. The group employs more than 15,600 people worldwide, including more than 9,700 in France, among whom nearly 5,250 are craftsmen*.
Axel Dumas, a sixth-generation family member, has been Hermès CEO since 2013. Founded in 2008, the Fondation d’ entreprise Hermès supports projects in the areas of artistic creation, training and the transmission of savoir-faire, biodiversity, and the preservation of the environment.
*As of 30th June 2020