A China debut
Since its foundation dating back to 1837, this is the second time a Hermès show has not taken place in France. Only last year the brand ventured beyond its borders, hosting its runway in New York City. Last night Shanghai was the selected destination where the Maison unveiled the second chapter of the women’s fall-winter 2025 collection. The show took place at North Bund Bay, held on the waterfront, set inside an ephemeral, all-orange modular construction that invited a dialogue between the Huangpu River and Lujiazui’s futuristic skyline. Once the first model took over the runway, all the structure’s panels rotated one after the other, revealing the view.
The guestlist
This was not an intimate affair. The show counted 800 guests including clients, media, and celebrities such as White Lotus star Leslie Bibb, but also Hong Kong actress Carina and her husband Tony Liang.
The collection
Designed by long-time Artistic Director of Women’s Ready-to-Wear, Nadège Vanhée, the show offered an urban wardrobe, evoking understated strength, complexity, and modernity. On the runway, models walked at a fast pace, sporting layered looks brilliantly accessorised. A mini Kelly became an accessory around the neck; another bag was carried behind the back, hanging from a silk carré; and shimmering riding boots brought high glam to the season. A signature of Vanhée, next winter will be all about a luxurious color palette including burgundy, orange, dark blue, and white. The collection also focused on unexpected textures such as cord embellishments on collars, quilted leathers, contrast braiding on knits, and weaves that recall French bistro chairs.
The return of an icon: the braid
At the heart of the collection lies the braid, a strong element in the Hermès vocabulary, symbolising “connection and continuity across cultures”, as shared in the show notes. Inspired by equestrian plaits and drawn from the asymmetrical graphics of the Dressage Tressage silk carré by…
