Why Hermès’ Fall/Winter 2025 Show in Shanghai Was So Much More Than Fashion

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_{In today’s trend-chasing fashion world, very few brands still treat a collection like a living, breathing cultural essay. But Hermès isn’t just any brand. This is a house where history, sociology, and art criticism come together in stitches and seams. Their latest showcase proves it once again. The second chapter of their Fall/Winter 2025 Women’s Ready-to-Wear collection debuted in Shanghai, and it wasn’t just a location choice. It was a moment full of narrative, symbolism, and quiet brilliance.}

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Not Just a Backdrop: Why Shanghai Matters

_{The show took place at a cruise terminal along the Huangpu River, framed by the shimmering lights of the Oriental Pearl Tower. This was only the second time Hermès has hosted a runway presentation outside Paris. The first was in New York, also near water. Clearly, Hermès thinks in symbols, not convenience.}

_{Shanghai feels like a natural extension of the Maison’s DNA. This is a city where French influences still hum beneath the surface, especially in the leafy lanes of the former French Concession. Here, Art Deco mansions and wrought-iron balconies give the city a Parisian soul. For a house like Hermès, the setting wasn’t just atmospheric. It was personal.}

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A Relationship Built on Respect

_{Hermès has had a long, thoughtful relationship with China. Unlike brands that chase quick wins with flashy campaigns and trend-hopping, Hermès has always taken a slower, more meaningful route. The 2010 creation of Shang Xia, a lifestyle brand rooted in Chinese craftsmanship and supported by Hermès, wasn’t just business. It was a creative and cultural investment.}

_{Since then, Hermès has consistently nodded to Chinese artistry through silk scarves inspired by calligraphy, mythology, and horology. The iconic horse motif, central to both Hermès' heritage and Chinese symbolism, appears again and again, woven with intention. Their color palette often draws from rich vermilions and golden ochres, though always with subtlety.}

_{In 2014, the Maison brought its “Festival des Métiers” to Shanghai. It was more than an exhibition. It was a rare peek behind the curtain, inviting guests to watch Hermès artisans at work. From saddle stitching to silk printing, this was luxury turned inside out. And in recent years, Hermès has opened expansive flagship stores in Shanghai and Guangzhou that feel more like temples to artistry than shops.}

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“Au Galop!”: A Collection in Motion

_{The Fall/Winter 2025 collection, titled “Au Galop!”, was a tribute to the brand’s equestrian roots and its forward-thinking elegance. Under the creative direction of Nadège Vanhée, the clothes walked a tightrope between tradition and innovation.}

_{Everything had a purpose. Braids, for example, weren’t just for show. They referenced both equestrian plaits and the Dressage Tressage carré by Virginie Jamin. Coats featured woven patterns that recalled the wicker chairs of French cafés. Materials like double-faced cashmere and quilted leather brought warmth and refinement while evoking the stable. The result was a wardrobe for the woman who moves fast but lives intentionally.}

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Fashion That Thinks and Feels

_{Hermès doesn’t do gimmicks. What it does is layer meaning into every fold, stitch, and silhouette. The decision to bring this show to Shanghai wasn’t about grabbing headlines. It was about continuing a decades-long dialogue with a city that shares its taste for heritage, subtlety, and beauty with substance.}

_{Shanghai, with its deep French roots and modern momentum, mirrors the spirit of Hermès itself. This was more than a fashion show. It was a story, a statement, and a salute to a shared sense of elegance that never goes out of style.}

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