Hermès’s Philosopher

Adrien Barrot

Creation and Image Consultant

Our theme for December is “magic orange box”. That’s right—this month is all about the magical orange boxes that cradle Hermès products in all their various shapes and sizes, from Carré scarves to hats, boots, and (of course) bags. Adrien Barrot is sharing with us what makes the orange box so magical. He is a weaver of words who spent 20 years as a professor of philosophy before becoming a consultant in Hermès’ Creation and Image Department.

What is the magic of the orange box?

——An enigmatic orange box

There’s something truly enigmatic about this box, and it has to do with its orange colour. When you look back at the history of Hermès’s packaging, you will see that we started out with paper and cardboard that was very beautiful, elegant, and chic.

Originally, however, it came in quite subdued shades of beige, grey, brown, and white. Then, all of a sudden, this orange burst forth like a dramatic twist or a clap of thunder. But why? Well, because it was the aftermath of World War II, and there were considerable restrictions on paper, so we could no longer acquire the colours that we used to. Our supplier told us, “We have orange—that’s all we have left.” It came about by chance, but it was also an opportunity for us to assert our personality and show who we are.

——The brilliance of colour and shape

The maison’s enlightened and modest image and its belief that elegance is achieved by being understated and unnoticed may seem at odds with the brightness, vivacity, whimsy, and audacity of this orange. But these are all qualities that are inherent to Hermès. What is even more interesting is that we have never standardized these boxes—there are nearly as many different variations as there are objets in our stores. It’s astonishing, if you think about it. I think it reflects our visceral distrust and dislike of uniformity.

——Held in place by the Bolduc

Nothing ties together the orange box and the annual theme better than the Bolduc ribbon that secures the box. Every year, I play a part in creating the annual theme, which is printed on the ribbon so that the action of tying the box closed imbues it with a certain spirit.

The spirit is that of Hermès itself, and indeed in 2024, our theme is celebrating the spirit of the Faubourg. In a way, 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré is where it all began, because it is more than just a store—just as this box is more than just a box. That is to say, the spirit of 24 Faubourg is the spirit of Hermès. And so, we find the spirit of Hermès here in this orange box.

——The magic orange box that is Ginza Maison Hermès

I have been thinking about Ginza Maison Hermès. I had never realized it before, but this building by Renzo Piano is a big vertical rectangular box made up of squares. Even if it isn’t quite orange in colour, I do think it alludes to the orange box that is an Hermès signature.

When night falls, the appearance and allure of the building change completely as it transforms into an orange lantern that lights up the city. In that way, it is just like the orange box. I consider the building to be a tribute to the art of light that has been cultivated in Japan, a country that is a close friend of Hermès. The Japanese people make magnificent lanterns out of paper. This particular lantern illuminates its neighbourhood with a light that manages the glorious magic trick of being both vibrant and gentle.

Adrien Barrot

Barrot taught philosophy for 20 years before joining Hermès in 2011. As advisor to the Creation and Image Department, he leads the process of brainstorming and planning for the annual Hermès theme. He is also responsible for editing the magazine Le Monde d’Hermès, especially the text.