Hermès celebrates 'Hearts and Crafts'

Nadine Kam photos
Curtains rose after the screening of the Hermès documentary "Hearts and Crafts: The People That Make Hermès," Oct. 18 at Hawaii Theatre Center, revealing the stage beautifully lighted and set with white linen tables and white floral arrangements.

In the season of film festivals, Hermès hosted a screening of filmmaker Frédéric Laffont and Isabelle Dupuy-Chavanat's Hermès 47-minute documentary "Hearts and Crafts: The People That Make Hermès," on Oct. 18 at Hawaii Theatre Center.

Going behind-the-scenes at the luxury fashion house, the filmmakers celebrate craftsmanship by focusing, not on the glam and celebrity driven aspects of luxury branding, but on the many artisans from whose passion and nimble handiwork springs individual works of art, emphasizing that because of the handwork, no two pieces are alike.

The filmmakers interviewed saddlers, crystal and glass makers, metalsmiths and the artists behind the house scarf designs.

The cover of the invitation to the screening of the Hermès documentary "Hearts and Crafts: The People That Make Hermès," that took place Oct. 18 at Hawaii Theatre Center.

Maybe because of the work I do, it was the graphic artists' work that I found most intriguing because of their ability to visualize, in black-and-white, the multiple layers of color that go into a single design. A single scarf can comprise up to 42 colors, each mixed by hand to the artists' specifications, just for that piece.

Although the process has been described to me over the years, and having gravitated to the printmaking facilities of the Honolulu Academy of Arts, I understand the process, it is still amazing to see it all come together before one's eyes. It is all the more amazing when one considers that in newsprint, all our colors spring from a basic four: magenta, cyan, yellow and black!

In welcoming Hermès to the theater, Hawaii Theatre Center president Sarah Richard noted that their organizations have much in common in promoting the arts, and that the theater itself was the work of many craftsmen and artists, both historically and in the renovations that have restored much of its original glory.

From studying Hermès windows over time, I think of them of masters of the tableau and I think all in the audience were left breathless when, after the film, the curtains rose to reveal a stage set with tables, chandeliers, bouquets of white flowers and a mini bar for an on-stage reception. It was beautiful, and considering what we had just seen, an artful way to end the evening.

Donna Hodnefield, managing director of Hermès, Ala Moana Center, at lower left, welcomed Catherine Lin, and in the back row James Schaeffer of Harry Winston, Buddy Moore, Sean Lee Combs and Ashli Sower.

Tyler Boe, special events coordinator at Hermès of Paris, left, and Julie Vigneulle, special events manager, were in town for a few days to introduce the "Hearts and Crafts" film."

I liked the Hermès Twilly Tyler was wearing as a bracelet.

Among the guests were, from left, Annette Dung, Kristina Lee, Chun Hui Chen, Jeff Lee, Darah Dung and Denby Dung. Only daughter/sister Dana-Li Dung was missing.

Guests David and Lillian Yeh.

Sarah Richards and Elaine Evans, respectively the president and director of development for Hawaii Theatre Center.

Julie Lock hosted Mieko and William Bain BacLachlan.

Alynna Wu.

Brother and sister Darren and Amy Xue. He works for Bulgari. She works for Chanel.

Donna with her assistant managers Gary Watanabe and Lyndi Doi.