Hermès Brings “Au Galop!” to Shanghai

On June 13, Hermès staged the second chapter of its Fall/Winter 2025 women’s collection, titled “Au Galop!”, at the North Bund in Shanghai. While the show was designed to deepen the brand’s cultural dialogue with China, its scale and polish did much more—reaffirming Hermès’ commitment to the market and injecting some long-missing energy into a muted first half of the year in fashion marketing.

Set against the Huangpu River, the show used Shanghai’s iconic North Bund skyline as its backdrop. The modular set design created a liminal space between nature and city—rotating panels played off the futuristic urban lights, echoing Hermès’ continuous exploration of dualities: natural vs. man-made, tradition vs. modernity. As dusk fell and neon lights came alive, the venue turned into a symbolically charged stage.

Ready-to-wear may not be Hermès’ most headline-grabbing product category in financial terms, but it plays a central role in defining the brand’s identity as a house of refined lifestyle. That’s why its runway shows consistently draw industry attention: they articulate the brand’s quiet confidence and timeless aesthetic philosophy.

This collection stays true to Nadège Vanhée’s hallmark of “functional luxury,” offering a wardrobe that bridges equestrian roots with contemporary versatility.

Key Hermès codes were reinterpreted through structure, utility, and color. The horse blanket motif reappeared as double-faced cashmere coats; detachable linings carried Dressage Tressage patterns inspired by equestrian braids and asymmetric scarf designs. These motifs didn’t just embellish—they shaped the garments, standing in for cultural memory and narrative continuity.

Practicality remained central. Zip systems, multi-functional layers, and modular details enabled each piece to adapt to different climates and occasions. Materials like quilted leather, bouclé, and double-face wool added tactile and visual richness, while a palette rooted in earthy browns, sand, and greens—punctuated with bright accents of orange, violet, and ink—offered balance and flow.

This wasn’t just a fashion show—it was a statement of strategy. Hermès continues to deepen its ties to the Chinese market not with slogans or celebrity stunts, but with craftsmanship-led storytelling. In its steady expansion of cultural relevance across Asia, the Shanghai show exemplified how the brand is building a localized narrative rooted in artistry, heritage, and elegance.