An exploration of every facet of Hermès craftsmanship, from the manufacturing of saddles, silk scarves and the famous Kelly Bag, to ready-to-wear, shoes and perfume. Over the 7 years that it took to document, this 11-volume book was kept top secret to all, meaning Bolofo had to remain ‘invisible’, resulting in a most spectacular and intimate look behind the closed doors of this mysterious Parisian Maison.

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One wonders how Bolofo managed to get granted the luxury of going where no-one had gone before, eh? Well, lucky for him, there was a so-very-serendipitous link between him and the late Jean-Louis Dumas, CEO of Hermés: It seems Bolofo’s ancestors were from Lesotho, and amazingly not just that, but also from the very tribe who had protected Mr Dumas’ great great missionary grandfather from the Zulus.

I’m not quite sure how they came to find this out – but let’s just say I’m very glad they did.

Says Bolofo of the book’s beginnings, ‘I had an appointment with the late Mr Dumas. He’d never met me, all he’d seen is my work in Le Monde d’Hermès. I told him I wanted to photograph the real scene, the labyrinth behind Hermès. I was really fiesty and determined to pitch this to him. I was talking about the approach to Le Monde d’Hermès and told him his formula was formulaic - I was lucky he was in a good mood that day!’

# Edited by Koto Bolofo and Gerhard Steidl
Text by Ménéhould du Chatelle and Pierre-Alexis Dumas
11 hardcover books, bound in craft paper with a tipped-in-photo, foil embossing on spine, housed in a slipcase
Vol.1: Horses, 96 pages
Vol.2: Saddles, 72 pages
Vol.3: Kelly Bag, 96 pages
Vol.4: Clothes, 96 pages
Vol.5: Perfume, 48 pages
Vol.6: Bugatti Veyron, 128 pages
Vol.7: Gardens, 64 pages
Vol.8: Special Orders, 96 pages
Vol.9: Silk, 80 pages
Vol.10: John Lobb, 96 pages
Vol.11: Collection Émile Hermès, 160 pages
# 11 volumes
# 18 cm x 23.2 cm