Collection SS2010: Fairytales

Expected with a great deal of anticipation and renewed hope, the Spring/Summer ("SS") 2010 collection was received with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the new designs stirred the admirers and collectors of the Maison's silk creations alike; on the other, many felt the scarf designs have fallen short of the "timelessness" test.  Instead, the followers' opinions, shared by me as well, echoed a single strong sentiment: that with few exceptions, based primarily on colour combinations rather than the patterns themselves, the individual creations were reminiscent of previously released designs, and meant to appeal to tastes beyond those of the loyal Maison followers. Is the Maison attempting to appeal to a younger generation ? Or should we celebrate instead the endless creativity that Hermes is recognized for, even when such attempts may not elicit the anticipated reactions ?

Today's post features the scarf pattern that imposed its theme - and title - to the entire collection: "Fairytales". The design, suggestive of a children's drawing, brings together the many characters that filled countless children's (and parents') evenings while fueling their imagination.  Some may argue that the characters depicted in this design are the ones that became children's intimate friends and have remained loyal to them throughout their lives.  Fascinatingly enough, these tales set strong examples in every child's mind, thereby instilling the society's and parents' values from an early age, and in this respect, preparing the audience for life in an engaging, yet psychologically safe, journey of discovery.

I find the pattern very busy, and while the pastel colours are soothing, I find the scarf's appeal is diluted by the heavy and convoluted design.  I would even go as far as saying that the "drawings" in their entirety are somewhat aggressive, bringing a certain tension to the overall design, in stark contrast to what I'd expect to see in children's books.  It would definitely fit the "fantasy" pattern, where the elements coexist all at the same time without necessarily being linked by either time or activities... fantasy perhaps reflective (and defining) of the entire collection.  Yet I don't anticipate this design to be one of the many sought-after ones that their beauty and appeal have turned them into desired collectibles.