The Hermès Heritage cycle of touring exhibitions explores the story of Hermès from its origins to the present day. After 'Harnessing the Roots', 'Rouges Hermès' and 'In Motion', the 'Once Upon a Bag' exhibition opens on a new page dedicated to the bag, which forms an integral part of the Hermès signature with its close ties to the house’s equestrian roots and founding know-how. The bag is the pursuit of a creative, artisan adventure. It expresses the spirit of the times, yet stands the test of time. Symbolizing both memory and modernity, it is as much a protector of privacy as it is a representation of a way of life.
Hermès bags are the stuff women's dreams are made of. There have been styles named after royalty, actresses and there is even a 2003 James Ivory film Le Divorce where the central plot revolves around Kate Hudson's character's red Kelly bag, a gift from her French lover.
The National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) is a wonderful place for this leg of the exhibit to be housed, with its spacious rooms and inspired architecture.
The exhibition itself is divided into themes Structured into themes, with each area devoted to the different families of bags – like the clutches, women’s bags, men’s, travel bags and the sports bags -- all paired with their respective stories.
As the first images from Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on Instagram show, it's an adventure in great fashion you won't want to miss.
Location and hours: National Museum of Qatar, Doha
Saturday – Thursday from 9am to 7pm
Friday from 1.30pm to 7pm
Free admissions
Images courtesy of Hermès, used with permission.
