House secrets: Book offers snapshot of Hermès

La Maison by photographer Koto Bolofo is a visual exploration of the people and places that contribute to Hermès’ various lines, from perfumery to saddles.

Bolofo was granted unprecedented access to the workshops by the late chairman of Hermès, Jean-Louis Dumas, after they met in 2002. ‘Mr Dumas asked where I came from. I said South Africa. He asked what part. I said Lesotho,’ says the photographer.

‘He explained that his great great great grandfather was a missionary in Lesotho and that the Zulus used to attack his mission, but the Sothos – my tribe – protected him. He called me his cousin and said that his cousin was welcome any time and I had carte blanche to photograph what I liked at Hermès.’

LS:N Global has previously reported on consumers’ growing interest in brand production processes. For more information, see our Show Your Working micro trend report.