Wallpaper China has partnered with Hermès on a new initiative spotlighting Chinese intangible cultural heritage, bringing together artisans to reinterpret the brand’s equestrian imagery through traditional crafts.

The project features practitioners working in paper cutting, shadow puppetry, and ceramics, including He Xia from Gansu, Li Jian from Shaanxi, and a group of Jingdezhen-based ceramic artists: Feng Shaoqiang, Yu Xiaoxia, Xu Jijiang and Yu Qiuping. Rather than reproducing existing designs, participants were invited to reinterpret horse motifs from Hermès silk scarves through their own craft languages.

The initiative aligns with Wallpaper China’s broader focus on intangible heritage as a “living system,” emphasizing its evolving role in contemporary cultural production. Founded in 1837 as a harness workshop, Hermès has long maintained ties to equestrian culture.

The brand has previously collaborated with Chinese artists, including Ding Yi in 2007, and has continued to stage artist-led projects at its Shanghai Maison. The latest collaboration extends these efforts, exploring how traditional craftsmanship can be recontextualized through contemporary, cross-cultural exchange.

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