Koto Bolofo: La Maison

By Menehould du Chatelle

For the past four years, innovative fashion photographer Koto Bolofo has had behind-the-scenes access to the Herm s fashion empire. Bolofo, well known for his portraits and fashion shoots, and published in such prestigious periodicals as Vogue , Esquire and i-D , came to Monde d'Herm s in 2004, when he met Herm s head, Jean-Louis Dumas, one of 17 cousins who constitute the fifth generation heading the company. Bolofo recalls that "Mr. Dumas asked where I came from. I said South Africa. He asked what part. I said Lesotho. He was shocked and very excited. 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 in Herm s." La Maison contains exclusive images made as Bolofo worked his way through Herm s' workshops, discovering how their wares are made, from handbags, perfumes, scarves, pr t- -porter and shoes to the first accessory ever produced by the house: saddles. Nothing escaped his lens, not even the museum, a treasure trove of Herm s history, tucked away on Rue du Faubourg St. Honor .

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3865219128
• ISBN13: 9783865219121
• Release Date: March 2010
• Publisher: Steidl
• Length: 1200 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.0" x 7.5" x 9.9"