À la recherche du temps perdu —Hermès Silk and Memories of Lyon from 17 Years Ago
- Hamanaka Akiko
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
An Hermès silk scarf. Today, it is said that Hermès imports its ultra-premium raw silk from Brazil to create these masterpieces. What rests before my eyes is the absolute pinnacle of French hand-craftsmanship. Every time I look at this vivid blue and gold silk, it opens a brilliant drawer of memories from seventeen years ago.
In 2009, I visited Lyon, France, for the very first time. My old friend from my student days had relocated there with her family. Walking through the city, it revealed a face entirely different from the Paris of my youth. Ruins from the Roman Empire remained seamlessly integrated into daily life, turning a casual stroll into a walk through ancient history. As I walked, memories of my younger self, passionately sketching lines back in Paris, naturally flooded back.
At that time, both my friend and I had children. We spent our days dedicating our time entirely to our families, with virtually no time for ourselves. Meeting again after nearly twenty years felt like a beautiful form of time travel. While anyone in the world would be shocked by how much time changes us, we were far too engrossed in speaking about our present lives to dwell on the past.
Lyon felt remarkably open, perhaps due to the bright sunlight or the expansive sky. The colors of the buildings felt inherently luminous. Yet, the moment we wandered into the Old Town (Vieux Lyon), I stepped into a completely different world. The cobblestones enduring since the Middle Ages and the dense buildings blocking out the sky guided me into an alternate reality. We quietly, almost secretly, explored the "Traboules"—narrow passages hidden within the architecture. They are the historic remnants of Lyon's golden era as the capital of silk weaving.
Back then, I was enjoying life without a single thought of the future. I was simply captivated by the beautiful streets of Lyon. I had absolutely no idea that one day, I would awaken a passion to share the art of Japanese hand-sewing (Wasai) with the world and launch my own luxury brand, Passioneer.
Seventeen years have washed over us since that journey.
The unfathomable allure of silk. The mystery of the Kimono. The profound purpose behind traditional hand-sewing. I am now setting my soul on fire to deliver these truths to the global stage. And the very first person to offer pure joy and collaboration to my challenge was that exact friend living in Lyon. She shared with me the ultimate hand-craftsmanship of France.
That gift was the Hermès scarf.
The bond between Lyon and Japanese silk is no mere coincidence. In the Meiji era, the man who brought modern steam-reeling technology to Japan (the Tomioka Silk Mill) was an employee of a Lyon-based raw silk trading house. The luxurious Jacquard looms adopted by Kyoto’s Nishijin to weave complex Obi bands were invented by a Frenchman. Furthermore, when a devastating silkworm disease crippled European sericulture in the mid-19th century, it was Japan that exported healthy silkworm eggs to Lyon, saving the French silk industry from collapse.
Viewing these historical truths, Japan and Lyon have nurtured a deep, ancient history of silk together. The scarf my friend gave me is not just an inheritance of beauty. The texture and brilliance of French silk find a sublime harmony when paired with Passioneer’s resilient, hand-sewn Tsumugi silk.
Two pinnacles of silk craftsmanship, built to endure for over a century, meeting at last. Could there be a more breathtaking combination to capture the mature heart?
You may never wear a kimono. But you can wear the art of Wasai.
On ne porte pas forcément un kimono. Mais on peut porter l'art du Wasai.
— PASSIONEER
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