Hermès Faubourg Express: An experience like no other—in a busy terminal

At sundown, guests started arriving at One Ayala, the relatively new Ayala mall with its big bus terminal. A busy terminal at rush hour. The choice of the venue alone proved intriguing for the guests, even for those used to the surprises that luxury leader  Hermès is known to spring on its guests. Instead of, say, a five-star hotel venue, the event of November 7 was held in a bustling mall terminal—channeling, we would realize later, the famous Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris.

Indeed the Hermès  Faubourg Express last week was unlike any event this year in Metro Manila and perhaps in the region. In truth, Metro Manila was the first time such an immersive production was held by Hermès in the world this year—a distinct nod to the Philippines. It took almost a year to prepare. The event was a multi-sensory journey of design, cuisine, and art embodying the luxurious elegance and heritage that is Hermès.

Guests took the elevator to the 5^th floor where ushers led them to a wide section of the mall floor hidden from view. Guests stepped onto a “train station” for cocktails, and your “ticket” designed in the 1920s style entry-punched at the counter. Luggage stacked around, train whistles puncturing the air, and the scent of adventure (Hermès fragrance, of course) a hint in the atmosphere as the guests enjoyed cocktails—the sight and sound of the Faubourg Express journey about to begin.

Fancy, really.

But once the guests were let inside the “train,” fancy turned to awesome. One long table snaked on the entire stretch of the hall—the train, it was—in a setting that was bathed in Hermès orange, the walls bearing handpainted drawings of landscapes and snippets of the history of the legendary French luxury house. “Windows” painted on the walls bared sceneries of the Faubourg landscape in motion, the evening’s “itinerary.”

The setting blended the romance of travel with the elegance of Hermès. The guests settled on their seats, a voice welcomed the ‘’passengers’’ as servers in traditional French waiter uniforms and train conductor hats paraded in, serving the first course. There were more than 100 waiters, all serving in perfect unison, one for every two guests.

Then the performance began. ‘’Train conductors,’’ their bodies wobbly like they would be in a train in motion, staggered into the hall, carrying the luggage, to an instrumental background. This performance art of 12 dancers would enhance your dinner, giving it a dab of whimsy, if not spectacle. Towards the end of the dinner—we’re getting ahead of the story here—the entertainment would have mystery to spice it up, as a luggage was announced missing. Witty!

Each course was concocted as tribute to a Faubourg Express’ dreamlike destination, meant to transport guests through flavor, texture, and imagination. The four stages of the culinary journey or the names of the dishes: Sunrise on Honoré Valley, Cloud Race, Le Jardin Sur Le Toit, The Wilderness.

The meals were served on a bento box with the design of the Hermès Faubourg Saint-Honoré flagship store’s facade laser-engraved on it, one course for every layer, until the dessert representing the Maison’s famous rooftop garden.

The bento boxes were brought in from Japan.

Indeed Faubourg Express was not merely an event but an experience—a story to tell about the legendary Maison, a design to create the ambiance, and the precision of detail and craftsmanship that has made it conquer the test of time. These elements have combined to yield the elegance and sophistication of  Hermès.

Like any journey, the heritage that is Hermès was no accident—in the world of design and fashion, in the world of contemporary design and art.  The immersive Faubourg Express last November 7 showcased this, as it fused Hermès’ timeless craftsmanship, innovative spirit, and dedication to create unique experience.

And the Faubourg Express experience has become a timeless memory.