Kermit Oliver - Painter and Hermes' only American scarf designer

Some of you may know that I like to collect Hermes Scarves.

I do have my favorites and I will do future posts on them.

But there is one designer that I admire and am intrigued about.

One of the few photographs of Kermit Oliver Via

His name is Kermit Oliver.
He is the only designer from the United States 
to have been hired by Hermes which is an accolade in itself.



Scarf collectors and Oliver fans are all awaiting the release of his latest design for the Spring Summer 2014 scarf collection.
This will be his 17th design for the French design house.

Some of his previoius designs.
Please click here to see his full past range.

He is known to design based on themes of "Americana."



His scarf  "Les Ameriques" featuring Christopher Columbus.
It took 6 months for the technical drawings to be finished.
The detail of his work is more intensive than most.



Pony Express combined history with horses.
As he was and is a painter, his scarves definitely lend themselves to framing exceptionally well.

Pictures above via

But he has also done an ode to Canada.

Via

The design that he is most renown for but was also a huge commercial success is Faune and Flore du Texas.



A good condition piece can sell for as much as 
the retail price of a scarf at present. 
The first issue can easily go triple the price.


My personal favorite of his designs and one I will purchase if I can get my hands on a decent, genuine issue is the Kachinas.

Via

Kachina is an American Indian concept mainly pertaining to the Southwest of spirits or personifications of spirits.
I had my own experience with kachinas in Sedona, Arizona.

Kachina woman in Boynton Canyon located by Mii Amo Enchantment Resort

This was before digital cameras were widely used but everytime my friend or I would try and take a picture of a certain famous one located in Boynton Canyon, the camera would just go blank.  Sounds weird but you had to be there.

Mr Oliver is of mixed ancestry.
He is Native American, African American, Hispanic, German and Irish blood but most importantly he considers himself Texan.
He still lives in Waco, Texas.

One of Kermit Oliver's paintings

He was discovered by Jean Louis Dumas - the legendary and hereditary creative director of Hermes and was commissioned immediately.  Mr Oliver is a formally trained painter and for a time had been successful in the art market.  Some of his paintings have been known to sell for $70,000 but he didn't and doesn't play along with the politics of art gallerists.

Via

To this day, he still does the night shift sorting mail at the local post office at Waco, Texas.

He has had personal tragedy as his son was sentenced to death after being charged for an armed robbery.  
A lot of his energy for ten years was spent in fighting to defend his son's case but lost the battle in 2009.

Via

Some of you may remember I went to the Hermes scarf printing workshop (Festival des Metiers) last May.( click here for link)

The gentleman, Kamel Hamadou, who heads the silk atelier for Hermes carried a small scarf by Kermit Oliver. 
He said that it was one of his prized possessions that 
he would have as a family heirloom. 
 I asked why him out of all the designers when he must have met and worked with over his twenty year plus career at Hermes.

And he pursed his lips and made a very latin hand gesture making up for what words failed him.

Then he said, " He is just special..."

Kamel Hamadou showing a vintage scarf at the Festival des Metiers.

I personally find this story so moving.

It seems our mindset has shifted in finding a star a la X factor, where everything seems as fleeting, temporary, and dependent on a flash of luck or whim.

But he has no ego, no entourage, no bravado.

He just works hard and nurtures his talent quietly.

It is so rare to see these days that

 I just wanted to spread the word about him.

If you are interested in reading about him further, 

please click on this link.