Days felt like endless summer afternoons when we were young. Our world, despite being confined to the safety of our home, felt so vast that no amount of gibberish could define what we saw, tasted, or experienced. With our ability to speak still in its burgeoning stage, paper, colors, and pencils became our tools for expression. Each drawing presented a wonderworld personified—free from inhibitions and untouched by the rigid lines that would later define how we see things.

That sense of creative freedom was present at Hermès’ recent activation in Manila. From April 10 to 12, 2026, the French luxury brand invited everyone to Ayala Triangle Gardens to soak in the sun, go offline, and unleash their creativity. Dubbed “Hermès, Drawn to Craft,” the three-day interlude celebrated the joy that comes from drawing—something that has guided many of the designs of the storied maison.

For Hermès, drawing isn’t just a blueprint; it is the physical iteration of a vision—from the illustrations that adorn its scarves to Jean-Louis Dumas’ sketch on an airplane sick bag that would later become the coveted Birkin bag. When Robert Dumas, a fourth-generation member of the Hermès family, came up with the idea for the Chaîne d’ancre bracelet while strolling along the quays of Normandy, he sketched it in his notebook. This power of drawing is what the brand aimed to share through “Hermès, Drawn to Craft.”

“Drawing is a storyteller, and lines are its sentences,” said Pierre-Alexis Dumas, artistic director of Hermès. “Drawing is a magical common thread that runs through all genres: It transports us with its abundance of joy, its nimbleness, and its boundless freedom.”

For its stop in the Philippines, “Hermès, Drawn to Craft” featured three main activities: coloring, stamping, and sketching. Leading the workshops were the “pencil riders,” the brand’s drawing ambassadors, who guided participants as they explored their artistic pursuits on paper. The space reflected the brand’s whimsy, far removed from a traditional or academic setup. Displays such as a life-sized necktie and pencil statues imbued with equestrian elements made the environment especially conducive to creative work. This ephemeral playground centered around a caravan workshop, with drawing tables and easels available for anyone to use.

While pursuing an analog lifestyle is predicted to dominate this year, the arrival of “Hermès, Drawn to Craft” feels more timely than ever—a quiet counterpoint to a world that rarely slows down. As more people seek grounding in the tactile and the real, it becomes more than a showcase; it turns into a reflection of a collective longing—a longing to feel, to make, and to reconnect with the slow rhythms we once took for granted.

Yes, working with doodles, hues, and lines can be an escape from what we face today. But in a world where conflict, injustice, and uncertainty persist, drawing calls us to tap into the child within us who once saw the world without edges. It asks us to imagine a world full of wonder, put it on paper, and, hopefully, bring it closer to reality.

Scan the QR code to get a glimpse of ‘Hermes: Drawn to Craft.’