The party of the year. Hugo Grygkar’s 1957 design for Hermès, the Brides de Gala scarf, pays homage to the brand’s equestrian tradition and craftsmanship by depicting two 19th-century ceremonial bridles. The prestigious house took over an industrial studio for an event titled Brides de Galaxy, for which set designer Ibby Njoya was asked to reimagine the classic design. Ibby Njoya is a British-Cameroonian Artist and Set Designer based in London. After attending the Brit School and receiving a BA in illustration, Njoya has rapidly made his mark in the fashion industry for his collaborative work with image makers including Paolo Roversi, Rafael Pavarotti, Ibrahim Kamara and Imruh Asha to name a few. Njoya is fascinated by the process of conceptualising, getting lost in the mundane and allowing for ideas to bloom through conversation and meditation.

This project resulted in an immersive set that was suggestive of a surreal desert planet. Visitors entered the very instagramable set via the “Silky Way,” a landing strip of lights leading to a Franz West-nspired sculpture. Inside, they found a super-saturated internal topography that featured five separate sections, each representing a different iteration of the scarf over its history.

Among these areas were a lounge, bar, “enchanted valley” try-on area, “Love Garden,” and a central dance floor with a moody crimson hue. Live performances by dancer Marcelino Sambé and musician Hope activated the spaces with incredible performances while staff were dressed in vibrant and colourful costumes.

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