From Hermès horse-drawn carriages to Bat Trang ceramic horses

One of the rare Vietnamese designers once chosen by the renowned fashion house Hermès, now returns to his roots with the 2026 Year of the Horse collection, featuring the image of a horse "bowing its head in remembrance of its homeland".

For the past five years, Phan Linh has lived in Norway with her husband, where she can enjoy the aurora borealis to her heart's content, just as she had always dreamed. Linh sent me pictures she took of the aurora borealis, many times in Tromsø over the past few years, usually in the middle of the night or early morning. No two pictures are alike. Deep bays, sharp snow-capped mountains, and the brilliant aurora borealis appear. The subtle and magical movement of the light resembles a vibrant yet silent dance of the universe, following unpredictable emotional patterns.

The aurora borealis photographs taken in Norway once again reminded Phan Linh of the value of creativity: Every moment of sublime beauty is unique, not easily repeated or encountered again.

The Aurora Borealis of Emotions

Before deciding to become an independent artist, Phan Linh spent 10 years within the ecosystem of the renowned fashion house Hermès as a Window Artist. The window displays in Hermès stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, arranged by Linh, are a skillful blend of Vietnamese materials and values ​​with a distinctive French aesthetic philosophy, while also conveying a global language.

Phan Linh with her 2026 Year of the Horse collection.

PHOTO: LE LAI

"Having traveled extensively around the world, I haven't found anywhere quite like Hanoi. I love its 36 streets and alleys with their diverse crafts, the Red River surrounding the capital with its villages and craft stalls. It's a land rich in raw materials, ideal for any artist. As a Vietnamese designer creating windows with a distinctive French spirit, I couldn't miss the opportunity to use traditional materials from my homeland, or a few small details that showcase the identity of Vietnamese culture in a global symbol; an interesting dialogue between the simple, rustic nature of Vietnamese materials like bamboo, ceramics, and dó paper… and the sophistication of a luxury fashion brand," Phan Linh shared with a Thanh Nien reporter from Norway.

In Hermès' business philosophy, there's a quote that Linh particularly appreciates: "The core strength of the Hermès brand is its love for craftsmanship. They embody the spirit of creative artisans and pursue the philosophy of preserving craftsmanship forever" (Axel Dumas, CEO of Hermès). "A profound philosophy and a guiding principle for anyone working in the craft industry, a philosophy of sustainable development," Linh said.

Bat Trang ceramic horses in Phan Linh's design.

PHOTO: LE LAI

Hermès is known as a global brand with its iconic carriage and horse logo. In Hermès window displays, the horse is the soul of the brand. "The horse is a beautiful and long-standing symbol, not only in Western culture but also in Eastern and Vietnamese culture. Combining tradition and craftsmanship in design language wasn't too difficult for me," Linh said. She believes that each window display design must necessarily contain cultural and traditional values: "Taking roots as a solid foundation for modernity – like a close continuation in life. That's characteristic of my designs."

The sky of my homeland reflects the waters of Northern Europe.

The slow pace of life in Northern Europe also brought to the eye of the Vietnamese designer living abroad the image of horses leisurely grazing on vast, boundless meadows stretching to the horizon, beside quiet streams. "Looking up at the bright moon / Bowing my head, I remember my homeland," Linh often recalls Li Bai's poem when silently gazing at the aurora borealis and feeling a pang of nostalgia for her Vietnamese roots. The image of the horse bowing its head to drink water has clung to her ever since, as if it stepped right out of her favorite book: *The Fountain of Life *.

One beautiful day in early 2025, Linh decided to return to Vietnam for a long field trip, and also for her first solo exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City. This time, Linh chose Bat Trang ceramics for her image of a horse "bowing its head in remembrance of its homeland." "Ceramics are Mother Earth, the source, the roots of Vietnam…", Linh said enthusiastically. With the support of the Bat Trang Museum of Vietnamese Art and the Bat Trang Museum Atelier, the Bat Trang ceramic horse collection was ready to debut before the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026.

Horse sculptures made from Vietnamese materials by designer Phan Linh are on display in Hermès' windows.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT

"Previously, when designing window displays for Hermès, I often focused more on the graceful flight or majestic movement of horses—extroverted horses. However, with this 'Horse Collection,' it's introverted horses, bowing their heads to gaze at their reflections in the clear water reflecting the sky and clouds. This peaceful scene, commonly seen in Northern Europe, reminded me of a different image of the horse, a different mindset, more tranquil and introspective," Linh said.

"One early morning on a vast meadow, I saw a horse drinking water by a stream. The stream reflected the sky of my homeland, no matter where I was. I wanted to portray that image with the horse. I wanted to bring my nostalgic sky into my design. That sky has four seasons; it's my Hanoi when I remember it," from Europe, Phan Linh reminisces about her roots.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tu-co-xe-ngua-hermes-den-chu-ngua-gom-bat-trang-185260131185128317.htm