For the past four years, innovative fashion photographer Koto Bolofo has had behind-the-scenes access to the Hermès fashion empire. Bolofo, well known for his portraits and fashion shoots, and published in such prestigious periodicals as Vogue, Esquire and i-D, came to Monde d’Hermès in 2004, when he met Hermès head, Jean-Louis Dumas, one of 17 cousins who constitute the fifth generation heading the company. Bolofo recalls that “Mr. Dumas asked where I came from. I said South Africa. He asked what part. I said Lesotho. He was shocked and very excited. He explained that his great, great, great grandfather was a missionary in Lesotho and that the Zulus used to attack his mission, but the Sothos–my tribe–protected him… He called me his cousin and said that his cousin was welcome any time and I had carte blanche to photograph what I liked in Hermès.” La Maison contains exclusive images made as Bolofo worked his way through Hermès’ workshops, discovering how their wares are made, from handbags, perfumes, scarves, prêt-à-porter and shoes to the first accessory ever produced by the house: saddles. Nothing escaped his lens, not even the museum, a treasure trove of Hermès history, tucked away on Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré.