Hermès launched its highly anticipated second interactive installation, “Mystery at the Groom’s,” at Pier 36 in Downtown Manhattan. This ambitious, immersive experience served as a stunning celebration of the brand’s profound equestrian heritage, showcasing its unparalleled craftsmanship, rich history, and signature playful storytelling through a part escape room, part theatrical maze.
First debuted with great success in Shanghai in late 2023, the installation transformed the industrial New York pier into an elaborate, fictional French estate known as The Groom’s House, home to the caretakers of Hermès’ horses. However, upon arrival, guests learned that a mischievous herd of sixteen horses had mysteriously vanished, and it was up to them to solve the curious case.
The Narrative: A Quest for Craftsmanship
The experience required visitors to play the role of Hermès detectives. Guided by a custom mobile application on their phones, guests collected clues and tracked their progress as they navigated the theatrically staged interiors. The mission was timed, often allotting around seven minutes per space, which created a sense of urgency as participants scoured the richly decorated rooms for hidden secrets. The theatricality was enhanced by performers dressed as grooms and the disembodied voice of a fictional equestrian detective, "Mr. Honoré," whose name was a nod to the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, where the original Hermès store stands in Paris. As Artistic Director Pierre-Alexis Dumas noted, this concept reaffirmed the house’s philosophy: "Playing means being together. Play is movement, freedom, imagination, fantasy, lightness... and the horse is our first companion in the playground of creation."
The Grooms’ House: 16 Métiers on Display
The installation was a design masterpiece that united all sixteen of the French house's métiers, from leather goods and saddlery to silk and homeware, for the first time. The journey unfolded across six elaborately designed spaces: the Head Groom's Office, the Dormitory, the Pantry, the Refectory, the Laundry, and the Stock Room. Hermès products were seamlessly integrated into each room, serving not merely as display items but as functional props and clues that highlighted the versatility and artistry of the house’s design. In one room, a Della Cavalleria Minibag was strategically placed; in another, shoes left prints shaped like horseshoes. The Laundry room was transformed into a Pop art fever dream, featuring washing machines filled with colourful silk scarves and a conveyor belt of shirts where a horse-shaped patch was concealed. Solving the mystery required sharp eyes and ingenuity, demanding that guests decipher codes, opened concealed cabinets, and slid aside paintings to reveal hidden peepholes.
The New York engagement took place from June 18 to 29, 2025, at Pier 36 in New York City, and was offered free of charge. Though advance bookings sold out rapidly due to high demand, limited walk-in opportunities were available during specific time slots: 11 am to 1 pm, 2:30 pm to 3:45 pm, and 5 pm to 6:30 pm daily on a first-come, first-served basis. For guests who successfully located the entire mischievous herd of horses, the reward was a special parting gift designed by Hermès to commemorate their detective work. For those who missed the Manhattan stop, the installation continued its highly anticipated global tour later that year, with stops planned in Tokyo, Singapore, and Paris.
