Hermès, the French manufacturer renowned for its handbags and other luxury goods, is putting on an exhibition at Mayfair’s 6 Burlington Gardens, behind the Royal Academy of Arts, to showcase its long relationship with leather in celebration of the 175th anniversary of the firm’s creation by founding father Thierry Hermès, a Parisian harness maker.

Leather Forever, running from May 8 to May 27, promises to lead visitors on a "poetic journey" from Hermès' humble beginnings to its present status as luxury bag-maker par excellence, taking in six generations of artistry and worldwide expansion.