Hermes writes its own fairytale with lavish soiree at Shaw Studios, complete with merry-go-round

Hermes did a good job of luring VIP guests all the way to Shaw Studios in Tseung Kwan O by hosting a lavish soiree. After all, there are not many indoor places in Hong Kong where you can set up a life-sized merry-go-round in the middle of a big party.

Themed 'Tales to be Told', Friday's party set the tone for everything fairytale - think Alice's Wonderland sans any grown-up dark humour. There was no White Rabbit but we did run into Mr Frog, as well as Scarecrow from Oz.

Guests were bemused, and many got lost in a maze at the entrance that led to a playground with the merry-go-round, roulette, foosball and fishing games - where you had to fish empty Hermes gift bags to win chips.

After cashing in the chips for Hermes Christmas gifts, guests were served dinner next door, with the decor reminiscent of the Hogwarts campus.

The only shadow over the party was possibly the recent controversy of LVMH acquiring 17 per cent of Hermes' shares (with most of the rest still in family members' hands). Hermes chief executive Patrick Thomas (above with Elsa Rameau, managing director of Hermes Asia Limited) said it was important for the company to remain a family business. 'In fact, [the brand] has to have the family vision, and that's what makes it unique,' he said.

We certainly don't want to see a war between the family-owned brand and the global luxury goods empire. Well, guess the business world will always be more of a war zone than a fairytale land.