In celebration of the Year of the Snake in 2025, Hennessy has collaborated with Chinese fashion designer Shuting Qiu to release a limited-edition cognac collection titled Reimagination. The collection is designed with themes associated with snakes to celebrate renewal and positive transformation by approaching new beginnings in the year 2025. Qiu is known for her signature blend of modern romanticism and cultural heritage, which brings a fresh perspective to Hennessy’s renowned VSOP, X.O, and Paradis cognac carafes.
Qiu, popular for her vibrant and eclectic style, drew inspiration from her Chinese heritage and hometown in Hangzhou by incorporating traditional Chinese brocade and jacquard patterns to form a vibrant, abstract depiction of a snake showcased as the main aesthetic in the collection. The designs are a creative fusion of her cultural roots and her experience in Europe as a student at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. By observing the collection carefully, each carafe tells a unique story through intricate patterns, vibrant colours, and scale-like textures reflecting a slithering snake.
The serpent’s movement also depicts the flow of the Charente River, which is the origin of Hennessy’s heritage in Cognac, France. “This collaboration has allowed me to share my vision with the world,” Qiu said in a statement. “The carafes, much like fashion, represent classic yet evolving design.” She added that Hennessy’s exquisite carafes offered the perfect canvas to display her creativity.
The spotlight piece in the collection is the Hennessy Paradis carafe. This beautiful decanter is adorned with sculptural snake-inspired designs, with a vibrant red finish that embodies elegance and prosperity. The carafe features a unique leather collar with tactile graphic motifs, symbolising the renewal of the snake by shedding its skin and awakening to new beginnings with the upcoming spring. In addition, the collection also highlights the VSOP edition, with its youthful aesthetics showcasing floral patterns and abstract snake scales, and the X.O edition, which integrates rich red, gold and blue shades with an embossed snake design that glides across the bottle.
Laurent Boillot, CEO of Hennessy, said in a statement: “Hennessy has a long-lasting connection with Chinese culture, grounded in 164 years of shared history and rich artistic collaboration. And it is a great pleasure to welcome Shuting Qiu to embody the spirit with which we usher Chinese New Year festivities.”
Highlighting the collaboration as a tribute to cultural heritage between Hennessy and Chinese tradition, this limited-edition collection is now available in Malaysia at selected retailers and at The Good Stuff online platform.
Photos courtesy of Hennessy
