hermes
Founded in 1837 in Paris by Thierry Hermès. Specializes in leather goods, silk scarves, ties, apparel, watches, perfumes. Known for Birkin and Kelly bags. Employs over 4,500 artisans. Family-owned luxury house. Products take dozens of hours to handcraft. Maintains aura of prestige and exclusivity.
Where to Buy
Hermès products can be purchased directly through Hermès boutiques worldwide or from authorized retailers. Hermès bags, accessories and other items can also be found for resale from various sellers on sites like BagUSeek.
Brand History
Hermès was founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès, initially as a harness workshop on the Grands Boulevards quarter of Paris. Hermès crafted elegant harnesses and bridles for the carriage trade, catering to the French nobility and European royalty. The workshop quickly earned a reputation for its high quality craftsmanship and use of exotic materials.
In the late 1800s, Hermès began expanding into retail sales and opened its first store on Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, which remains the company's flagship location today. Under the leadership of Émile-Maurice Hermès, the grandson of Thierry Hermès, the company introduced its first leather handbags and luggage to cater to the rise of travel at the turn of the century. Famous clients of this era included Czar Nicholas II of Russia and actress Sarah Bernhardt.
The signature Hermès "Kelly bag" was first introduced in the 1930s, but rose to fame after being spotted on the arm of Princess Grace Kelly in the 1950s. She cleverly used the roomy bag to conceal her pregnant belly from the paparazzi. The Kelly bag remains one of fashion's most iconic and coveted handbags.
In the postwar era, Hermès continued to solidify its reputation for leather goods and master artisanship under the creative direction of Robert Dumas. The company also introduced new product categories like silk scarves, ties, and ready-to-wear.
In the late 1970s, Hermès family member Jean-Louis Dumas took the reigns as artistic director. He ushered the brand into unprecedented global luxury status, in part by inviting prominent contemporary artists to design the silk scarves.
Today Hermès continues to be family-owned and renowned worldwide for its dedication to quality and craftsmanship across leather goods, apparel, accessories, perfumes, watches and more. The company employs over 4,500 master artisans and sticks to traditional techniques. Hermès is particularly known for leather goods like the Birkin and Kelly bags, which can take dozens of hours to craft by hand and have waiting lists years long. The brand maintains an aura of exclusivity and prestige as one of the most desirable luxury names in the world.