Brand Introduction - Hermès

Hermès is a globally renowned French craftsmanship brand, famous for its handmade leather goods and handbags. It was founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès, initially as a workshop specializing in crafting harnesses. In the early 20th century, the focus shifted to the production of leather goods and handbags, gradually expanding its product line to include scarves, perfumes, fashion, jewelry, watches, and more. Its iconic handbag styles include the "Kelly Bag" and the "Birkin Bag."

Thierry Hermès (1801-1878) was born in Krefeld, Germany, and later moved to the town of Eudémel in France, where he began studying leatherworking and harness-making. In 1837, Thierry opened his first workshop in Paris, dedicated to creating harnesses for European nobility. The harnesses made by Hermès won the "First Prize" at the Paris World Exposition in 1855 and 1867.

After Thierry's death, his son Charles-Emile inherited the workshop, and in 1880, the store moved to 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, which is now Hermès' global flagship store. With the help of his sons Adolphe and Émile-Maurice, Charles-Emile designed the first saddle, marking Hermès' entry into the retail industry and expanding its business to Europe, North Africa, Russia, Asia, and the Americas.

In 1900, to help riders carry their saddles more easily, Hermès introduced the Haut à Courroies bag. After Charles-Emile's retirement, his sons Adolphe and Émile-Maurice took over the company and, in 1902, renamed it Hermès Frères (Hermès Brothers).

In the early 20th century, Hermès began providing harnesses to the Russian Tsar Nicholas II’s family. By 1914, the workshop employed up to 80 harness craftsmen. During World War I, Émile-Maurice traveled to the United States to place an order for leather goods for the French cavalry, where he discovered the zipper, which had not yet been introduced to Europe. He managed to secure a patent for using zippers in leather goods, bringing the zipper to France for the first time.

As the automobile emerged, demand for high-end harnesses declined. In 1919, Adolphe left the company, and Émile-Maurice bought out his brother's shares, expanding the business into leather bags, luggage, travel goods, sporting and automotive accessories, scarves, perfumes, jewelry, and watches.

In 1922, Hermès' first leather handbag was born when Émile-Maurice’s wife complained that she couldn’t find a bag style she liked. He personally designed a smaller version of the Haut à Courroies bag, and Hermès began its transformation into a leading leather goods manufacturer.

In 1945, Hermès officially registered the "horse and carriage" logo, inspired by the French painter Alfred de Dreux's watercolor painting Le duc attelé, groom à l'attente ("The Horse-Drawn Carriage with the Groom"). After World War II, Hermès adopted orange gift boxes and ribbons as packaging, a now-iconic feature of the brand.

Hermès’ first iconic handbag, the Kelly Bag, debuted in 1935. Originally called the Sac à dépêches, it was renamed in 1956 after Grace Kelly, the Princess of Monaco, was photographed carrying it to hide her pregnancy, with the photo published on the cover of Life magazine. This catapulted the bag to global fame.

After Émile-Maurice's death, his son-in-law Robert Dumas-Hermès and Jean-René Guerrand continued running the company. However, the rise of synthetic leather led to a decline in Hermès’ leather goods business. In 1978, Jean-Louis Dumas was appointed CEO, marking a turning point by reinterpreting traditional craftsmanship in silk goods, leather goods, and fashion, which facilitated the company’s resurgence.

In 1984, Hermès introduced its second iconic handbag, the Birkin Bag, named after British actress Jane Birkin. In 1983, Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas and Birkin were seated next to each other on a flight. Birkin’s bag spilled its contents as she placed it in the overhead compartment, and she complained to Dumas. This inspired him to design a large, practical, and elegant handbag, which became the Birkin Bag.

In the 1990s, Hermès rapidly expanded its direct retail stores and reduced the number of franchise stores to better control its sales channels. In 1993, it was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange. By 2008, Hermès had 14 product divisions, including leather goods, scarves, ties, fashion, perfumes, jewelry, watches, and stationery.

Today, Hermès remains focused on traditional business practices, rejecting mass production, assembly lines, or mechanized manufacturing. Almost all its products come from small workshops in France. To ensure quality and uniqueness, most items are completed by a single artisan, with each handbag taking between 18 to 24 hours to create.

1801: Brand founder Thierry Hermès is born in Krefeld, Germany.

1828: The Hermès family moves to Eudémel, France, where Thierry begins learning leather and harness crafting.

1837: Thierry Hermès opens his workshop in Paris, making harnesses for European nobility.

1855: The harnesses win the "First Prize" at the Paris World Exposition.

1867: The harnesses win another "First Prize" at the Paris World Exposition.

1878: Thierry Hermès passes away, and his son Charles-Emile inherits the workshop.

1880: The store relocates to 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, becoming Hermès' global flagship store.

1900: Launch of the Haut à Courroies bag.

1902: Adolphe and Émile-Maurice Hermès take over the company and rename it Hermès Frères (Hermès Brothers).

1914: The zipper is introduced to France by Hermès.

1922: The small version of the Haut à Courroies bag is introduced.

1924: Hermès opens its first U.S. store and two new stores in French resorts.

1935: Launch of the Sac à Dépêches handbag.

1956: Princess Grace Kelly is photographed carrying the Sac à Dépêches, and it is renamed the Kelly Bag.

1978: Jean-Louis Dumas becomes the CEO of Hermès.

1984: Launch of the Birkin Bag.

1993: Hermès is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

2006: Jean-Louis Dumas retires, and Patrick Thomas succeeds him.

2007: Hermès buys 28 Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris and expands its flagship store.

2012: Axel Dumas becomes the CEO, marking the 6th generation of family leadership.