How a brand producing bridle and straps became a luxury brand giant: Who is Thierry Hermes?
The first customer of Hérmes, which has unique designs, was undoubtedly horses. Over time, with the shift of the customer base to people, it started to produce varieties and turn to different concepts, and started to produce new models...
Thierry Hermes founded a leather factory in 1837 to design luxury leather accessories for saddles and equestrians...
The clientele was European nobles. He was designing bridles and straps of the best leather for them. Thierry Hermes patented the zipper in 1920 and started making women's handbags. Thus, 'Hermes bags', which are the object of desire of women of the world today, were born. Thierry Hermes' son, Charles Emile Hermes, further expanded the business he inherited from his father.
Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès is a French luxury design house established in 1837. It specializes in leather goods, lifestyle accessories, home furnishings, perfumery, jewelry, watches and ready-to-wear. Its logo, since the 1950s, is of a Duke carriage with horse.
His fame spread not only to the European nobility but also to Asia and America. Later, Charles Emile Hermes' sons Adolph and Emile further expanded the brand. His name was now 'Hermes Freres'. (Hermes Brothers) In 1929, the first haute couture collection was exhibited in Paris. The brand, which makes gloves, belts, and sportswear products, also started to produce furniture and home accessories.
Emile Maurice added suitcases to Hermes' collection, and his son-in-law Robert Dumas made this brand a favorite jet set in 1951. In 1956, Robert Dumas produced a bag named after Grace Kelly, newly engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco: Hermes Kelly-Bag. By 1960, Princess Grace was pregnant. Paparazzi were competing with each other to take a picture of the pregnant princess.
When Grace Kelly saw the paparazzi in front of her, she hid her stomach with the Hermes Kelly-Bag bag in her hand. When this photo was on the cover of Life magazine, it became clear which bag the rich women would use. Half a century later, the Hermes Kelly Bag still remains popular. The price of this bag, which is the favorite of many Hollywood stars such as Sharon Stone and Nicole Kidman, is 12 thousand dollars. However, in order to have it, you should also order and wait at least 1.5-2 months!
Jean-Louis Dumas, CEO of Hermes, was traveling with Air France in 1984. Next to him was Jane Birkin, the actress-singer wife of the famous French actor-singer Serge Gainsbourg. The contents of Jane Birkin's small bag inadvertently spilled onto Dumas. Dumas asked Jane Birkin about the bag she needed. Jane Birkin's response was, "A big, locked bag."
Dumas immediately produced the Hermes Birkin bag, which resembled the Kelly model but had a double handle. Hermes Birkin, a black alligator skin studded with diamonds on the handle and lock, was sold at an auction for $64,800. This amazing figure showed how much money a woman can spend on a purse!
The price of the Birkin 20th anniversary model is tagged as 75 thousand dollars. Hermes Birkins, 35 cm wide, half lamb, half crocodile leather, cost 30 thousand dollars. You have to wait 6 weeks to have the orange model, which is the most popular color of Birkin. The 'Kelly' model, named after Grace Kelly, and the 'Birkin' model, named after singer Jane Birkin, are among the classics of the century. It takes its place in fashion history with its models for more than 40 years.
It takes 48 hours to make a bag
Hermes bags are produced entirely by hand by important craftsmen. The production of a Hermes bag, which is a marvel of design and craftsmanship, takes 48 hours. In other words, a bag is produced every three days in the Hermes 3 workshop. For this reason, even if you have money, you cannot have a Hermes bag right away, you have to print your name and wait in line.
Classic models of bags produced with special and traditional techniques are also purchased for investment purposes. Antique Hermes bags find buyers at auctions at astonishing prices. All these features make Hermes so special...
Hermes scarf
The Hermes brand first started producing scarves in 1920. The company, which opened a scarf factory in Lyon, France in 1937, produced special handmade scarves called 'Jeu des Omnibus et Dames Blanches'. The most important feature of Hermes scarves; they are produced from very strong and durable silk, namely the mulberry moth cocoon.
The size of the scarves, which weigh 75 grams, is 90 square centimeters. The most well-known pattern of Hermes scarves, which has been the object of desire of women of the world since the beginning of production, is the one related to equestrianism. Hermes releases two collections of scarves every year. Prices for scarves start at $300. Old Hermes scarves are available for $1000. Hermes sells an average of 1 million scarves every year.
Six generations of artisans
https://www.hermes.com/us/en/story/271366-six-generations-of-artisans/