| About: | the designers
Hermes is a French company founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermes (1801-1878) to make leather goods. His family were originally Protestants from Germany who settled in Paris around 1828.
His son Charles-Emile Hermes (1835-1919) and grandsons Adolphe Hermes and Emile-Maurice (1870-1951) continued to run the family firm after Thierry died.
Emile-Maurice had four daughters; one of them married Robert Dumas. When Emile-Maurice died in 1951, his son-in-laws Robert Dumas (1905-1978) and Jean-Rene Guerrand (1901-1993) took over Hermes. They added the name Hermes to their own surname. Robert Dumas-Hermes introduced the Hermes Tie, the Beach towel, and the Perfume.
When Robert Dumas died in 1978, his son Jean-Louis Dumas-Hermes (born 1938) took over the company. He is the 5th generation Chairman of Hermes. He is very much a "hands-on" chairman, taking a personal interest in every Hermes product or development. He travels extensively all over the world, and brings back ideas which go into Hermes product lines. His wife Rena is Greek-born and is very involved with charitable activities and philanthropy. His son Pierre-Alexis is studying in Art school.
Emile-Maurice Hermes travelled through Europe and Russia in the first few years of the 20th century. He became a supplier of saddles to the Czar.
In Canada, buying gear, he spotted the zip and brought it back to France. In 1918 the first leather Golf jacket with a zip was made by Hermes. He saw that the days of the horse-carriage were numbered and Hermes luggage of all sizes was the result. Today, in Hermes leather storage facility in Paris, lie hundreds of the finest animal skins, alligator from Florida, buffalo from Pakistan, crocodile from Australia, sharks from Thailand, lizards from Malaysia, oxen, deer, calf and goats from all over the world. These are dyed in every colour, pattern and texture imaginable and turned into stylish accessories.
In 1937, when Hermes was 100 years old, they started making silk headscarves. Their first scarf was called "Jeax des Omnibus et Dames Blanches" and since then 1,000 designs have been created. Their horse motif scarves are particularly famous.
In 1922 the wife of Emile-Maurice Hermes complained that she could not find a handbag that she liked. So he began making handbags at Hermes, many with the revolutionary invention - the zip - for which he held the patent. Hermes now makes so many beautiful handbags of all shapes and sizes. Some of the most famous are: Kelly Bag 1956 - named after Grace Kelly. Constance Bag - Jackie Onassis wore this shoulder bag with the double strap and big H clasps, so often that people often ask for the Jackie O bag. Birkin Bag 1984 - named after Jane Birkin, the film star and model of the 1960's, who met Jean-Louis when struggling to get her handbag on a plane overhead locker. There is a one-year waiting list for ladies ordering this bag.
Hermes first women's collection was shown in Paris in 1929. Initially couture clothing was made, up until 1956. Over the years the ready-to-wear collections have been designed by Lola Prusac, Jacques Delahaye, Catherine de Karolyi, Monsieur Levaillant, Nicole de Vesian, Eric Bergere, Claude Brouet, Tan Giudicelli, Marc Audibet, Veronique Nichanian and Mariot Chane. From 1998 to 2003 Belgian designer Martin Margiela was the designer. The reclusive, avant-garde designer known for his deconstructed clothing produced simple elegant modern clothes for Hermes.
In early 2003 it has been announced that Frenchman Jean-Paul Gaultier will be the designer for future collections for Hermes.
the label
Actress Jane Birkin replaced her old straw purse with leather Hermès number in 1984, and started the rage that is the Birkin bag. Today the Birkin remains to have the longest waiting list of any luxury accessory—about six years. Hermes also has a complete home line, bed and bath linens, furniture, silverware, crystal and porcelain, office accessories, and baby gifts.
In 2003 French designer Jean-Paul Gaultier joined the house as the women's ready-to-wear designer and debutted his first collection for Fall/Winter 2004–05. In June 2004 perfumer Jean Claude Ellena took a post as the in-house perfumer and launched the successful Hermessence scent.
Hermes has remained a family-owned company. Only 20 % of it's shares are traded on the Paris Bourse.
The turnover last year was more than $ l billion. The ethic of meticulous craftsmanship learned in saddle-making has spread throughout the company for every product they make.
Hermes sales are made up of 30 % leather goods, 15 % clothes, and 12 % scarves.
Hermes has had five generations of family leadership. We have written about Jean-Louis Dumas-Hermes who is the present CEO. In January 2006, he will be retiring.
Patrick Thomas (58) has been acting as co-CEO since last year, and in January he will replace Jean-Louis Dumas. Patrick joined Hermes in 1989 and has spent 16 years learning about the house of luxury. He is determined to maintain the company's historic 10% per annum sales growth and 15 % profit growth. |
| The Look: | The height of luxury with a nod to the house’s equestrian heritage—sheared mink jackets, velvet jodhpurs, fringed blanket jackets, leather car coats, kilts. The accessories line has structured bags, belts with chunky hardware, signature printed silk scarves, and riding boots. |
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