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Hermès (in English generally pronounced ) is a high end leather goods and ready-to-wear manufacturer and retailer based in Paris, France. Founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès as a saddlery company, the business has been owned by a family member ever since. Over the years, the company has expanded dramatically. In addition to traditional horse-riding accoutrements, the house of Hermès now produces ready-to-wear, home decor, jewelry, luggage, and fragrances. The company operates boutiques and franchises in 34 countries.
Company history
Thierry Hermès founded his eponymous brand in 1837 as a saddlery company, and for much of the 19th century he catered only to equestrians, crafting harnesses and saddles from fine leather.
Emile-Maurice Hermès, Theirry's successor, realized at the turn of the 20th century that travel was fast moving away from the horse and towards plane, car, and train travel. He responded by manufacturing trunks, bags, overnight cases, all from his family's signature saddle leather. He also purchased the building at 24 Rue Faubourg St.-Honoré in Paris, which still houses the flagship store as well as the workshops.
Robert Dumas, the husband of one of Emile's four daughters, introduced Hermès ties, fragrances, and beach towels. His son, Jean-Louis Dumas, has led the company since 1978.
Iconic designs
One of Hermès' most recognized products is the silk scarf. The first silk scarf square in the Hermès collection was produced in 1928, and in 1937 a dedicated scarf factory was established in Lyons. The modern Hermès scarf measures 90cm square, weighs 65 grams and is woven from the silk of 250 mulberry moth cocoons. The per-pound cost of a scarf today is approximately $1,965.00 (compared to a pound of steel at $0.19).
All Hermès scarves are hand-printed using multiple silk screens (up to 30, one for each color on the scarf) and the hems are all hand-stitched. Two scarf collections per year are released, along with re-prints of older designs and limited editions. Since 1937, Hermès has produced over 25,000 unique designs and the rarer scarves are much sought-after by collectors.
The ubiquitous Brides De Gala scarf, first introduced in the 1970s, has been sold over 70,000 times. An Hermès scarf is sold somewhere in the world every 25 seconds, global volume sales peaking in the late 1980s at over 1.1 million scarves. There has been some suggestion that the hijab controversy has dampened sales of women's headscarves, with Hermès volumes suffering as a result. New scarves retail at $320 and still account for a significant percentage of Hermès’ turnover.
Famous lovers of the Hermès scarf included Queen Elizabeth II (who wore one in a portrait for a British postage stamp in the 1950s), Grace Kelly (who used an Hermès scarf as a sling for her broken arm) Audrey Hepburn, Catherine Deneuve and Jacqueline Bouvier Onassis. More recently, Sharon Stone, Sarah Jessica Parker, Hillary Clinton, Elle McPherson and Madonna have all been snapped draped in Hermès silk.
In addition to fine silk scarves, men's neckties are made out of the same silks and with the same care. Their witty and frivolous patterns are popular with preppies and politicians alike, including US Senator John Kerry. Hermès ties cost $145.
Hermès handbags have always been coveted pieces of handmade leather craftmanship. Hermès does not use assembly lines, rather, only one artist may work on one handbag at a time. Because of the use of rare materials (sometimes including exotic skins such as alligator, ostrich, and crocodile as well as precious metals) and because only the highest quality craftmanship is accepted, one bag can take 18 to 24 hours to create.
The Kelly bag was named for Grace Kelly, who made it famous after appearing on the cover of Life in 1956 carrying the bag. Jacqueline Bouvier Onassis, another Hermès aficionado, preferred the Constance shoulder bag (with a double strap and large H clasp) or the Trim shoulder bag. Perhaps the most famous handbag, the Birkin, was named for actress Jane Birkin, who co-designed the bag with president Jean-Louis Dumas after complaining that her Kelly was not practical for everyday use.
More recently, due to media spotlight in television shows such as Sex and the City and Gilmore Girls, the Birkin Bag has become a symbol of ultimate luxury. Generally, these bags start at $5,000 and easily make their way into 5-digit figures. The waiting list for a Birkin is now over two years.
Oprah Winfrey controversy
In June 2005, celebrity Oprah Winfrey was denied access to the Company's flagship store in Paris. Winfrey's camp spoke of a rude clerk and manager and suggested possible racism as the reason for the denied access. Hermès stated that Winfrey had simply shown up after hours and during a special public relations event and was turned away. Oprah has since talked about her experience on her television talk-show which featured Robert Chavez, Hermes USA CEO, as a guest. Chavez apologized on camera for the actions of what he said was "one very, very rigid staff person" and Winfrey subsequently endorsed the company.[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/21/entertainment/main871083.shtml
Corporate information
Hermés is still 80 percent family-owned, with the other 20 percent traded on the Paris Bourse since 1993.
Jean-Louis Dumas has led the company since 1978.
Today, leather goods make up nearly 30 percent of the business, clothes 15 percent, and scarves 12 percent.
- 35% participation at Jean-Paul Gaultier company.
- large share of Leica
- Full ownership of British shoemaker John Lobb, acquired 1976. *
External links
Companies of France | French fashion designers | Luxury brands
Hermès (entreprise) | エルメス | Hermès | 愛馬仕
"Hermès"