Hermès, “leather forever” since 1837

Introduction to Hermès

Six generations have been involved in the Hermès phenomenon, a family business with very good adjectives. Since 1837 it has maintained intact values that have allowed it to rise, without any doubt, to the top of luxury brands.

Endowed from its inception with a commendable entrepreneurial spirit, Hermès is an exquisite compendium of craftsmanship, independence, creativity, innovation, commitment and responsibility. The recipe for this success lies in the commitment to values. Today, in a globalized world, with metaverses and cryptocurrencies, Hermès continues to create apprentice schools to train new artisans.

This is one of the signs of Hermès‘ success. The other, as the classics of the place would say: “shoemaker to your shoes”. And it is that dedicating yourself to what you know how to do well is a success. The slogan “Leather Forever” of its 175th anniversary is another symptom of this beautiful disease called craftsmanship.

“Luxury is an object that can be repaired.” Hermès understands it this way, it does not conceive of luxury only as an aesthetic element, but as an element that resists the passage of time and is transmitted from generation to generation. In addition, if it deteriorates, it is possible to repair it because it is worth it.

Thierry Hermès. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

• 1925, new creations. Émile Hermès, an enthusiast of his time, opened the brand to new trades. He introduced the golf jacket (first piece of clothing), then in 1927 – jewellery, then watches and sandals in 1928.
• 1937, first handkerchief. Entitled “Jeu des omnibus et dames blanches” (a circle with carriages of the time and with a center of ladies in animated conversation), this silk “carré” was his first model.
• 1949, first tie. In Cannes, many gentlemen were denied entry to the casino for not wearing the required tie. Hermès reacted quickly and began to produce and sell, right next door, its famous silk ties.
• 1951, Robert Dumas. Émile, a father of four daughters, passed the baton to his sons-in-law. Robert Dumas, one of them, succeeded him, and was responsible for some of the maison’s main successes: the first silk scarf, the Kelly bag and the “Chaîne d’ancre” bracelet.
• 1956, Kelly bag. Designed in 1930 by Robert Dumas, it was elevated in 1956 in a photograph by Grace Kelly with this model.
• 1967, H buckle. The Hungarian-born French stylist Catherine de Károlyi designed the clothing and accessories collections until 1980. To highlight the famous “H” buckle.
• 1978, Jean Louis Dumas. Little by little, Robert’s son revolutionized Hermès. He diversified the company and made international expansion. He introduced new creations such as footwear (by John Lobb) and goldsmithing with Puiforcat and Cristalleries Saint-Louis.
• 1984, Birkin bag. A chance meeting between Jean Louis Dumas and Jane Birkin on a Paris-London plane led to the design of the ideal bag for the artist.
• 2005, Pierre Alexis Dumas. He was appointed artistic director of Hermès and with him, the maison expanded its palette of crafts: jewelry, fine jewelry, home textiles and wallpapers. Hermès Horizons developed unique bespoke objects , and in 2025 the alliance between Hermès and Apple was born.
• 2006, Patrick Thomas. At the request of Jean Louis Dumas, his right-hand man and CEO from 2003 to 2006 , he took over the development of Hermès and led the transition until the appointment, in 2013, of Axel Dumas, Jean Louis‘ nephew.
• 2013, Axel Dumas. The growth dynamic is reinforced and the digital development of the group begins, culminating in 2017 the new technologies.
• 2021, Ecole Hermès des Savois-Faire. Hermès opens the 19th leather goods factory in Guyenne (Gironde) and creates the Hermès School of Know-how, which provides professional training in leather goods accredited by the State.

Artisan know-how

One of Hermès ‘ core values is its commitment to traditional craftsmanship. We could say that Hermès is the best craft store in the world. Each product is meticulously crafted by hand by expert artisans, ensuring unsurpassed quality.

The brand is known for using the finest materials, such as high-end leather, exquisite silks , and precious metals. The idea has always been to offer a product that is irreproachable, perfect and instantly recognizable. To this end, Hermès cultivates values that transcend economics. Values that reward workmanship, employment, sustainability, traditions, culture and, of course, know-how. To propose the industrialization of art, simply, for Hermés, is unapproachable.

The famous silk scarves, for example, are designed and dyed with techniques that can take up to two years to complete. Each color is applied individually, and designs are often inspired by equestrian, floral, and artistic themes.

Hermès bags, such as the Birkin or the Kelly, require up to 48 hours of manual work to make. Each piece is assembled by a single craftsman, ensuring a unique level of detail and customization.

Selection of articles

If we stop to analyze Hermès‘ product lines, we come to only one conclusion: its range of items is the widest and most luxurious of all. Its range of action has been growing year after year, occupying a leadership that other brands can hardly threaten.

Making a selection of some of their products has not been easy. I have selected some of the best, it is not vanity, but there are many more, more colors, as well as sizes and sizes. I leave you with the ones I liked the most.

Shawls, scarves and scarves

Carré 90 “Libre comme Pégase”

Twill square, 100% silk, handmade hem. A Hermès banner of beauty and femininity. Design: Jean Louis Sauvat. Dimensions: 88.5 x 88.5 cms. Price: €530.00.

Pocket Square 45 “Maillons Parade”

Twill pocket square, 100% vintage silk, handmade hem. An indispensable accessory for men’s wardrobe. Made in France. Design: Philippe Mouquet. Dimensions: 42 x 42 mm. Price: €190.00.

Footwear

“Kiatsu” sneakers

High sneakers made of crochet knit and calfskin with a retro spirit. Outsole embellished with the iconic Médor studs, for a decidedly comfortable and bold style. Made in Italy. Price: €790.00.

“Guillaume” loafers

Loafers made of flexible grained calfskin , with a light sole for a casual and summery style. Made in Italy. Price: €830.00.

Bags and small leather goods

“Birkin Faubourg Tropical” bag

This Birkin Bag recreates a drawing by Octave Marsal and Théo de Gueltzl and is embroidered with Lunéville stitch. It evokes the emblem of the faubourg Saint-Honoré with a lush jungle. An unbeatable artistic exercise.

“R.M.S” Card Holder

Tagbox made of Evercolor calfskin. Closure by Clou de Selle snap button. Two credit card compartments, one on each side. Made in France. Price: €730.00.

Belts

Reversible belt 38 mm. and “Quizz Ferme – Tout” buckle

Metal belt buckle tribute to Émile Hermès that presents an optical illusion thanks to a meticulous process. Reversible belt in Box 135 calfskin and Togo calfskin. Metallic finish: Brushed Permabras. Width: 38 mm. Price: €1,010.00.

Hats and gloves

“Vauvan” cap

Cap made of shiny water-repellent lambskin. Cashmere cloth lining. Adorned with two Clous de Selle with palladium finish on the side. Made in France. Visor length: 4.5 cms. Price: €1,100.00.

“Hubert” Gloves

Gloves made of lamb glacé, cashmere lining and saddler stitching. Leg detail in lamb glacé on the side with Clou de Selle snap button with brushed palladium finish. Made in France. Price: €1,100.00.

Perfumes and makeup

“Terre d’Hermès, eau Intense Vetiver”

Christine Nagel sets her sights on Terre d’Hermès and, in 2018, creates Terre d’Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver. A new pulsation of light, an unprecedented expression of Terre’s strength. It is a woody and intense fragrance and expresses the depth of vetiver and the liveliness of bergamot and Sichuan pepper. Price 50 ml: €104.00.

Hermès Éditeur

Robert Dumas lit the Carré Hermès in 1937. A lover of innovations in textile printing, he always liked the creation of designs, new compositions and color combinations. This open-mindedness led him to meetings and exchanges of opinions with characters such as Cassandre, Ledoux, Linarès or Dufy. Later, Jean-Louis Dumas followed the path and made the scarf known all over the world with Kermit Oliver (Amerindian painter) and others.

In 2005 , Hermès Éditeur was created. Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Artistic Director of Hermès, said: “It seemed essential to me to extend this bridge between the applied arts, our field of expertise, and contemporary plastic arts. As is often the case at the Maison, the birth of projects cannot be separated from personal encounters and aesthetic exchanges. The projects proposed by the artists pose real challenges to our artisans. Although at first they seem impossible, they allow us to go beyond all the limits of our savoir-faire.”

Later the collaboration with Josef Albers, Daniel Buren, Hirosi Sugimoto and Julio Le Parc was extended, completing four editions of unparalleled works.

Opinion

Hermès, the legendary French brand and the greatest exponent of luxury, is a business phenomenon worthy of being studied in depth. A family business that, in the 21st century, remains at the top of the pyramid of luxury goods. The secret? Well, there are several, for me, they are the following:

• Maintain craftsmanship, mastery, encourage learning and good practices.
• Select materials, using the best of the best, making long-lived objects with good ageing and the possibility of repair.
• To innovate, to turn the most everyday tasks into artistic ones and to present them as the great creation of our hands.
• Value what we have, using what is necessary and improving technique.
• Maintain a timeless line of work, a continuous method and an adaptation of product lines to changes in society.

It’s much easier to write them down than to put them into practice day by day, and it will be genetics or philosophy that permeates one generation to the next, but year after year, Hermès exceeds the bar.

Converted into the most coveted sweet of luxury brands, it still belongs, for the most part, to the Hermès-Dumas family and continues to maintain the artisan spirit of its creator Thierry Hermès, turning the best silks, leathers and metals into unforgettable items.

Every time we see a Birkin bag or a Hermès tie we should not be satisfied with visualizing the art and beauty of its creation, let’s make an effort and imagine the hours that artisan hands have dedicated to making such a careful work. Only in this way will we highlight the slogan of Hermès’ 175th anniversary: “Piel siempre”. Since 1837.