When it comes to the world of fashion, Hermes has been easily associated with elegance, exquisite work, and general grace. The company originally started in 1837 by Thierry Hermes, therefore the company’s history can be said to have reached almost 200 years. A small harness workshop in Paris expanded into one of the best and known fashion houses in the world, which produces the best materials, elegant clothing accessories and creations.
Thierry Hermes initially established the company to only design and manufacture good quality Halter and Horse Harness for the European aristocracy. Honest and Extremely Hardworking Within a short time of operating his business, he had produced items that indicate that he was a master scholar, extremely talented, honest and very hardworking. Since Hermes managed to gain the reputation of a supplier of high quality leather accessories, the company was ready for further development. By the end of the 19th century, under the leadership of Thierry’s son, Charles-Émile Hermes it expanded its line and started manufacturing saddles and other accessories required for horse riding making it a new nobility brand.
Yet, the beginning of the twentieth century is widely considered to be the time when Hermes started to expand actively. That is why inAutomobile began to replace the carriage with horses, Hermes had to transition to developing travel bags, luggage and other items that complement the conditions of car travel. Some of the old designs that stand out include the Haut à Courroies bag which was basically a carriage bag designed for carrying saddles and it marked the ancestry of the famous Birkin fashion accessory.
The decade of the 1920s meant the start of the fashion house’s evolution into a luxury ready-to-wear brand as well as the creation of the first sac à dépêches, or what eventually came to be known as the Kelly bag. This stylish handbag is actually known as the Kelly bag which today is perhaps one of the most popular handbags in the entire world. During this period the company also started manufacturing of its world famous silk scarves which became synonymous with its style and class.
In the mid of the twentieth century Hermes also went on to diversify and add more products to the list. In 1956, there was Robertoel Dumas, a direct family member of Hermes, who namely directed the company to produce the chaîne d’ancre bracelet and the Hermes silk tie these products gaining popularity in their own right. Establishing Hermes as one of the leaders of luxury handbags, the Birkin bag was launched in 1984, it was named after a British actress Jane Birkin. The Birkin, as was the case with the Kelly, became associated with the threePs – power, prestige, and passion for the finer things in life.
The company has always been of family owned and this tradition has helped the company to stick to the key fundamentals of the brand. Every Hermes product is unique and made by hand by expert craftsmen a significant number of whom have served the firm for several years. The quality of workmanship is another area that has always received a lot of attention from the brand as is evidenced by its leather products’ stitches or even the complicated designs of the brand’s silk scarves.
Now Hermes is not only the manufacturer of the clothes and accessories; it has become the embodiment of the eternal elegance. For over two centuries, Hermes started as a small harness workshop has grown into a worldwide status symbol luxury brand while keeping the tradition alive at the same time. The commitment towards producing quality products will help the brand remain a force to be reckoned with by those into fashion and collecting of superior-quality brands in the future.
Even for those, who do not find any special fascination with the ancient Greek traditions and mythological characters, there is much to laud for the lovers of the Hermes history and heritage. From being originally established in the small Parisian workshop to becoming the world’s leading luxury brand is the true testament to the brand’s values of quality, craftsmanship and sophistication of the design.
Find out more information about Hermes and its history and tradition for crossbody handbag.