How to pronounce Hermes correctly: "Hermes", "Hermes" or "Ermes"? French fashion house Hermes. About the Hermes brand Hermes fashion house

» is a French brand specializing in the production of clothing, accessories, leather items and perfumes. Having a history of more than a century, the label will surprise you with its endurance and cohesion of the team. We recommend reading this article, which contains more details about everything!

The history of the creation of the Hermes brand

An entrepreneur named Thierry Hermes founded an elite workshop on a famous street in Paris in 1837, where he began making horse harnesses. He did this for the families of the French nobility, and in particular for the carriages and bridles of their luxurious horses. After twelve years of routine, Ermes has the chance to take part in the then authoritative national exhibition “Expositions Universelles”, where he received prizes for two years in a row. This begins to increase interest in their products, and, consequently, increase sales. In 1880, Tierra was replaced by his son named Charles-Emile Hermes, who can safely be called a real reformer. First, he moves the location of the workshop to an even more centralized street, and then expands the range of products, producing a saddle and the necessary equipment for it, and launches retail sales. Their business is often called a family business, since at that time Charles-Emile's children, named Adolphe and Emile-Maurice, actively helped their father and grandfather. They begin to supply the richest families not only in Europe, but also in the United States of America, the Russian Empire, North Africa and wealthy countries in Asia. The family's innovative decision was the creation in 1900 of the first and unique bag of its kind, “Haut à ourroies,” which they invented for riders to place their saddle in. Then Charles-Emile leaves the post of head of the company, giving it up to his children. They, being notorious liberals, rename the workshop “Hermes Freres”. Then the eldest of the brothers chooses the right path of development, expanding the routes for supplying products to the Russian state. Thanks to such a profitable deal, by 1914 the company had about eighty workshops under its wing. The younger brother went down in world history for being the first to come up with the use of zippers. He used this simple device in a golf vest, which was made especially for the Prince of Wales. In subsequent years, other members of their vast family were added to the ranks of leaders. In 1922, the first leather products appeared - Hermes bags, which began to enjoy wild popularity. According to myths, Emile-Maurice specially created them for his wife, as she complained about the shortage of decent bags. In 1924, its own production point appeared in America, and also expanded to major cities in France. The year 1949 becomes a landmark year for the brand because at the same time the legendary silk ties, so beloved by men, were released, as well as the very first perfume masterpiece - “Eau d’Hermes”. A decade later, its own distinctive sign appears - a logo that depicts a symbolic carriage with horses.

The Hermes brand today

After this uninterrupted white streak, a series of failures followed, with which general designers struggled until the end of the twentieth century. In 2000, the label began producing all its products in China. In the same year, supporting the newly begun period of prosperity, the first Ermes shoe boutique opened in New York. The constant change of management prevented expansion and thinking about innovative solutions, but the brand was able to stay afloat. When Veronica Nishanyan became the director of the company in 2009, the label launched the “Petit h.” campaign. It raises interest in the brand’s products with its unusualness, because the motto is the reuse of material that remained unused in the production process. As a result, a huge number of expensive, but creatively made things of a heterogeneous nature appeared, which were instantly sold out. In 2011, the brand’s first book, “How to Tie a Bob,” was published, which tells how to tie a scarf in the format of life hacks. At the same time, vintage iconic Hermes bags are actively being sold at auctions, which literally make him a fortune. In 2012, the undoubted success is that the brand makes clothes for the French Olympic team. A year later, an innovation appeared that was appreciated by many wealthy people - a table clock in the form of a capsule, whose cost varied up to a million dollars. It is worth noting that the brand continues to develop rapidly to this day, every year striking the imagination with designer remakes. We can only wait to see what they will present next time.

About the creator of the Hermes brand

Unfortunately, the source of the biography of the creator of the brand, Thierry Hermes, has not survived to this day. But if you look at the brilliant family business that he gave birth to, it becomes clear that he was not only a man devoted to his roots, but also determined, purposeful and very hardworking. Without all these fundamental qualities, the world would not have known about this legendary Hermes brand. You can always visit the Bon-elixir.ru online store

Back in the 19th century, a certain Thierry Hermes, an immigrant from Germany, opened his workshop in Paris. The quarter was lively, but not particularly prestigious. The saddler, a horse harness maker, dreamed of the success of his business. But it is unlikely that at that moment he could have guessed its scale many decades later. The first success came only 30 years later. At the World Exhibition, it was his bridle fitting machine that won first place. In those distant times, harness was a necessary and important element of life. First of all, the safety of the passengers in the carriage depended on it, and it also had a certain influence on the opinions of others about the owner of the carriage. The Ermes family were typical Protestants. The work was slow, but the quality was unconditional; the best craftsmen in their field worked for them. There was never any savings on raw materials, and the product was elegant and very durable.
The family business has been a fundamental element in the brand's history. After Thierry's death, his son took over the inheritance, and then his grandchildren - Adolphe and Emile-Maurice. It was with the grandchildren that the real dawn began. Emile-Maurice created Hermes as the whole world knows it now. Of course, they did not start from scratch. By the time he took over the inheritance, the company was already famous and prosperous. The best saddlery products in the French state were produced by Hermes. In addition to them, items of clothing and footwear for riding were produced. Nowadays, all true fashion connoisseurs are grateful to Emil for turning the brand into a style icon. Having taken over the management of the house, Thierry's grandchildren enjoyed success. Their clients included royalty from many countries, business people, politicians and famous artists. They did not remain aloof from the events of the First World War. And they were suppliers to the French cavalry.

The youngest of the brothers, Maurice, had an adventurous and adventurous disposition; he loved to travel. But visits to other cities and countries were not for entertainment; he was looking for markets and new raw materials. All trips brought benefits and new knowledge for successful innovations in production. And on one of these trips, the young entrepreneur found out where it is better to harvest the skin of a crocodile, alligator, buffalo, shark and lizard. But the most significant was one of the trips to Canada. There the young man noticed a curiosity - a zipper-shaped fastener. He immediately realized how convenient this thing could be. Being a far-sighted businessman, he was able to discern early on the loss of relevance in the saddlery business. It's time for the automobile era. The last major contract with the Hermes house was an order from the court of Russian Emperor Nicholas.

Sportswear with zippers has become a revolution in the fashion world. Travel suitcases with this new product became a sensation. Almost immediately the rights to this wonderful invention were purchased, and the Swedish inventor was safely forgotten by everyone. The zipper closure evoked a clear association with the Hermes house.


Family legend says that it was thanks to Emile-Maurice’s second half that the idea of ​​producing handbags with the famous clasp came up. The first copy was made just for her. The bag was durable and unique in appearance. An unusual saddle stitch was used. Since then, the production of bags has become an integral part of the brand.

It seemed that no matter what the Hermes house did, incredible luck awaited it everywhere. But in fact, the price of success was a lot of work and a conscientious approach to business. A new page in the history of the brand was the release of a silk scarf, it was a new wave of success... But not just any success, but a “square”. It took quite a long time to achieve this; the launch of a new element took almost 10 years. It was a quadrangle with an indestructible print - the hand-applied Hermes logo. Its size is 90 by 90 cm and its weight is 65 grams. The best silk was used, obtained from more than two hundred cocoons. The patterns and designs were unique and varied, including zodiac signs, horse races, wild animals, ornaments and many others. This scarf was the most loyal way to get acquainted with true luxury. And everyone was in a hurry to use it. The release of a new collection took place twice a year. Over the entire history of the creation of the legendary square scarf, 30 thousand of them were produced. They were all exclusive. No "stream" production.


The silk scarf raised the rating of the Fashion House, without exaggeration, to the pinnacle of world fame. They were popular with royalty and famous actresses. The brand did not have to pay to advertise its product. It was so relevant that Queen Elizabeth was depicted wearing it on a postage stamp. It was undoubtedly luxurious, but not flashy, but rather discreet. Film star Grace Kelly and the wife of US President Jacqueline Kennedy played their role in popularizing the silk scarf. They simply wore the headscarf because they liked it. And fashionistas all over the world, looking at their photos in magazines, rushed to buy the same accessory for themselves.


The next stage was a personalized handbag. The world saw the first copy of handbags in the hands of Hollywood actress Grace Kelly on the cover of a magazine. She was named after the princess who had just become royalty. Interest in this item of women's household items increased to the skies; all representatives of the fair sex wanted the same bag. But it was not there. It's time for ruthless marketing. Each unit was made exclusively to order, which sometimes took up to several months to complete. What can we say about the queue to order such a desired item? Even the richest clients were forced to languish in anticipation. This not only continued to be popular, but also made these bags legendary.


The next person whose name was given to the bag (albeit indirectly, for obvious reasons) was Jacqueline Kennedy, who by that time had added the prefix Onnassis to her surname. The accessory received a nickname that preceded its official name. And he hinted at the new status of a famous woman and another surname.


The most popular item is definitely the bag named after the movie screen diva Jane Birkin. One of its versions is made of crocodile skin, and it is obscenely expensive. The waiting list for ordering it takes from one to four years. The actress is a true symbol of the 60s, she was a living example of Hermès charm. Is there a more desirable accessory in the world? Hardly.

When Emile-Maurice retired, he had four daughters. Since then, the surname has been passed down exclusively through the maternal line. Son-in-law Robert Dumas became a worthy successor to the dynasty. He, like many of his predecessors, brought a breath of fresh air to Hermes. This included the production of lines of the same legendary silk ties and scarves, as well as a perfume line and the production of beach towels.


The next step of the new head of the house was the release of a women's clothing collection. The items were of excellent quality, but without their own characteristics. He achieved this by succeeding his father, Jean-Louis Dumas. It was he who turned the family business into a gigantic business empire with unprecedented income. He came up with and brought to life his idea of ​​multilocality. It consisted in moving away from managing various branches from the central office, and creating its own unit of self-government in each region. This is how Dumas the son achieved success.

An avant-garde shake-up for the clothing industry was the arrival of Martin Margiel at the creative helm. His radical ideas contributed to favorable criticism of the new collections. We're finally talking about clothes! This went on for 5 years. Afterwards, the creative director left his post.

At the moment when everyone expected a decline in popularity, there was literally an explosion! The man who took the Belgian's place was Jean-Paul Gaultier. However, the latter satisfied his need for pretentiousness and extravagance in his personal collections. For Hermes, he created according to the brand's policy of discreet luxury. They didn’t forget to talk about the brand, but nothing big happened.

In 2005, Patrick Thomas became the next head of Hermes. He didn't belong to the family, but fans of the fashion house didn't have to worry. The sale of the company was only a rumor. Family members maintained control, as before. Small changes were included in the plans of the new leader, but Dumas Jr.’s strategy remained unchanged. The family reserved the right to return to leadership at any time.

For contemporaries, Hermes is, first of all, the world-famous Birkin bags. This is a buckle with the capital letter H on the belt, the classic bob scarves, packaging in the form of an orange box with brown silk ribbons and, of course, the aristocratic logo. All products of this brand are undoubtedly luxury and style items. Socialites and true fashionistas are sure to have items from this label in their arsenal.

The French fashion house Hermès is the most influential company in the luxury market. The horses in the logo and the orange packaging are recognizable features of the brand.

The company's difference: all products are made entirely by hand, just like about 200 years ago.

Over its almost 200-year history, the House of Hermès has perfected the art of selling things that a person can easily do without for a lot of money. Success accompanies the brand in such a way that it feels as if the clan members have sold their souls to the devil. A curious nuance: not all fans of the House know how to correctly pronounce the Hermès brand.

A short excursion into the history of the House

In 1837, Thierry Hermès, a master of horse harness and blinders, opened his own workshop in Paris. In those years, cars were not yet a common form of transport. The Parisian elite traveled a lot or went on business on horseback and required harnesses of the best quality. And Thierry Hermes devoted himself to the craft with all his soul and was rewarded with the gratitude of his clients - the saddler’s fame grew by leaps and bounds, wealthy Parisians recommended this master to their friends as the best of the best in Paris.

When Thierry retired, his only son, Charles Emile, continued the craft. He lived up to his father's hopes and did not let him down.

After some time, the old workshop became crowded and Charles-Émile moved the workshop to 24 rue Faubourg Sant-Honoré. The central office of the luxury empire and the main Hermès store are located there to this day.

Charles-Emile had sons Adolphe and Emile-Maurice, who already understood that their grandfather’s work was a family matter that must certainly be continued. Especially if this business provides such excellent income. They finally gave the company a name: Hermès Frères (Hermes brothers).

The brothers started supplying their products to the best houses in Europe, North Africa, Asia and America. The company supplied huge orders to the Romanov imperial court.

I wonder how the brothers would react if they learned that nowadays not all people know how to pronounce Hermès correctly?

In 1914, 80 of the country's best saddlers already worked in the workshop. During the era of the development of motoring, Adolf ceded the nascent empire to his brother Emil because he doubted that the company would be successful. But success did not leave Hermès; probably, the god of trade Hermes himself decided to take these modest Frenchmen, almost his namesakes, under his protection. Many people believe that Hermès is the French translation of the name of the god Hermes. But actually, it's a beautiful coincidence.

The zipper on leather goods is the invention of Emil Hermes

Emile became the first person in France to use the zipper on leather goods and received the exclusive right to use this fastener. In 1918, Emil made a leather golf jacket with a zipper for the Prince of Wales personally.

Luxurious, discreet bags

In 1922, Emil’s wife complained to him that she could not find a comfortable handbag, and the loving husband personally sewed the handbag, and then designed the entire collection.

Thus, leather bags were included in the Hermès product range. To this day, these bags haunt all women in the world: in order to get a bag from Hermès, you need to stand in line, since the bags are sewn by hand by the best furriers, and there is a sea of ​​people who want to get such a bag for their collection. And it doesn’t matter that a Hermès bag costs the same as a good car, and even more. Even representatives of royal families are put on the waiting list; there are no exceptions for anyone.

The most famous brand bags

A Hermès bag is the ultimate dream of many women around the world. And those who cannot afford such a handbag are content with fakes or replicas of other brands.

Birkin bag

It was created in honor of the famous Anglo-French actress Jane Birkin based on her sketch. The most famous fan of these bags is Victoria Beckham, who has about 100 bags worth £1.5 million in her collection.

The creators of the cult TV series Sex and the City even dedicated an episode to this bag. It tells how one of the characters in the series, Samantha, tried to fraudulently take possession of a Birkin handbag, despite the fact that her career and reputation would be ruined.

Kelly bag

The bag got its name after representatives of the Hermès brand noticed that the actress and wife of the Prince of Monaco, Grace Kelly, practically did not let go of their bag and gave them amazing advertising. In gratitude to the princess, the bag was given the official name Kelly bag.

Constance bag or O-bag

One of the brand's bags has two names. This is due to the fact that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was very fond of the “Persistence” handbag. Representatives of the brand took notice of this and paid tribute to the wife of the President of America by naming the bag in her honor.

It should be added that these beautiful ladies knew exactly how to pronounce Hermès correctly.

Scarves, shawls, scarves and stoles from Hermès

Another fetish item for fashionistas. The brand's scarves have their own name - bob.

The first scarf was released in 1928 and firmly established its position in the homes of fashion-conscious women. The most famous fan of Hermès scarves is Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. There is even a stamp issued in 1956 that shows the Queen wearing a headscarf from the House. Could you think of a better advertisement for a brand?

The scarves are hand-sewn from the finest Chinese silk. Scarves, shawls and stoles are made from silk and cashmere.

The best artists, sometimes dynasties, like Vladimir Rybalchenko and his son Dmitry, work on the design of bobs, scarves, stoles and scarves.

The brand releases 2 bob collections a year, each collection is unique. There are many Hermès scarf collectors around the world. They are ready to pay unimaginable sums for the scarf they need.

Each scarf is a real work of art; it’s not for nothing that bobs are so loved by recognized style icons and close relatives of kings.

Hermès perfumes

A person who uses Hermès brand perfumes has a subtle aristocratic taste. The House's perfumes are created by the best noses, recognized masters. Until 2017, for example, it was Jean Paul Ellena, a genius in the world of perfumery. He was the official nose of the House and gave us many exquisite, non-trivial aromas.

Now the nose of the House is the talented student of Jean Paul Ellena, Christine Nagel.

By the way, on the famous perfume website, fans of the brand are still arguing about how to pronounce Hermès correctly, putting forward many versions of pronunciation. Usually it is "Hermes", "Hermes" or "Erme". But it's not that simple.

Others from the House

In 1929, the House released its first clothing collection. In 1970, the brand began producing watches with a leather strap.

The brand produces dishes, furniture, jeans, sunglasses, shoes, jewelry and much more. All these things have one thing in common - unique quality and a price inaccessible to mere mortals.

There are never seasonal or any other discounts in Hermès stores: luxury and discounts are mutually exclusive concepts.

Correct pronunciation of the brand

Hermès is the brand's proper name, derived from the surname of the founder.

In Russian transcription, Hermès looks like this: [ermEs], in French - like this: [ɛʁmɛs] with a graded P and aspiration on the first syllable.

The attached video provides an example of how to correctly pronounce Hermès without making mistakes.

The Hermes fashion house is one of the most famous and oldest Parisian houses. Today, the Hermes brand produces bags, silk scarves, collections of clothing and shoes, perfume, jewelry and a wide variety of accessories, including, of course, watches.

The history of the House of Hermes began in 1837, when Thierry Hermes founded a horse harness workshop on the Grands Boulevards. The product was a success and by 1855 Thierry Hermès won a prize in his class at the Paris exhibition Expositions Universelles, and in 1867, at the same exhibition, received a first class medal. In 1879, the first Hermes boutique was opened in Paris.

Thierry Hermes' son, Charles-Emile Hermes, succeeded his father at the head of the company and in 1880 moved it to a new address: 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, where it remains to this day. Charles-Émile expanded production and added saddle equipment to the range. With the help of his sons, Adolphe and Emile-Maurice Hermès, Charles-Emile made supplies to elite families in Europe, North Africa, Russia, Asia and America. In 1900, Hermès introduced the Haut à ourroies bag, specially designed for equestrians.

After Charles-Emile Hermès retired, his two sons took over the company and renamed the company Hermès Frères.

Emile-Maurice was a passionate traveler. It was he who opened a new page in the life of the Hermes brand and made it as we know it. During his travels, Emil looked for sources of the best raw materials, as well as new markets. One of these trips to Canada in 1918 brought Emile-Maurice a discovery in the form of a zipper. Having appreciated all its convenience and functionality, Emil put it into practice, which is how golf clothes with a zipper appeared, as well as travel bags fastened with a zipper. Later, Emil bought the rights to this clasp, since then the zipper has become inextricably linked among the French with the Hermes brand, and even received the name “la fermeture Hermes”, which means “Hermes clasp”. During the 20s of the 20th century, Emile-Maurice added a collection of accessories to the brand's range of products.

In 1922, after Emile-Maurice's wife complained that she could not find a suitable handbag for herself, Hermès began producing women's handbags. Hermes bags have become extremely popular. Famous ladies with a soft spot for the brand’s products involuntarily became the faces of the brand. For example, in 1935, the leather bag Sac à dépêches (later became known as the “Kelly bag” / “Kelly Handbag”) appeared. Later, Jacqueline Kennedy became the face of the new double-handle bag with a large H clasp. And although the handbag was officially called Constance, it was still called O-bag, as a reflection of Jackie’s new surname - Onassis. Later, many famous actresses such as Jane Birkin, Audrey Hepburn and Catherine Deneuve became the faces of the brand.

In 1937, the production of the famous carrés silk scarves was introduced.

Following scarves, other Hermès accessories began to penetrate French culture. In the 1950s, the company got its own logo, which depicted a horse-drawn carriage in orange paint within a rectangular frame.

With each subsequent generation, the brand developed in a variety of directions and, as a result, began producing watches. The first watches of this brand were released at the beginning of the twentieth century.

In 1970, a watch production branch, La Montre Hermès, was founded in Biel, Switzerland. Today Hermes takes part in many international watch exhibitions. Hermes brand watches are the quintessence of elegance, glamor and rigor. Hermès watch collections offer a variety of designs and shapes, and each model exudes the romance of Paris, the city of love.

The Hermes company is a French brand founded in 1837. The brand specializes in the production of clothing, leather goods, accessories, perfumes, and luxury goods. Hermes International S.A. - this is the full name of the brand, whose logo since 1950 has depicted a horse-drawn carriage.

The company's name is pronounced "Hermes" because according to the rules of the French language, the first letter "h" is not pronounced.

Start

The history of the house “Hermes” (“Hermes”, “Hermes”) begins back in 1837. Then, in the capital of France, Thierry Hermes decided to found his own workshop, which he did on the Grands Boulevards. At that time, Ermes was engaged in the manufacture of horse harnesses and served exclusively representatives of the European nobility. Basically, Ermes's workshop focused on the manufacture of harnesses for bridles and carriages. Years later, in 1855, the harness maker was awarded a prize during the Expositions Universalles exhibition, which was held in Paris. Ermes, however, did not stop there, deciding to do everything possible to win the title of the best, which he did at the same exhibition, which took place in 1867. The son of the company's founder, Charles-Emile Hermes succeeds his father, heading the company in 1880. In the same year, the company was transferred to a new address - 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, where it is located to this day. The new director of the company takes on the expansion of production. Soon Hermes began producing not only sleds, but also special equipment, and the company also began retailing. Charles is helped in expanding the family business by his sons Adolphe and Emile-Maurice. It is with their help that Charles makes deliveries to elite European families, as well as to North Africa, Russia, Asia and even America.

In 1900, the French company presented its guests and customers with the “Haut a ourroies” bag, which was specially created for equestrians. This bag was designed for horse and equestrian enthusiasts to carry a saddle in it. This is how the history of Hermes bags begins.

Hermes Freres era

Following their father, the company is headed by his sons, who rename the company “Hermes Freres”. Soon after the renaming, Emile-Maurice takes on the task of organizing the supply of saddles for the imperial court of Tsarist Russia. The family business continues to expand. Already in 1914, there were more than 80 workers in the saddlery workshop.

A short time later, Emile-Maurice received a patent for the use of zippers in leather clothing and products. Thus, the company becomes the first in France to introduce the use of such a mechanism. In 1918, Hermes produced the first leather golf jacket especially for the Prince of Wales. The jacket had a patented zipper. It should be noted that this clasp mechanism was named after the company that had the rights to use it - “fermature Hermes”, which translated from French means “Hermes clasp”.

In the 20s of the last century, Emile-Maurice, who was already the sole director of the company, added the first collections of accessories to the Ermès product range. He attracts three sons-in-law: Robert Dumas, Jean-René Guerre, Francis Puech into partnership with the company.

In 1922, the company presented the first collection of leather bags of its own production. It is said that Emile-Maurice was inspired to produce leather handbags by his wife, who constantly complained to her husband that she could not find a suitable handbag for herself.

Two years later, Hermes brand products entered the American market. Two new stores were also opened, which are located in the most famous resorts in France.

In 1929, the brand presented its first collection of women's clothing, Haute couture. During the 30s of the twentieth century, the company began to develop other products. In 1935, the leather bag “Sac a depeches” appeared, which became known under the name “Kelly bag”. In 1937, the brand launched the production of the famous Carres silk scarves. And next year the collection will be replenished with new “Chaine d’ancre” bracelets, as well as new sets of clothes. It is known that the brand’s designers in those years used books, paintings and other objects of art as sources for creating collections of clothing and accessories.

The brand continues to gain worldwide popularity. In the 30s, the company presented its products in the famous Neiman Marcus store in the American city of New York. After some time, however, the contract with the American store is terminated.

In 1949, the French brand finally launched the production of silk ties. In the same year, the first fragrance “Eau d’Hermes” was introduced to the world.

When Emile-Maurice was the director of the company, Hermès managed to develop its own philosophy, which can be briefly described as “Leather, sport, and a tradition of refined elegance.”

Brand after Emile-Maurice

Emile-Maurice is replaced as director by his son-in-law, Robert Dumas. Robert successfully collaborated with his brother-in-law, Jean-René Guerre, who was personally invited by Emile-Maurice. Thus, Dumas becomes the first head of the company who was not related by blood to the family of the brand’s founders. That is why he adds his wife's last name to his own.

In the 50s, the history of the Hermes brand was replenished with its own logo, which depicts a horse-drawn carriage in a rectangular frame.

Soon after this, Dumas began to establish the production of original bags, jewelry, and accessories. Among these accessories, silk scarves especially stood out. Already in those years, one could meet all the most famous people in the brand’s company store in Paris.

In 1961, the brand turned its perfume production into a separate branch. At the same time, a new fragrance is released, which is called “Caleche”. The new fragrance takes its name from the rolled-up bonnet, which was a popular headdress among women in the 18th century.

Ups and downs

The company has been gaining momentum for a long time. Brand stores opened all over the world. Although the Hermes brand became increasingly popular, the company gradually began to lose ground compared to its competitors. Some analysts attributed this to the fact that the brand categorically did not want to use artificial materials in production, while competing companies were already actively using such materials.

Jean-Louis Dumas, who was the son of Robert Dumas-Hermes, became chairman of the brand in 1978. Jean-Louis's main focus is on the production of silk and leather goods, as well as ready-made clothing. Soon he is adding new products to the brand's production. Since Jean-Louis studied the purchasing power of the population and the characteristics of sales, he knew how to put an end to the brand’s black streak, which he achieved in 1964.

In 1976, the company began collaborating with the John Lobb shoe brand. The companies begin joint cooperation, which becomes fruitful for both. John Lobb begins to use Hermes leather for its own products, and the French company begins to use John Lobb sewing technology.

In the same 70s, Dumas invited designers Eric Berger and Bernard Zanz to join the company. New designers bring a new spirit to the company. Soon, thanks to their efforts, not only the brand's product models are updated, but also the materials it uses for the same products. The new collection is striking in its uniqueness of the materials used, since no one could even expect that the company would present a motorcycle jacket made of python skin or jeans made of ostrich skin. However, the company presented exactly these models. In 1978, when Jean-Louis became the head of the brand, the brand's annual income was approximately $50 million. Over the course of about 10 years, thanks to his efforts and new strategy, the amount of annual income increases almost 10 times.

In 1979, the new brand director launches an advertising campaign. The new posters showed a beautiful young girl wearing denim and a scarf from the French brand.

Gradually, the brand ceases to be an object of nostalgia among older people and becomes an object of dreams among young people.

In 1970, in the Swiss city of Biel, the brand founded a watch production branch, which was named “La Montre Hermes”. Over the next decade, Jean-Louis does everything possible to strengthen the company's position in the French market not only for clothing, but also for glass and silverware. For sales, the French brand begins to acquire companies that specialize in precisely such products: “Puiforcat”, “St. Louis" and "Perigord".

The growth story of the Hermes brand

The production of luxury tableware, which began, soon became one of the main activities of the brand. By 1990, the brand produces approximately 30,000 different items intended for table setting. The brand uses crystal and porcelain to produce its tableware. Soon the company will move its workshops and design studios to the north-eastern suburb of the French capital - to Pantin.

In 1993, the brand announced the sale of part of its shares, which caused active discussions in the media. The price of 425,000 shares that Hermes puts up for sale increases 34 times after a short time. Dumas gives an interview to Forbes, in which he notes that the reason for the sale of shares was tension within the family, which could only be resolved in this way.

Quarrels in the family, however, are not able to provoke a change of power and members of the Ermes family continue to own 80 percent of the shares. This situation leads to Forbes including the Hermes family on the list of billionaires.

A year later, Dumas reduces the number of company franchises from 250 to 200 in order to better control sales of the brand's products. At the same time, the number of stores increases from 60 to 100.

In 1996, Hermes opened its first boutique in Beijing.

To strengthen control over the production of women's clothing, the head of the company in 1997 hired a designer from Belgium, Martin Margiela.

At the end of the 90s of the last century, the brand already had a clear strategy of action. Hermes is gradually buying up franchised stores, and then opening its own branded boutiques instead of these stores. The end of the 90s is marked by the fact that the brand buys 35 percent of the shares of the Fashion House of Jean-Paul Gaultier.

History of the Hermes brand in the 2000s

In 2000, the brand moved its clothing production to China. This production is managed by family member Claude Bruet. In 2003, Jean-Paul Gaultier was appointed art director, replacing the Belgian Margiela in this post. Gaultier's debut was the winter collection of 2004-2005.

In January 2008, Jean-Louis finally left the leadership of the company. Two years later he dies. Jean-Louis is succeeded as director of the company by Patrick Thomas, who joined the company in 1989, and since 2005, together with Jean-Louis, led the company as the second chief executive officer.

Thomas became the company's second most memorable director. He is remembered for the fact that he managed to head the company without having any family ties at all with the Ermes family.

In 2009, Veronique Nishanyan became the brand's art director for the men's product line. In the same year, the brand launches the “Petit h” project. The essence of the new project is that the company begins to reuse the materials that remain from the collections during the production process.

“In order to create a women's bag, the best types of leather are always selected. However, when cutting materials, pieces remain which, although not used in production, do not lose quality and value. It just breaks my heart to see these valuable, quality pieces thrown away.”

Pascale Moussard, representative of the 6th generation of the Hermes family

The company begins to use recycled materials as decorative parts for various interior accessories. In 2012, the brand even opened a laboratory with “Petit h” exhibits. As part of this project, in 2013, the brand introduced coffee glasses that were decorated with leather. These cups are priced at $190.

2010s

In 2010, Christophe Lemaire, who had previously worked for the company for 10 years, was appointed art director of the company for women. In the same year, the French brand began collaborating with Leica. The first fruit of the collaboration was the Leica M7 Hermes Edition camera, which received a leather-trimmed body. The camera was presented in two color options - dark orange and orange. However, this was not the limit, since in the same 2010, the company’s designers developed the design of the Yamaha V Max motorcycle. The motorcycle was finished in black while dark brown leather from the French brand served as the trim for the vehicle. The exclusive bike costs 32 thousand dollars.

In May 2010, Gauthier announced his imminent departure from the company to work on his own projects.

On July 13 of the same year, 2010, 69 Hermes bags were put up for sale by the Christie’s auction house. Some bags were made in the 1960s, which adds significant value to them. That's why some bags had a starting price of over £30,000.

In 2011, the Fashion House decided to keep up with the times, presenting a limited collection of covers for Apple iPad 2 tablets. The covers were made of calf leather. The cost of each was from 820 to 1400 dollars.

In April of the same 2011, the company's designers are developing a capsule collection of plush toys for children. The toy horses, made by the French brand, were brown in color and had orange ribbons on their manes. The cost of the Hermes plush horses ranged from $395 to $530.

In July 2011, the company's first boutique opened in Mumbai. In order to attract Indian customers, the brand is releasing a limited collection of sarees.

In 2012, the Hermes fashion house created uniform designs for the French Olympic team to participate in the London Olympics.

The beginning of 2013 is marked by the collaboration of the Fashion brand with the watch production company Jaeger-LeCoultre. Soon the companies will present to the world a joint collection of table clocks, Atmos Clock. The watch was created in the style of the famous Captain Nemu's submarine Nautilus. The company used carved enamel and crystal to make watches. The clock operated under changes in ambient temperature. When the temperature decreased or increased by 1 degree Celsius, the clock was able to function for two days.

In the same year, the company puts up for sale a collection of men's T-shirts from the 2013 spring-summer collection “Crocodile chiffon”. All T-shirts were made exclusively from crocodile skin, which explains their price, which amounted to 60,000 - 100,000 dollars.

In 2013, the French brand created an exclusive tennis bag for the 80th anniversary of the Lacoste brand. The green bag had a special pocket designed for a racket. After the presentation, the bag became part of the Lacoste brand archive.

Perfume

The perfume line of the French company is presented to the world with 57 fragrances. Particularly famous are “Celeche” (first introduced in 1961), “Eau de Cologne” (1979), “24 Faubourg” (1995), “Terre D’Hermes” (2006) . After introducing the first fragrance in 1951, the company has already taken its place among the leading perfume manufacturers. Today the company produces men's, women's, and unisex fragrances.

Silk products

The brand has always particularly valued the production of silk scarves. This is evidenced by the production of silk products, which began with the purchase of silk from China. When the company was just starting to produce silk products, it wove the material in a double layer, which gave the scarves even more strength and durability.

Each pattern of the company's scarves was created as a result of many years of work by a team of designers. After painstaking work to create unique patterns, they were applied to silk with special vegetable dyes. Each of these patterns dries for a month, after which the second one is applied, and so on. The range of brand designers includes more than 200 thousand of a wide variety of shades. At the moment, the most “multi-colored” scarf produced by the Hermes Fashion House is “Charity”. The scarf was created by the brand in 2006. The number of colors used in the scarf pattern is 43.

In those years, when the brand was just working on the production of silk scarves, a separate factory was allocated in the French city of Lyon.

Hermes scarves today measure 90x90 centimeters. Their weight is 65 grams. The company uses 250 silkworm cocoons to produce each scarf.

All edges of the material are processed exclusively by hand. Every year the company presents two new collections of scarves. On some scarves, the patterns are repeated, which can be considered typical, given the large number of unique patterns created and the difficulty of creating new and completely unique ones.

It is known that since 1937, the French brand Hermes Paris has created more than 25 thousand unique designs. Among them, the most popular motif is the horse theme. In 1970, the company introduced the famous “Brides De Gala” patterns. Later, these patterns were remade and presented on new models over 70 thousand times. In those years, Hermes scarves were selling at a record speed - a scarf every 25 seconds. By the end of the 70s, the brand had sold approximately 1.1 million scarves worldwide.

Interesting facts related to Hermes scarves

  • In 1956, Great Britain issued a postage stamp depicting Queen Elizabeth II wearing a Hermès silk scarf.
  • When Princess Grace broke her arm, she used a Hermes scarf as a sling.
  • Hollywood actress Sharon Stone wore a Hermes scarf in one of the scenes in the film Basic Instinct.
  • The company launched the production of men's ties in 1949. From that time to this day, ties have been made from the same silk that is used to make scarves.

Cooperation with the Tuaregs

For many years now, the French company has been successfully cooperating with the Berber people - the Tuaregs. The collaboration is used in the production of silver jewelry, which uses traditional and national Tuareg motifs. It should be noted that the company also uses similar motifs in the production of other products, including scarves.

Leather Products

The French brand Hermes Paris is known for exclusively handmade bags and luggage. Even with the technological progress that the world is experiencing these days, the company categorically refuses to use automated assembly lines. Each bag is made by one craftsman who sews the parts using linen thread and an awl. At the same time, a craftsman spends from 18 to 24 hours to produce one bag. The Hermes brand purchases leather for its production from all over the world.

If there is a need to repair a Hermes bag, its owner can contact any company store of the company, from where the bag will be sent to the repair shop, which is located in Pantin.

For 2013, the chief designer of the company's women's clothing line is Christophe Lemaire, and the chief designer of the men's clothing line is Veronique Nishanyan.



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