# data[].attributes.body
With the rise of the wealthy bourgeoisie came soirees. These were night-time get togethers that replaced the balls the rich were attending.

# data[].attributes.body
Hermès is a French luxury brand founded by Thierry Hermès. They are most known for their specialization in leather and silk goods. Now they also produce jewelry, fragrances, watches, and home furnishings.

# data[].attributes.body
On January 10th, 1801, an innkeeper's wife gave birth to the couple's sixth child. Thierry Hermès was born a French citizen in a German town. He moved to Point-Audemer, a commune in France, in 1821 after the death of both of his parents. There, he became an apprentice in a harness-making workshop. He married Christine Pétronille Piérart and together they only had one son, Charles-Émile.

# data[].attributes.body
Thierry Hermès moved to Paris and in 1837 he started the Hermès shop. It was located in the Grands Boulevards, a wealthy neighborhood in Paris. His intent was to produce high quality leather harnesses and saddles for French nobleman. The excellent stitching on all his products were all done by hand and his Parisian beau monde clients include Napoleon III. His leather work that time is still considered to be unrivaled. The brand has since evolved to produce more than just horse saddles.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Liberty Leading the People by Dellacroix

# data[].attributes.body
In the 1830s, France experienced yet another revolution. Charles X took over as king after the death of King Louis XVIII in 1824. King Charles X had a conservative reign and his July Ordinances of 1830 ignited the rebellion. His ordinances were seen as too restrictive of certain freedoms. This led to the "Trois Glorieuses" or "Three Glorious Days" from July 27, 1930-July 29, 1930. On the first day, police raided and shut down newspapers who opposed the king. This caused protesters to start attacking soldiers. Over the next two days, barricades were put up all over the city as violence broke out between soldiers and the bourgoise residents. On the last day, King Charles X fled to England and Louis-Phillipe became the new king.

# data[].attributes.body
About Hermes:

“Company History Hermès.” Wunderlabel.Com, 4 July 2023, wunderlabel.com/lab/fashion-company-histories/hermes/.

Jacobs, Laura. “From Hermes to Eternity.” Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2007, www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/09/hermes200709?srsltid=AfmBOorsc8h55J_kxp9WamTH_buw-0hiLY1I70Xwfl4jCgmGBZIUTQEC.

“Six Generations of Artisans.” The Official Hermes Online Store, www.hermes.com/us/en/content/271366-six-generations-of-artisans/. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

1830s France:

“July Revolution.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., www.britannica.com/event/July-Revolution. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

Paris: Capital of the 19th Century, library.brown.edu/cds/paris/chronology4.html. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

1830s Fashion:

Franklin, Harper. “1830-1839.” Fashion History Timeline, 3 Apr. 2020, fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/1830-1839/.

Ives, Susanna. “Parisian Manners and Fashion in the 1830s .” Susanna Ives | My Floating World, 7 Mar. 2016, susannaives.com/wordpress/2013/06/parisian-manners-and-fashion-in-the-1830s/.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Portrait of King Louis Philippe by Franz Xaver Winterhalter

# data[].attributes.body
Duke of Orléans, Louis Philippe was "King of the French" from 1830-1848. His reign was known as the July Monarchy. His rule was considered a liberal monarchy but it was mostly a revival of the wealthy bourgeoisie and an ongoing neglect of the middle class.

# data[].attributes.body
Headwear was popular during this time. Indoors, women would wear a white frilled day caps while dress caps were worn outside. Dress caps came in a variety of shapes and colors to match the wearer's dress. They could be decorated with feathers, ribbons, and flowers.

# data[].attributes.body
An alternative to dress caps, bonnets were also worn outside. In the early 1830s, dress caps and bonnets alike were widened to match the expanded dress sleeves of the era. They had a very large brim and were extravagantly decorated like dress caps. In the later 1830s, dress caps and bonnets became much simpler. They became more oval shaped and now concealed the face.

# data[].attributes.body
Although caps and straw hats were often times worn by men, the top hat continued to be the most popular choice in men's headwear. The classic black top hat was now velvet and could be worn day or night. In 1835, the collapsable top hat was invented for easy storage during evening events.

# data[].attributes.body
Early in the decade, women wore their hair in high loops and braids. The Apollo Knot and Chinoise were popular hairstyles. Often times, curls would hang down from the front. Later, hairstyles shifted into a much simpler style where the hair was parted down the middle and brushed smooth to cover the ears.

# data[].attributes.body
Women still wore colorful, intricately trimmed dresses.The silhouette of women in this era focused on a slim cinched waist. This affect was done by having wide sleeves and skirts. The mutton leg sleeves were the most significant fashion element of this decade and is still a shape that is used today. The focus on hats and sleeves in the 1830s created a very top heavy look.

# data[].attributes.body
Accessories will always be a major part in fashion. Women wore lacy pelerines, pelisses, and shawls to further accentuate the trend of widening. They're skinny waistline was highlight with a bold belt and buckle. Long chains were often worn around the neck and shoulders, waist, or woven into hair. Drop earrings and brooches were also popular.

# data[].attributes.body
Men were dressed in familiar suits but their silhouettes mimicked that of the women's. Sleeves were puffier on the shoulders to seem broader while trousers skirted out a little from the waist to thighs to create that slim waistline look. Dress coats and frock coats were darker colors with trousers that tended to be lighter. Vests and waistcoats would often times be the accent piece of the outfit. Men could also wear riding coats to go along with tall riding boots.

# data[].attributes.body
While the top accessory for men was the top hat, neckwear was also very important. Ties were worn but were often replaced by a stock or a cravat. Canes and pocket watches are also commonly seen in this period.

# data[].attributes.body
Thierry Hermès's influence was the wealthy middle class and nobles of Paris. He didn't design clothes, he designed equipment for horses because it was the "golden age of the horse". They were used for hunting and travel. His mission was to create exceptionally high quality leather goods for the horse. His work garnered him many awards at the time.

Today, Hermès is recognized for popularizing the saddle stitch and zipper. The company is most known for the Kelly Bag and Birkin Bag but also offers small leather goods, home furnishings, watches, and fragrances. Silk scarves, with inspiration from jockeys, is another common product they sell.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.hermes.com/us/en/content/271366-six-generations-of-artisans/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Hermès, contemporary artisans since 1837

Six generations of artisans

Since 1837, generation after generation, Hermès has followed a dual thread - on the one hand the painstaking work of the craftsman in his workshop, and on the other the lifestyles of its customers. Carried by an enduring spirit of freedom and creativity, Hermès remains highly sensitive and attentive to the changing nature and needs of society.

1837

The adventure began in Paris in 1837 when the harness-maker Thierry Hermès opened a workshop in rue Basse-du-Rempart. From the beginning, he understood and anticipated his customers' expectations, their desire for simplicity and lightness in a city teeming with modern movement. His harnesses embodied discreet finesse as well as endurance in all conditions: a technical achievement that was recognized with an award at the Universal Exhibition of 1867.

1880

Charles-Émile Hermès, Thierry Hermès' son, moved the workshops to 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, and opens a store. At this now-emblematic address, harnesses and saddles were made to measure. The house's reputation for the excellence of its creations spread throughout Europe.

1922

During the interwar period, lifestyles changed and the house broke new ground under the management of Émile Hermès, son of Charles-Émile. Hermès offered items that met society's needs, from saddlery and harnesses to leather goods. Émile Hermès had been inspired by a very simple idea that decisively changed the course of the family business. During a trip to Canada, he was fascinated by the American "close-all" opening and closing system on the hood of a military car. In 1922, he obtained the exclusive rights to this system, known today as the zip or zipper; and it came to be used on many of the house's bags.
Throughout his life, Émile Hermès was an avid collector of works of art, books, objects and curiosities. The collection is constantly enriched by his successors and continues to be a source of inexhaustible inspiration for the house's creations.

1937

With Jeu des omnibus et dames blanches, the famous silk scarf was born, the first of a long series created by Robert Dumas, Émile Hermès' son-in-law.
Explore our scarves collections

1949

The creation of ties by Hermès is an illustration of the house's entrepreneurial spirit. In Cannes, a number of gentlemen - having been refused entry to the casino - visited the neighbouring Hermès store in search of the requisite tie. This demand led the house to start producing this silk accessory, which became an essential element of the Hermès men's wardrobe.

1951

As the father of four daughters, Émile Hermès passed the torch to his sons-in-law. One of them, Robert Dumas, took over from his father-in-law as head of the business in 1951. He was responsible for many of the house's major successes, including the first silk scarf, the Kelly bag and the Chaîne d'ancre bracelet, which he was inspired to create while observing boats moored in Normandy.

1956

Kelly bag, in tribute to the princess of Monaco

Designed by Robert Dumas in the 1930s, the history of this handbag took an unexpected turn in 1956 when a photograph of Grace Kelly carrying the bag was published around the world. It was the start of a success story, and the house named the bag Kelly in honour of the princess.
Explore our bags collections
1973

First issue of Le Monde d'Hermès

More of a journal than a magazine, this publication was created in 1973 in Germany under the name Die Welt von Hermès, with Le Monde d'Hermès emerging in France two years later. Now translated into more than ten languages, Le Monde d'Hermès is distributed throughout the world.

1978

From 1978 onwards, Robert Dumas' son, Jean-Louis, gradually revolutionised the house of Hermès. A visionary, curious about all things and all cultures, he diversified and projected the house onto the world map. Hermès embraced new métiers founded on unique know-how, such as watchmaking in 1978 - which operated under the name La Montre Hermès. In 1976, Hermès opened up to the art of shoe manufacturing with the bootmaker John Lobb; followed by the integration of Puiforcat silversmiths in 1993 and the Saint-Louis crystalworks in 1995.

1984

Creation of the Birkin bag

The Birkin bag was the outcome of a chance encounter between Jean-Louis Dumas and the actress and singer Jane Birkin on a Paris to London flight which led to Jean-Louis Dumas designing her ideal bag. Elegant and voluminous, for evening or daytime - the Birkin bag was born.

2005

Sixth generation family member, Pierre-Alexis Dumas, son of Jean-Louis, was appointed artistic director of Hermès. Creativity became ever more abundant within the different métiers, bringing innovation and imagination together. The house expanded its range of know-how, complementing its jewellery product offer with a first Haute Bijouterie collection in 2010. The following year, the home universe launched home furnishing fabrics and wallpapers for the first time. Hermès Horizons designed unique and bespoke objects, while the Apple Watch Hermès bore witness to a bold and innovative partnership with Apple, initiated in 2015.

2008

Creation of the Fondation d'entreprise Hermès

At the initiative of Pierre-Alexis Dumas, the house added a new dimension to its patronage policy and philanthropic commitment with the launch of the Fondation d'entreprise Hermès. In keeping with the artisanal and humanist values of the family company, the foundation works mainly in the fields of creation, the transmission of know-how, the preservation of the planet and solidarity through its own support programmes, both in France and abroad. Though diverse, the activity of the Foundation is motivated a single conviction: what we do creates who we are.
Visit Fondation's website
2013

Appointed Executive Chairman in 2013, Axel Dumas, nephew of Jean-Louis Dumas, has strengthened the dynamic growth of the group with the inauguration of the fifth Maison Hermès in Shanghai in 2014 and the opening of many stores worldwide. In 2019, Hermès arrived in Poland, establishing its first store in Warsaw. Axel Dumas has also driven the implementation of the group's digital strategy, which culminated in the redesign of the hermes.com website in 2017. He has taken Hermès into the new technological era, in keeping with the expectations of customers who are becoming more and more connected. Under his leadership, the group is stepping up the omnichannel dynamic within the organisation.

2020

Creation of a new métier, Beauty

Hermès presented its sixteenth métier, Beauty, with the first collection, Rouge Hermès, dedicated to the beauty of the lips. The result of five years of design, research and development, in the spirit of excellence and integrating the know-how that characterises the house, Hermès Beauty combines high standards, durability and aesthetics.
Explore make-up collections
2021

The Ecole Hermès des Savoir-Faire

Hermès opened its 19th leather workshop, located in Guyenne (Gironde), and created the École Hermès des Savoir-Faire apprenticeship training school (CFA). The school provides professional training sanctioned by a national diploma in leatherwork ( CAP Maroquinerie).

2022

A new Maison Hermès opens in Madison

Hermès has opened a new Maison Hermès at 706 Madison Avenue in New York's Upper East Side, and is pursuing its long-term development strategy based on a sustainable artisanal model. This store puts service at the heart of its priorities. Welcoming and vibrant, it embodies the house's creative spirit through Hermès' 16 métiers and a selection of artwork conceived by both established and emerging artists.
Back to the table of contents

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hermès, contemporary artisans since 1837 Since 1837, generation after generation, Hermès has followed a dual thread - on the one hand the painstaking work of the craftsman in his workshop, and on the other the lifestyles of its customers.