Hermes International, more popularly known as Hermes, is a French fashion house that was launched in 1837. The infamous Duc carriage with a horse is the company’s logo and is featured on all of the items. With the company’s rich and extensive history, many designers have worked for the label, including John Paul Gaultier and Martin Margiela.

Hermes Fashion House had its start as a harness making shop in 1837 by Thierry Hermes. The fashion house expanded its collection to include saddles. The company was passed down from one generation to the next, and in the late 1880s, the label was renamed Hermes Freres. At this time, the brand was continuing their collection of high-end harnesses and saddles, selling them across France, Russia and Asia.   The Hermes family continued to successfully run the company and in the 1900s, Emile-Maurice became the first man to present the zipper in France. Smartly, Emile-Maurice got exclusive rights to use the zipper in leather goods and in 1922, the company launched its first set of handbags. Versatile and stunning, these handbags secured a spot in the US and were a luxury accessory for women of affluence. Seven years later, the brand launched their first women’s collection and unveiled the clothes in Paris.   With emerging success in many parts of the world, the label continued to expand its line to offer handbags and scarves. One of the highlights was the Kelly Bag that was originally created in the 1930s. Although this bag was made famous by Grace Kelly and dubbed the “Kelly Bag” in 1956, it was designed much earlier. The label also introduced a scarf collection and established a scarf factory that was dedicated to making these accessories. Silk ties and fragrances were added shortly after in the late 1940s.

With each successor from the Hermes family, new products were launched and served as a representation of the company, such as the Hermes Scarf, Hermes Tie and the Beach Towel. In fact, today’s line sells one million ties each year, which accounts for 10% of Hermes sales. Each tie sells anywhere from $160 to $300 a piece and is made from luxe silks in a variety of colors. Scarves are made from the same fine silk that are hand-printed and hand-stitched.   During the 1970s, the company began to fall behind other designer fashion labels, especially as more designers were making an impact in the fashion industry. Hermes still held strong however, and opened shops in the United States, Japan and Europe. In the 1990s, the company expanded its line once again to offer fine crystal and porcelain tableware that added an elegant touch for dinners and holidays. During this time, Jean-Louis became a chairman of the company and through today, continues to travel the world for inspiration for new products.   The Hermes label is synonymous with French fashion and holds a strong place in the fashion industry, offering a lifestyle label that includes fragrances, ready-to-wear clothing, footwear and jewelry. Leather is still a main focus of the company and accounts for 30% of their accessories. These luxury goods have been featured on many Hollywood icons, including Nicole Kidman, Paris Hilton and Madonna. Superior craftsmanship, attention to detail and an icon of luxury and prestige are what the Hermes brand is known for.   In order to keep consistent with the label’s superior workmanship, many of the products are handmade. Luggage collections and handbags are hand-stitched and made from exotic materials such as crocodile, lizard, deer and oxen. Precious metals and gems are added to the handbags for detail and status. The famous Kelly Bag and Constance shoulder bag are always in demand, and customers who are interested in one of these luxury bags are placed on a one-year waiting list.   With over 20 boutiques in the US, along with Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai and Malaysia, the stores keep consistent with the label’s upscale image and are placed in affluent locations. People from all over the world recognize the Hermes logo and admire the fine craftsmanship, impeccable details, and wide selection of choices. The exotic skins that are used on the handbags are also found on the clothing, such as with crocodile jackets and deerskin vests.   Hermes’ ready-to-wear women’s clothing focuses on soft, sumptuous fabrics such as cashmere and silk. Clothes are comfortable and designed to feel like a second layer of skin, complementing the movement of the body. Bursts of color are found in the Hermes collection, including fiery orange and bright white. Sweaters and cardigans are comfy and casual, while leather riding jackets and warm paddock coats make ideal outwear.   Accessories are equally stunning and include a diverse assortment of scarves, stoles and muslin shawls. Belts are made from alligator skin or calfskin and feature palladium plated hardware. They’re flirty and fun, available in a variety of colors such as pink and black. The belts feature immaculate details, buckles and straps, representing the meticulous character of the Hermes label.   The men’s collection has a tasteful blend of shirts and knitted sweaters, as well as basic tees and polos. Cotton poplin is a fabric of choice and is available in an extensive color palette. Tees are laidback and preppy, featuring the ‘H’ logo on the front pockets. Cashmere and wool sweaters are handsome and include subtle details such as silver zippered collars. Men’s accessories include silk ties, calfskin belts and sneakers made from goatskin.   Today, the Hermes label has 14 divisions and markets their products to wealthy individuals who enjoy upscale leather goods, clothing and accessories.