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Hermes House
180 Years of History
For the French house Hermes, leather is the
premiere material. The 180-year history of the
brand founded by Thierry Hermes starts with
leather. It began with a horse harness workshop
– in an old French house where the horse is still
called a ‘first customer’. From bridles and saddles
Hermes gradually began developingbags, clothes,
and home furnishingsmade fromleather or skillfully
covered with hand-crafted leather.
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In Hermes, leather is treated
philosophically, believing that it
has always been more than just
a material. It embodies the entire
history of humankind: from primitive
skins created to rescue from the cold
to the most exquisite, present-day
items designed to enhance one’s self-
esteem. Six generations of furriers
not only inherited an experience, but
also continue to boldly risk taking
another step forward inventing new
techniques, working on even more
complex forms. All in all, they aspire
to ensure that bags, belts or shoes
are not just fashionable, but first and
foremost quality that takes its own
sweet time to develop. In their unique
and exquisite style, the Hermes house
fashioned leather into what became
the legendary ‘sac a depeches’ known
as the ‘Kelly’ bag after Grace Kelly
and the ‘Birkin’, which is a dream
bag originally designed for Jane
Birkin. Although not the only bags
available from Hermes, the Kelly
and Birkin continue to out-sell any
others, with this most expensive
Birkin being sold just this year at
$221,844. Over the years, the House
has seen three dozen unique leather
types, some of which, however, have
already disappeared from production,
but most are still used today. In the
Hermes workshops, each of the skins
that make up the precious stock come
from various sources – from Nile
crocodiles to exotic lizards, ostrich
or calf – are carefully selected. The
leather is prepared in time to be used
to create an ordered bag or saddle.
Furriers must undergo a long training
process, beginning in the Paris craft
school Ecole Gregoire-Ferrandi, with