THE ESSENCE OF
UNFOLDED
his French luxury design house was established by Thierry Hermès, who was born in Germany. His mother was German while his father was French. When Thierry grew up, he established a shop in Paris that made harnesses for horse carriages. That’s why the logo for the brand is a picture of a horse-drawn carriage. The harnesses were so high end and beautiful that only the most upper-class society of Paris could afford them. It definitely set the bar for the kind of luxury goods that Hermès still makes to this day. Expensive. Exclusive. Posh. Thierry had a son named Charles-Émile, who took over management of the brand in 1880. He moved the headquarters to the famous 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, where it’s still located today. Charles-Émile also had two sons, Thierry’s grandsons, who became part of the business. Adolphe and Émile-Maurice eventually took leadership of the company as they began to sell more saddles and other accessories for equestrians horse owners.
In 1900, one of their signature products was a bag called the Haut à Courroies, which allowed a rider to carry different types of saddles with them. The saddles and accessories the company created were very sought after. They were sold all over the world to royalty, and eventually, in 1918, they started making clothing.
One of the company’s first designs was a leather golf jacket for the Prince of Wales, Edward. The company was well on its way to offering diverse types of products, not just products for horse owners. More accessories and other clothing types soon followed as Émile-Maurice ran the brand.
SIGN HOUSE WAS LISHED BY THIERRY WHO WAS BORN
NY. HIS MOTHER MAN WHILE HIS FRENCH. WHEN GREW UP, HE ESTABLISHED
THIERRY HERMÈS
Jean-Paul Gaultier
The flamboyant French fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier was an extraordinary choice for Hermès to make for their new creative director. Before that, he helmed his own line, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and continued to design for that line until he retired completely in 2020. He worked for Hermès for seven years from 2003 to 2010.
Jean-Paul is known for outrageous designs that are a bit unconventional, such as corsets, striped navy blouses, and kilts. He created a very successful line of fragrances for both men and women. His reputation in the fashion industry is legendary, being called the “enfant terrible,” as he displayed controversial behavior on more than one occasion. So the fact that a company as traditional, and some might say stiff or stuffy, as Hermès would want Jean-Paul was very interesting. The result was amazing. His avant-garde designs combined with the classic Hermès look were spectacular. A powerhouse of design creativity, he made revamped versions of the Kelly bag and the Birkin bag.
Today, they make a variety of scarves, including a smaller version of the classic called the Twilly. It’s a smaller silk accessory that can be tied in a variety of ways. Some people tie it around the neck, or in their hair to secure a ponytail; some even attach it to a handbag as a type of accessory. The Twilly is adorable. Collectible. The most chic item to have.
All of the scarves are made in France and come in a bunch of different styles, colors, patterns, prints, and designs. The Hermès scarf is essentially a wearable piece of art, with thousands of motifs being produced over the years. From start to finish, when Hermès creates a scarf, it takes around 18 months to go from design concept to production. When produced, the scarf is screen printed at a bespoke atelier in France. The printers that they use have to be engraved separately for each new scarf design, and once printed, the stitching on the hem is done by hand.
For each collection every season, they seek out some of the best artists in the world. It’s quite an honor to get to make a Hermès scarf design. They release at least 10 new designs per season, and sometimes they reissue popular vintage designs. Here are some of the most famous Hermès designs for their scarves over the years and the year they first came out. Many have been reissued over the years again and again. All of these original scarves are 100 percent silk.
The story of the Birkin bag doesn’t begin in a design studio or atelier but rather on an airplane, of all places, in 1983. The legend has it that Jane Birkin, a popular model and actress, was boarding a plane carrying a large basket for her carry-on items. Jane was known as a fashion icon through the 60s and 70s, especially when she was in a relationship with Serge Gainsbourg, who was a writer and director. They were both pillars of the French pop culture scene.
That evening, when Jane boarded an airplane, she ran into Jean-Louis Dumas on a late-night flight to London from Paris. He was the CEO of Hermès at the time and also the great-grandson of the founder of the company, Thierry Hermès. When Jean-Louis saw Jane struggling with her giant basket as a handbag trying to cram it into the overhead, he laughed with her that she needed a better handbag with pockets. Each obviously knew who the other was, and she told him that if Hermès made the perfect handbag for her that would carry all the items that she needed as a busy mom, she would use it instead of her basket.
So, together on the plane, Jean-Louis with Jane’s input sketched up the beginning of the Birkin bag. A year later, the Birkin was launched. Of course, they sent Jane the first bag. It was a 40cm size, although today it comes in four different sizes: 25cm, 30cm, 35cm, and 40cm. When it came out back then, it cost around $2,000. Today, the prices vary widely depending on the material and edition the Birkin comes in. You can expect to find a basic one for around $10,000 to $35,000. Some specialty models can go as high as $2 million.
Jane herself sold that original Birkin in 2011 for charity. It went for $162,000. If you think she had loads and loads of Birkin bags in her closet, you’d be mistaken. She was known to only keep one Birkin bag at a time, other than the first one she was given that she had since 1984.
HERMES
Journey through the captivating history of Hermès. From its humble beginnings as a harness workshop in 1837 to its status as a global icon of luxury, Hermès has continually set the standard for excellence.
Explore the exquisite artistry behind Hermès’ renowned scarves, each one a masterpiece of design and color. Delve into the meticulous craftsmanship that goes into creating the brand’s iconic handbags, from the coveted Birkin to the sophisticated Kelly. Uncover the allure of Hermès’ fragrances, where every scent tells a unique story of refinement and allure.
Meet the celebrities who have fallen under the spell of Hermès. From Princess Grace of Monaco to stars like the Kardashians, Jennifer Lopez, and Heidi Klum.
This book is a celebration of Hermès, a testament to its enduring legacy and the enchanting allure that has made it a favorite among the world’s most stylish and influential figures. THE ESSENCE OF UNFOLDED
