Hermès bags

Hermès was founded in Paris in 1837 by Thierry Hermès and made saddles and harnesses. A majority shareholding of the company still belongs to descendents of the founder.

In 1878 Thierry’s son, Emile-Charles, decided to move the company to a more chic area of Paris, i.e. 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, where Hermès is still located and which has itself become a symbol of authentic luxury craftsmanship and durability. When he moved to his new premises, Emile-Charles successfully decided to work with private customers. In 1890, his sons Adolphe and Emile-Maurice took over the company and renamed it Hermès Frères with clients that included some of the wealthiest stables in the world and the most prestigious European courts, including that of Tsar Nicholas II. In the early part of the twentieth century, with the rise of the motor vehicle, the two brothers foresaw the huge effect that cars would have on society and habits and diversified their production accordingly. They launched the first saddle-stitched leather goods, thus transferring their craftsmanship from one sector to another.

In the twenties, Emile-Maurice Hermès, remained as sole proprietor and began to produce gloves, timepieces, jewellery, items for interior decoration and even men’s and women’s clothing from 1925. The clothing range included suede golf jackets whose success was linked to their zip fasteners, which were revolutionary at the time and to which Emile-Maurice Hermès had acquired exclusive rights from the inventor. He met Ettore Bugatti, the car manufacturer, who had just designed a new sports car model, the Torpedo. Bugatti asked him to design a leather bag that would fit into the car’s door. This made-to-measure design was named the Torpedo.

The Hermès company preserved its master craftsmanship and savoir-faire whilst keeping abreast of current trends and the changes in lifestyle of wealthy people who travelled, enjoyed sport, were keen to discover the world and enjoy more leisure time. In 1926 Lola Prusac became a designer at Hermès and produced ski clothes, swimming costumes and a line of handbags, luggage and scarves.

The thirties saw the launch of Hermès great classics. The first silk squares, those mythical silk twill scarves that measured 90 x 90 square centimetres, were the idea of Robert Dumas and were designed in 1937. The Hermès bag carried by Grace Kelly in 1956 became the company’s first truly iconic design from their leather goods collection.

In 1951, Robert Dumas and Jean Guerrand took over control of the company. They opened new shops and launched the first Hermès perfumes. From 1967 there was a succession of different designers who developed the now famous Hermès company’s ready-to-wear collections.

In the seventies the Hermès group, which was under the stewardship of Jean-Louis Dumas from 1978, became the jewel in the crown of French luxury. The group bought John Lobb France, the boot makers and Motsch, the milliners in 1992, Puiforcat, the tableware company, in 1993 and became the majority shareholder in Cristalleries Saint-Louis. In 2006, Patrick Thomas took over from Jean-Louis Dumas. In 2008, the Hermès Foundation, led by Pierre-Alexis Dumas, was opened in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, to promote craftsmanship, support creativity, improve access to education and training as well preserve biodiversity. Since 2010, Hermès created a holding named H51, made up of the main shareholding heirs, to protect the company from exterior acquisition, because the group wishes to remain a family concern.

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The history of Hermès bags

Hermès was founded in Paris in 1837 by Thierry Hermès and made saddles and harnesses. A majority shareholding of the company s

Hermès bags

Hermès was founded in Paris in 1837 by Thierry Hermès and made saddles and harnesses. A majority shareholding of the company still belongs to descendents of the founder.

Circle	1971 A, 1972 B, 1973 C, 1974 D, 1975 E, 1976 F, 1977 G, 1978 H, 1979 I, 1980 J, 1981 K, 1982 L, 1983 M, 1984 N, 1985 O, 1986 P, 1987 Q, 1988 R, 1989 S, 1990 T, 1991 U, 1992 V, 1993 W, 1994 X, 1995 Y, 1996 Z
Square	1997 A, 1998 B, 1999 C, 2000 D, 2001 E, 2002 F, 2003 G, 2004 H, 2005 I, 2006 J, 2007 K, 2008 L, 2009 M, 2010 N, 2011 O*, 2012 P, 2013 Q, 2014 R (late production had no square), 2015 T (no square), 2016 X (no square), 2017 A (no square) , 2018 C (no square), 2019 D (no square), 2020 Y (no square)

Hermès bags

Hermès bags

Hermès Constance Elan shoulder bag in red Vif epsom leather

Hermes Herbag shoulder bag in red canvas and brown leather

Hermes Birkin Rainbow Sunrise 35 cm handbag in yellow Lime, Rose Confetti, Sésame beige and brown Terre epsom leather

Hermès Kelly Cut pouch in pink Thé Swift leather

Hermes Birkin 25 cm handbag in Northern Blue Swift leather

Hermes Evelyne small model shoulder bag in Bleu Lin togo leather

Hermes Kelly 32 cm handbag in beige canvas and gold Pecari leather

Hermès Zippy large model wallet in gold togo leather

Hermès Kelly Cut pouch in fawn leather

Hermes Birkin 25 cm handbag in pink Thé Swift leather

Hermes Kelly 32 cm handbag in Rose Confetti epsom leather

Hermes Constance handbag in multicolor Swift leather

Hermes Birkin 40 cm handbag in chocolate brown togo leather

Hermes Trim handbag in brown leather

Hermes Rio pouch in brown box leather

Hermes Kelly 35 cm handbag in black box leather

Hermes Constance shoulder bag in cognac doblis calfskin and brown leather

Hermès Jypsiere 28 cm shoulder bag in togo leather and rust-coloured Swift leather

Hermes Toto Bag - Shop Bag pouch in black and burgundy canvas

Hermès Bobby bag worn on the shoulder or carried in the hand in burgundy epsom leather

Hermès Pliplat pouch in green Sauge Swift leather

Hermes Birkin 40 cm handbag in white togo leather

Hermes Birkin 30 cm handbag in red Vif Jonathan leather

Hermes Garden shopping bag in red togo leather

Hermes Hermes Constance handbag in chocolate brown box leather

Hermes Kelly 32 cm handbag in black porosus crocodile

Hermes Kelly 32 cm handbag in black Swift leather and black foal

Hermes Haut à Courroies - Travel Bag travel bag in gold epsom leather

Hermes Herbag backpack in brown canvas and brown leather

Hermes Evelyne size XL shoulder bag in gold epsom leather

Hermes Birkin 35 cm handbag in red togo leather

Hermes Birkin 25 cm handbag in Poppy orange togo leather

Analysis report

Collector Square authentication and Hermès marking guide

The history of Hermès bags