All About Hermès, The Family That Turned Saddlery Into a Global Symbol of Wealth

When Thierry Hermès opened a small workshop in Paris in 1837, fashion was not part of the plan. He was a harness maker, producing saddles and bridles for Europe’s elite at a time when travel moved at the pace of horses. The work demanded precision, strength, and care. Those values quietly became the foundation of a house that would outlast trends, technology, and entire eras of luxury.

Hermès did not grow overnight, and that is part of its mythology. The business passed through generations of the Hermès family, each expanding the offering without losing sight of what came first: craft. As horse-drawn carriages gave way to cars, the house translated its leather expertise into travel goods, bags, and accessories. Fashion arrived slowly, almost reluctantly, shaped by function rather than fantasy.

The History of Hermès and Its Evolution From Saddlery to Luxury House

The Kelly and Birkin bags were never designed to become status symbols. They began as practical objects, refined through technique and time. Each piece required hours of skilled labour, completed by a single artisan trained for years before being trusted with the leather. Scarcity followed naturally. Hermès never rushed production, never scaled beyond what craftsmanship allowed, and never turned its waiting lists into marketing theatre.

As the house expanded into silk scarves, ready-to-wear, watches, and home objects, the same philosophy applied. Growth was careful, measured, and internally controlled. While other luxury brands chased visibility, Hermès focused on building things meant to last. The result was desirability rooted in substance rather than noise.

The Hermès Family, Leadership, and the Power of Independence

Leadership at Hermès has always been understated. Jean-Louis Dumas, who led the house from the late 1970s into the early 2000s, shaped much of its modern identity, strengthening its artisanal core while widening its global reach. Today, Axel Dumas, a sixth-generation family member, continues that approach, steering Hermès without spectacle in an industry increasingly driven by hype. The house remains fiercely independent, investing in new workshops across France to train artisans and safeguard production. Every expansion is built around people and process, not speed.

Today, Hermès stands as a symbol of a different kind of wealth. One that values time, restraint, and continuity. The family did not set out to build an icon. They simply refused to compromise. And in doing so, they created one of the most enduring luxury houses in the world.