Under the leadership of Henri-Louis Bauer, Hermès continues to carry forward the legacy of fashion carefully imbibing values of the past to create masterpieces in the present
In ancient Greek mythology, there was one god who served as an intercessor between mortals and divine and had no boundaries in front of him. His name was Hermes. With years passing by, people stopped believing in the existence of the miraculous Greek pantheon. However, the faith into the divine Hermès stays untouched. Only now we worship Hermès as a fashion phenomenon that adds a bit of French exquisiteness and luxury into our lives.
France will never be the same
It’s hard to imagine true France without Hermès: it unites different people, cultures, tastes and fashion trends. The legacy of Hermès, as the fashion brand we know, started with its founder, Thierry Hermès, who was born in Germany and moved to France when he grew up. It is his vision that has led to the brand reflecting two different mentalities: German composure and restraint along with French passion and elevation. In 1837, nine years after moving to Paris, Thierry Hermès established a harness workshop for a French nobility. Little did Thierry that had actually laid the foundation stone for the brand’s meteoric success in the future.
Starting its journey from a small workshop, Hermès went on to manufacture high quality fashion items. Gradually the enterprise managed to win several awards at the Expositions Universelles in Paris and so the journey to fame begun. Ever since the brand has never looked back! Thierry’s son, Charles-Émile, took over his father’s shop and started producing saddleries for retail not only in France but also in other countries in Europe, Asia and Americas and that is how the Hermès made its global foray.
When he retired, his sons changed the name of the company to Hermès Frères and started supplying high fashion goods to royal families all over Europe. In 1918 they produced an exclusive leather jacket with a zipper for Edward, the Prince of Wales. The classy jacket was an iconic product of its time. In fact, shortly after making this jacket, the brand was granted exclusive rights for zippers on all leather products. Then, the company launched its first accessory and clothes collections that also included handbags inspired by the style of Grace Kelly.
These bags came to be known as Kelly bags and are now considered to be one of the world’s most expensive and desired accessories. By 1949, Hermès emerged as one of the most reputed high fashion brands worldwide. Its fashion collections included elegant clothes and appealing accessories such as silk ties and airy scarves that the French fashion is associated with. Soon after soaring to these heights of popularity, Hermès decided to take it one notch further by introducing their perfume line called Eau d’Hermès.
Though the company was thriving, no one can feel secure against failing. The second half of XXth century was rather complicated for the brand, as far as it got chased by its competitors. It suffered financial troubles and was unlikely to overcome them. Yet, since 1980s, the company got its second life due to enormous efforts of its CEO and second father, Jean-Louis, who managed to promote Hermes fashion boutiques through all over the world.
The World Of Hermes
Over the years, Hermès fashion has emerged as diverse, captivating and mesmerizing, wooing connoisseurs from all over the world. Everybody who is anybody takes pride in owning the Hermès apparels and accessories.
Hermès has recently launched a charming fragrance, Twilly d’Hermès by the house’s perfumer Christine Nagel who worked around three notes to give this one an olfactive edge- ginger, tuberose and sandalwood.
Christine quotes, “It is with young women in mind, by observing their lives, that I created Twilly d’Hermès. Free, bold, connected, mischievous and irreverent, they turn expectation on its head, swim against the tide, impose their own rhythm, invent a brand new tempo.”
The Twilly d’Hermès, the fashion house’s latest fragrance, is contained in a simple bottle, decorated with a ribbon much like Hermès’s patterned silk scarves, and has what looks like a bowler hat for a cap.
Even Hermès fragrances have patrons across Royal families, Hollywood celebrities, sportsmen and other famous personalities. Some popular names from these categories are Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, ace tennis player Serena Williams, Swiss dancer Tina Turner and among the many others known to wear Hermès fragrances.
In fact, Hollywood actress Jessica Alba is known to be an admirer of Hermès high fashion luxury products. She is often spotted in public wearing Hermèsaccessories and highly appreciates the Mediterranean fragrance of Hermès Un Jardin. Loaded with fragile notes of bergamot and oranges, the scent of this perfume is reminiscent of a cypress Mediterranean garden or the calm sea, a fragrance that is sure to rejuvenate senses.
Hermès perfumes also has loyal followers amongst the royal family. Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is known for his preferences towards the intense fragrance of Hermès Equipage. A combination of oakmoss, carnation and Brazilian rosewood, diluted with scarcely perceptible scent of jasmine and musk, this fragrance is natural and smooth.
Prince Andrew’s sister, Anne, the Princess Royal, is also a patron of Hermes fragrances. She was among the first patrons of Hermès Caleche, a perfume created for women in 1961 by a eminent perfumer Guy Robert. Caleche is an elegant creation that boasts of a scent soaked in a blend of beautiful white flowers laid on a base of citrusy notes and wood. Before Caleche, the idea of mixing these ingredients was considered impossible, let alone creating a captivating feminine aroma. Indeed Hermès broke stereotypes with this iconic fragrance.
Crown of creation
Every Hermes fragrances has a rich legacy encapsulated in the form of a mesmerizing scent rightly recognised as crown creation in the domain of perfumery. In fact, the Hermès finesse and craftsmanship extends beyond the scent. Even minute details like the design of the bottles, are taken into account and this perseverance is what leads to the creation of a Hermès fragrance.
One of the latest Hermes fragrances, Eau de Rhubarbe Ecarlate, launched in 2016, is a good example of how eccentricity and novelty can stay in harmony. It’s sweet, fruity and yet a bit musky towards the end evoking the experience of an indulgence like never before.
Another gem in the Hermès line of perfumes is the scent of 24 Faubourg. The top notes of brilliant white flowers are matched perfectly by a floral heart enveloped in iris,wood laid on a base of vanilla and ambergris, hence casting an aura of mystery with a scent that tends to linger for long.
