Hermes
Famous French Brand
History
About the designer
Early years
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1951 - Emile-Maurice Hermes passes away and Robert Dumas Hermes, husband of Jacqueline Hermes, takes over the company with perfumer Jean Rene Guerrand, husband of Aline Hermes, both of whom are great-granddaughters of Thierry Hermes.
Early 1950s - Hermes begin to use a caliche logo based on a drawing by French painter Alfred de Dreux. At this time Hermes also begin using their iconic orange boxes.
1956 - A photo of Hollywood actress turned Monaco Princess, Grace Kelly, carrying a Hermes Sac a Depeches to cover her pregnant belly is published on the front cover of Life Magazine. Suddenly women are flooding into Hermes stores asking for the ‘Kelly Bag’. Hermes renames the Sac a Depaches as the Kelly.
1978 - Great-great-great-grandson of Thierry Hermes, Jean Louis Dumas, takes over the company and the same year Hermes purchases the building next to 24 Rue Faubourg Saint-Honore, expanding the flagship in Paris.
1981 - The iconic Birkin bag is introduced, named after British actress Jane Birkin following a chance encounter the year previous.
2003 - Following the retirement of Jean Louis Dumas, Patrick Thomas becomes the new head of Hermes.
2007 - Upon the purchase of 28 Rue Faubourg Saint-Honore, Hermes once again expands its flagship store in Paris.
2012 - Sixth generation Hermes family member, Axel Dumas, is named CEO of the company and remains in position today.
2016 - Study conducted by Baghunter shows that the iconic Birkin bag has been a better investment than stocks or gold over the previous 35 years.