Photo: Vanity Fair
This article is a must read all you Hermes aficionados (especially those who have contributed to the staggering 1.9 billion dollars in sales last year)!
From Vanity Fair by Laura Jacobs, an in depth look at the 200 year history of the House of Hermes.
From Hermès to Eternity
Almost two centuries ago, a royal coronation might be delayed until the arrival of its exquisitely stitched Hermès carriage fittings, just as today even the richest women must wait for an exquisitely stitched Hermès Birkin bag. With the family-run French company passing to a sixth generation, the author chronicles its rise to global pre-eminence, where a modern aesthetic meets the humble tools—awls, mallets, needles, knives, and stones—of unsurpassed tradition.
Thank you Daisy for bringing this article to our attention!
This is an EXCELLENT article!!! I learned so much from it - I subscribe to VF. But I do have an Hermes concern - perhaps the Bag Snob ladies could shed some light on it. I purchased Hermes RTW for the first time recently - some Spring 2007 stuff. When I went back in the following week to get my altered pants, the SA rang them up and said the hem is complimentary, the waist is $25. The money was no big deal but I'm sure my jaw hit the ground. I have purchased pants from Jil Sander, Prada, Gucci, YSL and ALL the alterations are always complimentary. If you're paying $600+ for a pair of pants, shouldn't ALL the alterations be complimentary? Is it the same way for the women's stuff? Do you have to pay for some alterations? Is this an Hermes company policy, or does the policy change store to store? The next time I'm in there, I'm going to say, "you know, I want to purchase these three pair of pants, and I would like to purchase from Hermes RTW exclusively (which is true - as I age, it would be perfect for me), but I don't think I should have to pay for any alterations after spending $1800 on pants. I could just go across the street to YSL and get almost the same thing and not have to pay anything extra." I realize that may sound cheap, but isn't it the principal? As I said, this is the only upper crust store that I've been in that has done this. Comments?
The world is getting richer and richer yet poorer and poorer.
Hermes is the new louis vuitton, Louisvuitton is the new coach, Coach is the new cheap chic . 1.9billion is a lot but is it a sign of Hermes becoming well NOT so HERMES ish ?
Think about it !
@ Man Bag
I totally understand and agree.. but again as a Lover of Hermes , is the company still ..well Hermes? Even though they say "we dont use celebs in advertising" We all know that they do ! and we all know that most celebs cheapin brands almost instantly . Its like a double edged swored.
Personally I dont think hermes is any better then any other high end , made to measure , semi ready to wear brand . I love the brand . But is it the "BEST IN THE WORLD" no , not with the newcomers coming out of the woodworks. some of these new guys and gals, are out of this world with quality and design, and service . Like i said in my last post .
Hermes is still great but its not "HERMES" "THE GOD OF THE BEST" any more . Again HERMES is the new Louis Vuitton, Louis Vuitton is the NEW Coach, and Coach is the new cheap chic. ( I hate that term by the way) but it is what it is. To each her/his own.
P.S. No way are you cheap , you just have needs and wants. Simple and I agree with you!
@ Man Bag
I totally understand and agree.. but again as a Lover of Hermes , is the company still ..well Hermes? Even though they say "we dont use celebs in advertising" We all know that they do ! and we all know that most celebs cheapin brands almost instantly . Its like a double edged swored.
Personally I dont think hermes is any better then any other high end , made to measure , semi ready to wear brand . I love the brand . But is it the "BEST IN THE WORLD" no , not with the newcomers coming out of the woodworks. some of these new guys and gals, are out of this world with quality and design, and service . Like i said in my last post .
Hermes is still great but its not "HERMES" "THE GOD OF THE BEST" any more . Again HERMES is the new Louis Vuitton, Louis Vuitton is the NEW Coach, and Coach is the new cheap chic. ( I hate that term by the way) but it is what it is. To each her/his own.
P.S. No way are you cheap , you just have needs and wants. Simple and I agree with you!
I mean honestly whats so "luxe" about a bag taking 15-30 hours to make . HELLO! All hand pieced bags take that amount of time if not more. ?
And although cute.. what is the bigger deal about the folding of some tissue paper that you can't ever use again? And realize that this is coming from a HERMES buyer. I only buy the exotics . The toggle leather is ewwwwwwww . Not a fan of over priced hard as nails toggle leather :)
Bag Snob Rules. But what is with YSL and that Quilted fake croc looking bag ? EWWWWWWW :P
I had to say that .
oh my god i love this article! i have to wait for the 'wait list' to open over here. i'm 20 and by the time i get onto the list and get my hands on my ever 1st birkin, i would be 23-24. unless i inherit my mom's croc birkin colletions, otherwise i'll just have to wait! i love the etoupe togo! it's sooooo hot. i'm gonna try my luck in paris this winter! hopefully i can get one.
to nan: i love the ysl tribute croc stitched patent bag. it's so cute. i guess to each of their own. hahaha
@ Cheryl
You so right to each their own .. triple ha ha ha :)
I love YSL but the fake croc is a NO NO ..LOL. Same for Hermes , but the hard to togo ( toggle as I say it ! ) is way too hard .. To Dooney and Burke ish. We are not riding horses with our bags we are enjoying them.
I'll stick to the "real" hermes exotics. ;). and the butter soft leathers of the other brands . Thank YOU!
I do not see the point in waiting for ever to be allowed to pay a ridiculous amount of money for a simple bag. And not just any bag; an age-old Kelly or something. I am so bored with seeing those bags everywhere. They are OK when hanging on the arm of an old (very old) lady who made her purchase decades ago. But what is hard for me to understand is why would a young lady crave for such a prehistoric peace (which has no historical value to her), when right now the world is full of fabulous NEW bags in new shapes, sizes, styles and colours! And not just any new bags; modern and exotic bags, inspiring bags of new rising designers; bags that reflect OUR era.
Wow! This was a great article I learned alot..and i agree with your opinions here..Manbag--you should not have to pay extra for alterations...are you kidding?
Nan..OMG you hit the nail on the head--i feel the same way--but the question on mind is--
what drives a person to buy an $8000 leather bag...are they really that speacial? Is it really the stitch--like they say? I mean what puts Hermes above all.. I really want to understand this....Thanks alot...Good day to all...
@ the fashionscientist
You see $8,000 does not bother me I am a Bag lady . So 150K does not bother me etha. But what does bother me is the fact that a HERMES non exotic is coveted. I dont get it ??? The History has nothing to do with the now. And when you see people like La Lohan wearing it it makes me cringe. So many NEW designers, who stitch just as well if not better, who's leathers are on par if not better.. So what is the deal. ?
Must be the pretentious Snob factor. Its in all of us me included but it does not drive me . I am not a slave to it . Again hermes is becoming the new Louis Vuitton, Vuitton the new Coach , and Coach the new "who cares cause everybody has it" bag. :) JMO