Hermes. Life as a tale.

Hermès is a french fashion house, estabilished by Thierry Hermes in 1837 in Paris. It specialises inleather, ready-to-wear, lifestyle accessories, perfumery and luxury goods.

Designers throughout the company's history have included Lola Prusac, Jacques Delahaye, Catherine de Karolyi, Monsieur Levaillant, Nicole de Vesian, Eric Bergère, Claude Brouet, Tan Giudicelli, Marc Audibet, Veronique Nichanian, Mariot Chane, Martin Margiela and Jean Paul Gaultier.

One of Hermès most recognized products today is its signature silk scarves. The modern Hermes scarf measures 90cm x 90cm, weights 65 grams and is woven from the silk of 250 mulberry moth coccons. All Hermès scarves are hand printed using multiple silk screens and the hems are hand-stitched.

During the holiday season in its Paris boutiques, on average, one scarf is sold every 20 seconds.

Hermès is also recognized for its handmade luggage and handbag collections. The company does not use assembly lines, only one craftsperson may work on one handbag at a time, hand-stitching each individual piece. Due to the labor-intensive nature of Hermès production methods and the use of rare materials, sometimes including exotic skins as well as precious metals, one bag can take 18 to 24 hours to create. The construction of each Kelly bag, for example, requires 18 hours of work by a single artisan. When Hermès leather goods require repair, owners are encouraged to bring the item back to any Hermès store where it can be shipped to the factory near Paris for repair or reconditioning.

Bags made popular through high-profile clientele include the "Kelly bag", introduced in the 1930s and made popular by Grace Kelly, the Constance shoulder bag with a double strap and large H clasp), and the Trim shoulder bag preferred by Jacqueline Bouvier Onassis. Both Kelly and Constance bags remain in demand, and there has historically been a one-year waiting list.

Another famous handbag, the Birkin, was named for actress Jane Birkin, who co-designed the bag with company president Jean-Louis Dumas after complaining that her Kelly bag was not practical for everyday use. Ms. Birkin has since stopped carrying her namesake bag, saying it contributed to her tendonitis. Regardless, the bag remains among the most requested and has the longest waiting list — up to six years depending on the type of leather — of any other luxury Hermès item.