Hermès, contemporary artisans since 1837
A Fragrant Journey Through Time
The Krigler world is like a journey. Tales of distant countries and places of beautiful earthly heritage. But also the turbulent history of last century and the family journey through it all that. From great sensuality, attention to detail, classic craftsmanship, sense for style and the courage to start again. The artisan luxury in composing throughout the time.
Duc attelé, groom à l'attente", Alfred de Dreux (1810-1860)- Emile Hermès Collection
© Guy Lucas de Peslouan
1837
Thierry Hermès
The adventure began in Paris in 1837 when the harness-maker Thierry Hermès opened a workshop in rue Basse-du-Rempart. From the beginning, he understood and anticipated his customers’ expectations, their desire for simplicity and lightness in a city teeming with modern movement. His harnesses embodied discreet finesse as well as endurance in all conditions: a technical achievement that was recognized with an award at the Universal Exhibition of 1867.
Portrait of Thierry Hermès (1801-1878), founder of Hermès © Santiago et Rottier
2008
Creation of the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès
At the initiative of Pierre-Alexis Dumas, the house added a new dimension to its patronage policy and philanthropic commitment with the launch of the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès. In keeping with the artisanal and humanist values of the family company, the foundation works mainly in the fields of creation, the transmission of know-how, the preservation of the planet and solidarity through its own support programmes, both in France and abroad. Though diverse, the activity of the Foundation is motivated a single conviction: what we do creates who we are.Visit Fondation's website
1880
Charles-Émile Hermès
Charles-Émile Hermès, Thierry Hermès’ son, moved the workshops to 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré, and opens a store. At this now-emblematic address, harnesses and saddles were made to measure. The house’s reputation for the excellence of its creations spread throughout Europe.
Hermès at 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré in 1880
© All rights reserved
1922
Émile Hermès
During the interwar period, lifestyles changed and the house broke new ground under the management of Émile Hermès, son of Charles-Émile. Hermès offered items that met society’s needs, from saddlery and harnesses to leather goods. Émile Hermès had been inspired by a very simple idea that decisively changed the course of the family business. During a trip to Canada, he was fascinated by the American “close-all” opening and closing system on the hood of a military car. In 1922, he obtained the exclusive rights to this system, known today as the zip or zipper; and it came to be used on many of the house’s bags.
Throughout his life, Émile Hermès was an avid collector of works of art, books, objects and curiosities. The collection is constantly enriched by his successors and continues to be a source of inexhaustible inspiration for the house’s creations.
From Berlin to Moscow
The journey indeed begins in Berlin, where Albert Krigler was born in 1860. At the time the young chemistry student already leads the first professional position and travels to Imperial Russia, Moscow; where the famous French perfume maker Rallet was just established and where many young Europeans, who are interested in a passion of making fragrances, have been attracted to come there and venture in joy of life. The 19-year-old Albert falls in love with the daughter of one of the French parfumeur and a colleague at the same time. They got engaged in 1879 and Albert passionately created the most beautiful fragrance inspired with love and to celebrate their engagement.
A special gift of his emotional expression, his first perfume, Pleasure Gardenia 79, a blossom explosion of jasmine, mimosa and gardenia dedicated to their love.
The inspiration for this is not just the new relationship status with Charlotte, but the gardenia flowers in the garden around the golden Kinkaku-ji Temples growing in Kyoto. Popular motifs in Japanese lacquer work exhibited in Moscow at that time. Pleasure Gardenia 79 should be an important signature stamp and still is for the fragrance history of the World.
1922
Émile Hermès
During the interwar period, lifestyles changed and the house broke new ground under the management of Émile Hermès, son of Charles-Émile. Hermès offered items that met society’s needs, from saddlery and harnesses to leather goods. Émile Hermès had been inspired by a very simple idea that decisively changed the course of the family business. During a trip to Canada, he was fascinated by the American “close-all” opening and closing system on the hood of a military car. In 1922, he obtained the exclusive rights to this system, known today as the zip or zipper; and it came to be used on many of the house’s bags.
Throughout his life, Émile Hermès was an avid collector of works of art, books, objects and curiosities. The collection is constantly enriched by his successors and continues to be a source of inexhaustible inspiration for the house’s creations.
