Founded in 1837, starting life as a harness workshop before branching into the world of fashion and bags for the style-conscious members of high society, Hermès enjoys a rich history packed with heritage, timeless design, innovative styling concepts, and more than a few A-list endorsements and ambassadors.
To buy or own an authentic Hermès bag today is about more than just a bag – connecting you with the history of a brand that has produced some of the most coveted, expensive, and sought-after bags in the world. Hermès is recognised as much for its name as for its designs, with most style enthusiasts recognising what it means to own an Hermès.
But, as is the case with so many luxury brands, the spotlight means that they need to be as clean as possible when it comes to inhouse practices, sustainability, and how they support governance, social responsibility, and the environment.
In this article, we’re considering the social responsibility of Hermès and how the brand maintains its sustainability commitment – but first for a quick dive into the brand’s history.
The History of Hermès
Hermès started life as a harness workshop, founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès in Paris. Straightaway, the brand set its sights on noblemen and those of a high status, and regularly sold harnesses and equestrian bridal accessories to those with wealth and money – a demographic that Hermès has continued to serve throughout its rich history.
Thierry’s son, Charles, was the one who first diversified the brand, expanding into saddlery for the rich elite of Paris. Soon after, fashion bags followed – marking a move for the brand into a whole new market, which ultimately led to the formation of the Hermès brand that we know and love today.
How Hermès Maintains Its Corporate Social Responsibility
So, how does a brand like Hermès meet and maintain its social responsibility as a global brand?
Every authentic Hermès bag is brought to life by artisan craftsmen and highly skilled individuals. One of the brand’s biggest commitments, while ensuring the highest level of quality in every stitch and fibre of its bags, is to protect and be respectful of its people – and it’s this commitment that underpins a number of moves that Hermès has made to continue supporting its responsibility to the local economy and its inhouse teams.
For one thing, production sites are managed as regional hubs in France, with a handful of external production sites located strategically around the world. A report shared by the brand states that 76% of its pieces are manufactured exclusively within the brand’s own workshops, ensuring optimum continuity and quality across every single piece.
What’s more, the curation of thousands of jobs, both in production and sales, means that Hermès employs 19,700 people (as of December 2022) and can continue to expand in a way that regenerates regions in desperate need of economic investment.
What Makes Hermès Such a Coveted Luxury Brand?
In order to recognise the incredible influence that Hermès has on the luxury market, we need to dissect its approach to design, manufacturing, and release. Every authentic Hermès bag that is released on the market enjoys incredible demand and popularity, with the limited supply meaning that every bag fetches its maximum market value and continues to prove popular on the resale market via second-hand boutique sellers and auctions.
What’s more, Hermès is a brand with a history embedded in trends and timeless fashions. A series of collaborations have been used to keep the brand front of mind and relevant, while some of its most famous bags have been heralded, if not directly influenced, by figures of authority. Jane Birkin, for example, is the reason why the Hermès Birkin bag was conceived, following a flight sat alongside then-CEO Jean-Louis Dumas, where she outlined her need for a bag large enough to hold everything she needed as a young mum. Similarly, Grace Kelly used an Hermès bag to conceal a baby bump, with the brand subsequently renaming the bag to be known as the Hermès Kelly in recognition.
And then we have the quality, as mentioned already in this blog. Hermès is a brand committed to using the best of the best in terms of materials and manufacturing methods – ensuring that the pieces not only last the test of time but continue to remain coveted on the market, whether you use or invest and then sell.
Sustainable Practices for People and Planet
It’s not just through the provision of a safe and supportive workplace that Hermès supports and maintains its corporate responsibility. Various sustainable practices are woven throughout the brand’s operations, using and preserving its materials via sustainable methods, using traditional methods of crafting and manufacturing, and the optimisation of eco-design for long-lasting products.
It is important to note that, according to the brand, 92% of its leather is sourced in either France or Europe, while the provision of Hermès repair shops ensures that the brand’s commitment to long-lasting goods is able to be sustained and maintained for those who want to use as well as invest in and keep their Hermès bag.
With that in mind, how and where can you buy and sell an Hermès bag?
Buying and Selling Hermès: What You Need to Know
If owning your own Hermès bag is at the top of your wish list, or if you have an Hermès bag that you want to sell, then there are a few things you need to know.
The first and most important thing is that, with any luxury brand, the risk of scams is high – with counterfeit Hermès bags evident and ever-present on the market all over the world. Familiarise yourself with the hallmarks of an authentic Hermès and make sure to receive full authentication certification and a reputable valuation before buying.
Condition is also important, especially when selling an Hermès, with the most valuable models being those that come in their original packaging with all the receipts, in impeccable condition.
Finally, only ever deal with trustworthy boutique resellers and luxury goods buyers, with local stores that you can visit.