Hermes opened his shop in 1837, but didn’t stay in one place very long

During the 1930s, Hermes produced some of his most recognized goods. The leather Sac a depeches (later renamed the Kelly bag) was introduced in 1935, and in 1937 the Hermes carre (scarves) debuted. The 30s also celebrated Hermes’ 100th anniversary, and witnessed the entrance in the U.S. market by way of the Neiman Marcus department store in New York.• The Birkin Bag: Typically made from crocodile, alligator, ostrich-skin, or other plain leathers, it sports a metal-tipped clasp that can be fastened with a tiny padlock. The key is often hidden in the leather and dangles close by from the handle.
• The Constance shoulder bag: This Hermes purse is a simple design, and varies only slightly from the Constance clutch. The shoulder bag offers a double strap, and both have the large H clasp.
• The Trim shoulder bag: A favorite of Jacqueline Bouvie Onasis, this Hermes handbag is an elegant favorite. It boasts a simple, single strap with a belted buckle, and a dainty chain clasp.
• The Birkin: Named after Jane Birkin, this Chanel bag offers sturdy double straps, a simplistic clasp, and comes in the traditional “envelope” style.After his death in 1951, Emile-Maurice Hermes was succeeded by Robert Dumas-Hermes, his relative by marriage. Dumas-Hermes introduced the carriage and horse logo and well-known orange Hermes boxes. He was first and foremost a businessman with a mind toward marketing, and in 1956 when the new princess of Monaco was spotted carrying the Sac a depeches Hermes handbag, he promptly renamed it the Kelly Bag. The shot of Princess Grace appeared in Life magazine, and by the late 1950s, the Hermes Birkin logo reached renowned status.
The company changed hands again in 1970, when Jean Louis Dumas-Hermes took over from his father. He later launched an advertising campaign that took the discreet Hermes name from “old people’s nostalgia” to the subject of a young person’s dreams. He strengthened the marketing for the fashion house and strove for excellence. By this time, women were sporting the Hermes Kelly bag and the Constance clutch, their heads and necks adorned with Hermes’ trademark brightly colored scarves. Bold Hermes jewelry and sensuous cashmeres only added to the sense of class and luxury.
Some of the most recognized women in the world carry designer Hermes handbags. Among these are Nicole Kidman, Paris Hilton, Madonna, and the Duchess of Windsor. Below are descriptions of the company’s most popular Hermes purses: