Hermès

A Quick Overview Of Hermès

How to pronounce Hermès

Hermès is a French fashion house which is known for luxurious leather goods, beautiful silk scarves, fragrance, and ready to wear (prêt à porter) collections. They are not an haute couture brand, where houses will create one off masterpieces, hand-sewn and measured to perfection, but they are no less highbrow.

They are more exclusive than brands like Louis Vuitton. Their good fetch extraordinary prices, and some such as the Birkin are unavailable to the public. They are only offered to selected customers, even though they allude otherwise, saying that while a Birkin is a 'rare and precious thing'. Their vintage handbags, especially the iconic Birkin, can sell for in excess of $100 000 US. If you need to ask how much one is new, you can't afford it.

Interesting Note: The Birkin is named after Jane Birkin, English actress and singer. She was a style icon of her time and her marriage to French singer Serge Gainsbourg was sensationalised in the media

The horse and carriage has been their logo since the 1950's, although the house dates back to 1837.

A couple of pointers when you are pronouncing Hermès: they 'h' is silent; the 'er' does not sound like 'her' - it sounds more like 'air'; the final 's' sounds like a 's'. Don't make the mistake of pronouncing it with a 'z' sound in English. It sounds like 'air:mess'.

Hermès the brand vs Hermes the Greek god

In French, you say the name of the Greek god just like the fashion brand. In English, you draw a distinction if you want to sound knowledgeable. The Fashion Squad will snigger if you say 'Hermes' to rhyme with 'mercies', and the academics will raise an eyebrow at an English speaker who pronounces it like the fashion brand. Hermes was considered the 'messenger of the gods', one who moved between two worlds, the heavens and the earth. He was also credited with being a bringer of 'good luck'. If this page was useful, consider spreading the word!