Hermès Ties: A History Since 1949
Born out of necessity, in Cannes
The story of the Hermès tie begins in 1949, at the brand's Cannes branch, located right next to the city's Casino. At the time, entry to a casino was subject to strict dress codes, and a tie was mandatory. Customers turned away at the entrance for not wearing a tie naturally came to Hermès, right next door, to buy one. The demand became so great that Bobby Breward, director of the Cannes store, informed the brand's management.
This is how the first Hermès silk tie was born, two years before the brand ventured into a new category, perfumery.
Integrated manufacturing, a rarity in the sector
From its beginnings, Hermès chose to produce its ties in-house, a process known as vertically integrated manufacturing. This is far from the norm in the luxury tie sector, where many houses use external manufacturers. This complete control, from silk to tailoring, partly explains the graphic and qualitative consistency of Hermès ties over the decades.
Today, Hermès sells nearly two million ties worldwide each year, making it one of the most essential brands in the sector.
A graphic heritage
Hermès ties come in various widths; older ones tend to be wide, while contemporary styles are narrower. Each tie bears a four-digit model number that allows the design, year, and colorway to be traced in the Hermès archives—a system that is highly useful for authenticating and dating vintage pieces. Ties featuring small animal motifs are particularly popular!
A signature tie since 1949
Since their creation, Hermès ties have drawn from the same graphic vocabulary as their silk scarves: horse heads, equestrian mastery, geometric motifs inspired by the world of saddlery. Some models even directly feature designs originally created for scarves, reinforcing the stylistic coherence between the two worlds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Since when has Hermès been manufacturing ties? Since 1949, following a demand born at the Cannes branch, located near a casino that required wearing a tie.
Does Hermès manufacture its ties itself? Yes, Hermès has produced its ties in-house from the beginning, a vertically integrated manufacturing process rare in the sector.
How to date a vintage Hermès tie? Thanks to its label for the period and more precisely thanks to its four-digit model number, which allows one to find the design, year, and color in the brand's archives.
