Hermès may be nearly 200 years old. But astronomical growth means it’s ‘an old lady with startup issues,’ its artistic director says

Hermes store on Bond Street on 28th August 2024 in London (Credit: Mike Kemp—In Pictures/Getty Images)

Hermès has long held a special place in luxury-seekers’ eyes as one of the most elite brands from which to own bags and scarves. Its popularity has been no secret—still, in the past decade, sales have popped 226%, taking the brand to new heights. 

With that sort of boom, particularly amid a recent slowdown in the luxury industry, it’s hard to think of Hermès as just a dusty old company that’s been around for nearly two centuries.