Hermès Faubourg Saint-Honoré – The Soul of Parisian Craftsmanship

Hermès Faubourg Saint-Honoré – The Soul of Parisian Craftsmanship

At 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, visitors encounter one of the most important addresses in the history of Hermès. The House itself began earlier, in 1837, when Thierry Hermès established a harness-making workshop in Paris. In 1880, his son Charles-Émile Hermès moved the workshops to No. 24 and opened a store where clients could order bespoke harnesses and saddles.

That equestrian beginning still matters. Saddlery, leather craftsmanship and the relationship between beauty and practical use became foundations from which Hermès gradually developed into a much wider Maison. Today, 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré remains an emblematic Paris address and a particularly meaningful place to discover the different métiers of Hermès.

From Saddles & Harnesses to a Complete Maison

Hermès did not begin as a conventional fashion house. Thierry Hermès was a harness-maker, creating equipment for horses and carriages at a time when durability, lightness and precision were practical necessities rather than decorative ideas.

As modes of transport and everyday life changed, Hermès adapted. Saddlery and harness-making expanded into luggage and leather goods, while the Maison gradually developed clothing, silk, jewellery, watches and other objects.

This history helps explain why craftsmanship remains so central to Hermès. The value of an object is not intended to come from a logo alone, but from the relationship between material, construction, function and the hand of the artisan.

Hermès Bags & Leather Goods

Leather goods are among the most recognised expressions of the Maison today. Hermès has created numerous bag families over generations, including the celebrated Kelly and Birkin, alongside other handbags, travel pieces and small leather goods.

For visitors interested in Hermès leather, it is worth looking beyond the name of a particular bag. Different leathers have different textures, structures and ways of ageing, while handles, closures, stitching and internal construction reveal much of the technical work behind an object.

Specific models, colours, sizes and leathers should never be assumed to be available during a visit. Hermès collections and boutique availability change, making flexibility useful if you are exploring leather goods in Paris.

Hermès Silk & the Carré

The first Hermès silk scarf was introduced in 1937, a century after the founding of the House. The carré has since become another important Hermès signature, combining illustration, colour and textile craftsmanship within its distinctive square format.

Silk offers a very different introduction to Hermès from leather goods. Scarves, twillies and other silk pieces allow visitors to explore changing designs, colours and artistic collaborations, while the way a scarf is folded or tied can completely alter its appearance.

Fashion for Women & Men

Hermès today extends across complete wardrobes for women and men. Ready-to-wear, coats, jackets, knitwear, trousers, dresses, shirts and seasonal pieces translate the House’s interest in materials and construction into clothing.

Footwear and accessories expand the wardrobe further through shoes, belts, hats, gloves and other pieces. Some designs carry immediately recognisable Hermès codes, while others are considerably more discreet.

Jewellery, Watches & Accessories

The Hermès universe also encompasses fine jewellery, fashion jewellery, watches and accessories. Equestrian references frequently reappear in these collections through chains, buckles, links and other forms derived from the House’s history.

For visitors looking for an important gift rather than a handbag, these categories — together with silk, small leather goods, fragrance and accessories — provide many other ways to explore Hermès craftsmanship.

The Equestrian Heritage of Hermès

Despite the international recognition of its fashion and leather goods, the horse remains fundamental to the identity of Hermès. The Maison’s earliest expertise was built around harnesses and saddles, and equestrian culture continues to inform its vocabulary, materials and objects.

Understanding this origin makes many familiar Hermès details easier to read. Saddlery stitching, straps, buckles and harness-inspired forms are not simply decorative references added later; they connect contemporary objects with the technical world from which the House emerged.

Why 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré Matters

The importance of No. 24 is therefore historical as well as commercial. Hermès has occupied the address since 1880, when Charles-Émile Hermès transferred the workshops there and opened a store for bespoke harnesses and saddles.

Over generations, the address became inseparable from the identity of the Maison. Even the Hermès fragrance 24 Faubourg takes its name from this Paris location, underlining the symbolic importance of the building within the history of the House.

What Is Near Hermès Faubourg Saint-Honoré?

The boutique sits within the 8th arrondissement, in a particularly interesting part of central Paris for walking.

The Élysée Palace and Place Beauvau are close by, while Le Bristol Paris provides a nearby palace-hotel stop for dining or drinks.

Continue west along Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré towards Avenue Matignon and the Champs-Élysées, or walk east towards Rue Royale and Place de la Concorde. The Madeleine is also within an easy walk, making this a useful area to combine shopping with architecture, food and a wider exploration of the historic centre.

Is 24 Faubourg Worth Visiting?

For someone interested in Hermès as a Maison rather than one particular product, yes. This is an address where the history of the House and contemporary Hermès meet, making it particularly meaningful for a first visit in Paris.

It is equally worth visiting without a Birkin or Kelly as the sole objective. Leather goods are only one part of Hermès: silk, fashion, shoes, jewellery, watches, fragrance, accessories and equestrian heritage together tell a much richer story of the House.

TLC Paris tip: On a first visit to 24 Faubourg, allow yourself to explore beyond the item you initially came to see. Look closely at the leather, stitching, silk, hardware and construction across different departments. Hermès becomes much more interesting when you see the connections between its equestrian beginnings and the objects it creates today.