Founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès as a saddlery company, the business has remained mostly in the control of the Hermès family for almost two hundred years. Today, the house of Hermès produces ready-to-wear fashion, home decor, jewelery, luggage, and fragrances as well as saddles. Emile-Maurice Hermès, Thierry's successor, shifted the focus of the company at the turn of the 20th century away from the horse and towards plane, car, and train travel. Hermès manufactured trunks, bags, and overnight cases from its signature saddle leather. Emile also purchased the building at Rue Faubourg St.-Honoré 24 in Paris, which still houses the flagship store as well as workshops.

Robert Dumas, the husband of one of Emile's four daughters, introduced Hermès ties, fragrances, and beach towels. His son, Jean-Louis Dumas-Hermès, was the fifth Chairman of Hermès, and led the company from 1978 until January 2006, when he retired. Patrick Thomas, his successor, joined the company in 1989 and is the current CEO.

By 2007, Hermes had these boutiques in the United States: New York, Beverly Hills, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Westport, CT, Americana Manhasset, Bal Harbour, Palm Beach Naples South Coast Plaza, Dallas, Houston, Troy, Michigan, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Palo Alto, CA Atlanta, Charlotte, King of Prussia, Vienna, Virginia, Las Vegas, and Honolulu at the Ala Moana Center, and Waikiki. Hermès has plans to open more boutiques in Natick Collection(2008), Denver(2008), Bellevue(2009), and Scottsdale(2009).