THE HERMÉS SCARF. History & Mystique

A glorious insider’s view on Hermès' richly coloured world for fashionistas everywhere The fashion gift book for Christmas 2009 292 colour illustrations show these iconic patterns up close and in exquisite detail From classic designs that embody the house’s tradition to the wildly imaginative stylings of contemporary designers, each of the scarves featured in this book conveys a mood and every one tells a story The motifs range from the equestrian themes that are internationally associated with the Hermès brand, through French history and the natural world to global cultures Thumbnails of all the featured designs are included in the endmatter for quick and easy reference.

The Hermès scarf is one of the greatest fashion icons of all time. Worn by royalty and celebrities, coveted and admired, and now avidly collected, this deceptively simple square of silk is much more than just an accessory: it is the stuff of legend. Now for the first time the heritage and influence of House of Hermès is fully explored, from the first scarf’s debut in 1937 right up to the present day.

Nadine Coleno is an author and editor whose books include works on fashion, jewellery, contemporary art and architecture.

About Hermès:

Almost two centuries ago, a royal coronation might be delayed until the arrival of its exquisitely stitched Hermès carriage fittings, just as today even the richest women must wait for an exquisitely stitched Hermès Birkin bag. With the family-run French company passing to a sixth generation, this book chronicles its rise to global pre-eminence, where a modern aesthetic meets the humble tools - awls, mallets, needles, knives, and stones - of unsurpassed tradition. For 28 years, from 1978 to 2006, the most quotable voice in retail - pragmatic, poetic - came from Jean-Louis Dumas, the head of a company that in every other way speaks with its hands. It is an old company with a Protestant spine and a Parisian perfectionism, one of the oldest family-owned-and-controlled companies in France.