(photo © Hermes Paris)
Robert Dumas
married to Jacqueline Hermes (4th Generation)
Robert Dumas Hermes is born in Paris 1898 November 10.

His father in law Emile Maurice Hermes
gets along with his sons in law and integrates them into the
management of his Hermes company.

Robert Dumas becomes CEO of Hermes in 1951
after the death of his fawer in law.
He closely cooperates with his brother in law,
the perfumer Jean René Guarrand.

Robert Dumas very much continues
the line of his father in law
continuing to expand the line of beautiful Hermes accessories.

One of his improvements concern a extra large handbag
initially invented by Hermes in 1892
to carry horse boots and a harness.

The bag had already been modified in 1923 by Emile Maurice Hermes
for Julie Bugatti, the wife of the automobile constructor
Ettore Bugatti. It was called Torpedo N°1

1930 Robert Dumas decides to produce the bag in a smaller version for Ladies,
suitable to carry all kinds of smaller objects.
1935 a newer version is created, a little smaller adding a belt.
The bag is called "Sac à Depèches".

1955 something unexpected happens.
A young American Actress
Grace Kelly is in Paris
and she discovers the Hermes Store on 24 rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré.
She buys the "Sac à Depèches".

1956 a picture will make the Hermes Bag become
a worldwide fashion symbol.
It is the one showing Grace Kelly with her Fiancée, Prince Rainier of Monaco.
She uses the bag to cover the fact that she was pregnant.
The picture published by Life magazine
and reproduced on hundreds of magazine covers worldwide
had a phenomenal fashion impact.
Women are pooring onto the Hermes Boutiques asking for a "Kelly Bag".


Grace Kelly, later Princess Grace of Monaco
is photographed with the bag for Life magazine.
She keeps using the bag to hide the pregnancy
with her daughter Caroline from photographers.
Doing so the bag is exposed over and over again and becomes a fashion symbol.
Princess Grace becoming Hermes's most valuable Fashion Model.