It is worth noting that fashion insiders estimate that the entire scarf production process can take up to two years from the initial design work to the final finishing step. Hermes designers have more than 200,000 colors to choose from for each scarf print. And just hand rolling and hemming each scarf takes about 40 minutes, so the creation of the scarf is time intensive, but the results indeed show the efforts involved and buyers seem to appreciate the effect.
In fact over the years, Hermès scarves have continued to draw a large audience of followers. In the 1980s, the company set a record with 1.123 million scarves sold. This translated to one scarf being sold every 20 seconds.
In addition, the most popular Hermès silk scarf print to date is called Brides de gala. Approximately one hundred thousand scarves portraying this design alone have been sold.
The standard sizes of Hermes scarves vary, but a smaller style is about 28 inches square, while a larger one is 36 inches square.
Famous Customers
Throughout its long history, the Hermès scarf has attracted many rich and famous people. For instance, Queen Elizabeth II wore this scarf when she appeared on a British postage stamp in 1956, as did Grace Kelly on the cover of Life Magazine that same year. In addition, Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, the duchess of Windsor and Maria Callas are among the well-known Hermès scarf fans. More contemporary celebrities seen wearing a Hermès scarf in recent years include Sharon Stone, Sarah Jessica Parker, Hillary Clinton, Mariah Carey, Elle McPherson and Madonna.
How To Wear
While most modern women appreciate the beauty and handwork of a Hermès scarf, many of them struggle with how to actually wear this accessory and make it work with their wardrobe and lifestyle. In fact, the possibilities are endless but they do take some creativity and persistence to figure out the best approach. Some women wear it on the head, around the neck, draped over the shoulders, tied around the waist or even dangling from the strap of a handbag. In addition, Grace Kelly used a Hermès scarf as a sling for a broken arm and Madonna once wore one as a halter top in a video. Hermès produces a guide with some of these and other suggestions and even offers illustrations to demonstrate how to wear it. No matter what technique you select, the scarf needs to be secured in some way, either with a knot, loop, brooch or scarf ring. (Hermès sells scarf rings meant for this purpose.)