Jean-Louis Dumas, the patriach of the luxury firm Hermes, has died at age 72. Dumas' mother was a grandchild of Hermes' founder Thierry Hermes. Dumas led Hermes from 1978 until his retirement in 2006. The Telegraph'sobituary says Hermes' famous Birkin bag was created under Dumas' leadership.
Under his leadership, the firm created iconic products such as the Birkin bag, inspired by the actress and singer Jane Birkin. He also revitalised the brand by taking on Jean Paul Gaultier as a designer; and he took the business into new markets such as China.
Jean-Louis Dumas was born on February 2 1938 in Paris. His mother was one of the four daughters of Emile Hermès, and a grandchild of Thierry Hermès, who had founded the business in 1837. The company, initially a purveyor of handcrafted bridles and saddles to the rich, had soon diversified to supply equally exclusive leather goods, accessories and clothing to customers who included the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) and the Tsar of Russia.
