Hermes was founded by Frenchman Thierry Hermes in 1837 as a saddles and leather goods company. Hermes' first women's collection was shown in Paris in 1929, and the firm later added scarves and bags to its portfolio. Hermes introduced its first perfume, Caleche, in 1961. Since 1998, the company's ready-to-wear collection has been designed by Martin Margiela.