There’s a big Hermès birthday on the horizon, but it seems to be under the radar. For now, anyway. 2025 represents the 100th anniversary of the color Rouge H (also called Rouge Hermès).
Image courtesy @im.trangdang
Always one of the most popular Hermès colors, Rouge H was created in 1925 for leather. Hermès calls it “an emblematic color of the House of Hermès” described as:
“A very elegant dark red with a hint of brown, verging on burgundy.”
This deep red shade has become known as the Hermès red, even as the brand offers a plethora of other reds. If you’re comparing Hermès reds, Rouge H is considered to sit somewhere between Rouge Sellier and Rouge Grenat. The former (Rouge Sellier) is described as a burgundy red with a brown undertone, whereas the latter (Rouge Grenat) has hints of purple.
Rouge H and Rouge Sellier. Image courtesy: @tamara
Rouge Grenat (Left) & Rouge H (Right) Images courtesy: @mehrnaznadine & @abihoffman
Like so many Hermès shades, though, Rouge H is a bit of a chameleon, depending on the leather used. In Box Leather, Rouge H reads as a brownish red. However, when you see Rouge H in exotic skins, the effect is brighter and appears more red in tone. [need some pix for examples]
Rouge H Box calfskin leather. Image courtesy: @eumliah
Rouge H Chèvre leather. Image courtesy: @trufflebear
While Rouge H may not be one of the first colors Hermès fans crave, when it comes to leather, it is as classic as Black and Gold, never out of style even if difficult to attain, at least in handbags. Since burgundy shades have dominated much of the 2024-25 fashion world, the anniversary comes at a fitting time to honor the shade.
The influence of Rouge H extends beyond leather to other Hermès products. Most notably, as Hermès expanded its offerings to include beauty, its lipstick line was named Rouge Hermès – suggesting a link to the classic leather shade. In the lipstick and nail polish color offerings, Rouge H remains one of the most popular colors.
Image courtesy: hermes.com
Go further into Hermès, and you’ll find Rouge H in silks, blankets, footwear, jewelry, and small leather items.
Image courtesy: hermes.com
Image courtesy: hermes.com
Image courtesy: hermes.com
Image courtesy: hermes.com
Image courtesy: hermes.com
Image courtesy: hermes.com
Can we expect a special release for this 100th anniversary? Might there be limited edition special pieces or a dedicated campaign to honor Rouge H? We can’t wait to see how Hermès honors the hallmark color this year.
- Maura Carlin posted 4 days ago
- last edited 4 days ago
