Jean-Louis Dumas | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jean-Louis Robert Frédéric Dumas 2 February 1938 Paris, France |
| Died | 1 May 2010 (aged 72) Paris, France |
| Education | Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, designer |
| Known for | Hermès chairman and design chief |
| Board member of | Hermès |
| Spouse |
Rena Gregoriadès
(
m. 1962; died 2009) |
| Children | 2, including Pierre-Alexis |
| Relatives | Axel Dumas (cousin) |
Jean-Louis Robert Frédéric Dumas (2 February 1938 – 1 May 2010) was a French billionaire businessman who was the chairman of the Hermès group from 1978 to 2006. He was also the company's artistic director. [1] Dumas is credited with turning Hermès into a global luxury brand during his tenure as chairman. [1]
Early life and education
Jean-Louis Robert Frédéric Dumas was born in Paris, France, on 2 February 1938. He also used the last name Dumas-Hermès. His father was Robert Dumas, and his mother was one of Émile-Maurice Hermès' four daughters. Dumas' grandfather Émile-Maurice Hermès had been a grandson of the company founder Thierry Hermès. [2] Dumas attended the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris, also dubbed Sciences Po. [2] He also traveled in Iran, Afghanistan, and Nepal in a Citroën 2CV. [3] After travelling in Scandinavia and Czechoslovakia while the drummer of a jazz ensemble, Dumas was sent to Algeria to perform his compulsory military service. [2]
Career
In 1963, Dumas entered Bloomingdale's buyer-trainer program in New York. [2] In 1964, he joined Hermès, [2] which his family had founded in 1837. [1] Dumas later became CEO of the Hermès Group [2] and served as the company's artistic director. [1] His father died in 1978, and Dumas became chairman. [2] Expanding into the United States and Asia, [2] he turned Hermès into a global brand after taking in the chairmanship, adding interests in fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier and the Leica camera maker to the company. [1]
In the 1980s Gaultier was working on fashion design in Paris, with Belgian designer Martin Margiela working as his design assistant from 1984 to 1987. [4] He took the company public in 1993, with around 3/4 of the company remaining family-owned. [2] Jean Louis-Dumas retired as the chairman and artistic director of Hermès in January 2006 due to declining health. [1] He was replaced in the position by his son Pierre-Alexis Dumas.[ citation needed]
Family and death
His wife Rena Dumas (née Gregoriadès) (1937–2009) was a Greek-born architect who founded Rena Dumas Architecture Intérieure in 1972 in Paris. [5] [6] They married in 1962. [2] Pierre-Alexis Dumas is their son, [2] while their daughter Sandrine is a film actress. [2]
Jean-Louis Dumas died in Paris on 1 May 2010, at the age of 72. [1] He took photographs throughout his life, and in 2008, Steidl published Jean-Louis Dumas: Photographer, a collection of his photographs. [2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Longtime Hermes luxury group boss dies". Agence France Presse. The Independent. 2 May 2010. Archived from the original on 6 May 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m William Grimes, " Jean-Louis Dumas, Chief of Hermès, Dies at 72, The New York Times, 3 May 2010
- ^ Horwell, Veronica (10 May 2010), "Jean-Louis Dumas obituary", The Guardian
- ^ Leaper, Caroline (15 October 2012), "Martin Margiela", Vogue, retrieved 25 September 2015
- ^ "Dumas, Rena" in Mel Byars, The Design Encyclopedia, New York City: The Museum of Modern Art, 2004
- ^ Suzy Menkes, "Rena Dumas:Interior Design with a Soft Touch of Simplicity: from Greece, a Heritage of Light, The New York Times, 12 September 2000
Further reading
- "Jean-Louis-Dumas Biography". Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc. 16 June 2010.
- "Jean-Louis Dumas Obituary", The Telegraph, 3 May 2010
- Milligan, Lauren (4 May 2010), "Dumas Dies", Vogue
- Childs, Martin (31 May 2010), "Jean-Louis Dumas: Businessman who transformed Hermes into one of the world's leading luxury brands", The Independent
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
Jean-Louis Dumas | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jean-Louis Robert Frédéric Dumas 2 February 1938 Paris, France |
| Died | 1 May 2010 (aged 72) Paris, France |
| Education | Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, designer |
| Known for | Hermès chairman and design chief |
| Board member of | Hermès |
| Spouse |
Rena Gregoriadès
(
m. 1962; died 2009) |
| Children | 2, including Pierre-Alexis |
| Relatives | Axel Dumas (cousin) |
Jean-Louis Robert Frédéric Dumas (2 February 1938 – 1 May 2010) was a French billionaire businessman who was the chairman of the Hermès group from 1978 to 2006. He was also the company's artistic director. [1] Dumas is credited with turning Hermès into a global luxury brand during his tenure as chairman. [1]
Early life and education
Jean-Louis Robert Frédéric Dumas was born in Paris, France, on 2 February 1938. He also used the last name Dumas-Hermès. His father was Robert Dumas, and his mother was one of Émile-Maurice Hermès' four daughters. Dumas' grandfather Émile-Maurice Hermès had been a grandson of the company founder Thierry Hermès. [2] Dumas attended the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris, also dubbed Sciences Po. [2] He also traveled in Iran, Afghanistan, and Nepal in a Citroën 2CV. [3] After travelling in Scandinavia and Czechoslovakia while the drummer of a jazz ensemble, Dumas was sent to Algeria to perform his compulsory military service. [2]
Career
In 1963, Dumas entered Bloomingdale's buyer-trainer program in New York. [2] In 1964, he joined Hermès, [2] which his family had founded in 1837. [1] Dumas later became CEO of the Hermès Group [2] and served as the company's artistic director. [1] His father died in 1978, and Dumas became chairman. [2] Expanding into the United States and Asia, [2] he turned Hermès into a global brand after taking in the chairmanship, adding interests in fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier and the Leica camera maker to the company. [1]
In the 1980s Gaultier was working on fashion design in Paris, with Belgian designer Martin Margiela working as his design assistant from 1984 to 1987. [4] He took the company public in 1993, with around 3/4 of the company remaining family-owned. [2] Jean Louis-Dumas retired as the chairman and artistic director of Hermès in January 2006 due to declining health. [1] He was replaced in the position by his son Pierre-Alexis Dumas.[ citation needed]
Family and death
His wife Rena Dumas (née Gregoriadès) (1937–2009) was a Greek-born architect who founded Rena Dumas Architecture Intérieure in 1972 in Paris. [5] [6] They married in 1962. [2] Pierre-Alexis Dumas is their son, [2] while their daughter Sandrine is a film actress. [2]
Jean-Louis Dumas died in Paris on 1 May 2010, at the age of 72. [1] He took photographs throughout his life, and in 2008, Steidl published Jean-Louis Dumas: Photographer, a collection of his photographs. [2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Longtime Hermes luxury group boss dies". Agence France Presse. The Independent. 2 May 2010. Archived from the original on 6 May 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m William Grimes, " Jean-Louis Dumas, Chief of Hermès, Dies at 72, The New York Times, 3 May 2010
- ^ Horwell, Veronica (10 May 2010), "Jean-Louis Dumas obituary", The Guardian
- ^ Leaper, Caroline (15 October 2012), "Martin Margiela", Vogue, retrieved 25 September 2015
- ^ "Dumas, Rena" in Mel Byars, The Design Encyclopedia, New York City: The Museum of Modern Art, 2004
- ^ Suzy Menkes, "Rena Dumas:Interior Design with a Soft Touch of Simplicity: from Greece, a Heritage of Light, The New York Times, 12 September 2000
Further reading
- "Jean-Louis-Dumas Biography". Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc. 16 June 2010.
- "Jean-Louis Dumas Obituary", The Telegraph, 3 May 2010
- Milligan, Lauren (4 May 2010), "Dumas Dies", Vogue
- Childs, Martin (31 May 2010), "Jean-Louis Dumas: Businessman who transformed Hermes into one of the world's leading luxury brands", The Independent
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |