Established in 1837 by Thierry Hermès, Hermès was originally founded as a harness workshop in the Grands Boulevards quarter of Paris. In 1880 the shop moved to 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, which remains its base today. At the beginning of the twentieth century Hermès began to expand its product lines, becoming the luxury goods house we recognise today. They released their first leather handbag in 1922 and their first women’s couture collection in 1929.

In 1937 Hermès debuted its first silk scarf (carré), which was printed with the design Jeu des Omnibus et Dames Blanches. Hermès’s scarves have since become one of the company’s best-known products and they have released over 2000 different designs between 1937 and 1995.

This scarf was designed by Annie Faivre for the Spring/Summer 2013 collection. She was inspired by concept that the unicorn is the mythological sister of the horse and has suggested that the design shows a unicorn travelling through an equestrian dreamland, exploring different civilisations including ancient Assyria and tenth-century Caucasus. The concept has strong roots in the history of Hermès as a harness workshop and bridals and straps are a key feature of the design.