In 1821, after losing much of his family to diseases and the Napoleonic Wars, Thierry moved to Normandy, where in the town of Pont-Audemer he learned the craft of sellier-harnacheur, that is, the maker of reins and bridles, working with the Plémar family who employed him in their business. In 1828, Thierry Hermès married Christine Petronille Pierrat, and their first son, Charles-Émile, who would later succeed his father, was born in 1831. The family later moved to Paris, and in 1837 Thierry capitalized on his skill by opening the first equestrian goods business on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. There, he made bridles, saddlery, and carriage equipment from leather and wrought iron. He gained a reputation especially for his exceptionally durable saddle stitching, which was done by hand using two needles that passed two waxed cotton threads for elastic resistance. With this unique sewing method, one or more stitches could break, but the rest would remain intact, and this particular technique is still used today by the House of Hermès in the production of their bags.