
An employee works to set up the scarfs inside Hermes store in New Delhi, India on March 14, 2012.
Their silk, square scarves are among the world’s most expensive pieces of fabric, which would explain why Hermes was named the second most valuable luxury brand in 2012, behind Louis Vuitton. But it’s the company’s growth—61% over the last year—that explains why the brand is a natural fit on this list.