On October 21, French luxury house Hermès announced the appointment of British designer Grace Wales Bonner as the new Artistic Director of its menswear division. The move marks a historic transition for the maison, following the departure of Véronique Nichanian, who had led Hermès’ men’s collections for 37 years.
Continuity and Evolution at Hermès
Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Hermès’ General Artistic Director, expressed his thoughts in an official statement:
“Her take on contemporary fashion, craft and culture will contribute to shaping Hermès men’s style, melding the house’s heritage with a confident look on the now. Grace’s appetite and curiosity for artistic practice strongly resonate with Hermès’ creative mindset and approach. This is only the beginning of a dialogue that will continue to grow,” he said.
Wales Bonner also shared her gratitude and excitement about joining the maison:
“I am deeply honoured to be entrusted with the role of Creative Director of Hermès Men’s Ready-to-Wear. It is a dream realised to embark on this new chapter, following in a lineage of inspired craftspeople and designers. I wish to express my gratitude to Pierre-Alexis Dumas and Axel Dumas for the opportunity to bring my vision to this magical house,” she stated.
A Design Philosophy Weaving Intelligence and Culture
Wales Bonner graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2014, earning the L’Oréal Professional Talent Award for her graduate collection “Afrique.” The following year, she launched her eponymous label, Wales Bonner, which has since become known for its reimagined tailoring and intellectual yet poetic exploration of cultural identity. Drawing inspiration from the African diaspora, music, literature, and the arts, her work blends historical narrative with modern sensibility.
Her achievements include the CFDA International Men’s Designer of the Year (2021) and British Menswear Designer of the Year (2024). In addition to a long-standing collaboration with Adidas, she has worked with Dior and artist Kerry James Marshall, and curated for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York as part of its Artist’s Choice series. These projects illustrate her ability to transcend the boundaries between fashion and art.
A New Chapter for Women in Luxury Leadership
The year 2025 has been marked by a wave of leadership transitions across the luxury fashion industry, with most of the top creative positions filled by male designers. In this context, Wales Bonner’s appointment at Hermès stands out as a symbolic step toward rebalancing gender representation at the highest levels of fashion leadership.
Her first collection for the house is scheduled to debut in January 2027.
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