Historic Shift at Hermès: Grace Wales Bonner Succeeds Véronique Nichanian

Hermès, the epitome of French luxury, embarks on a transformative journey as it welcomes Grace Wales Bonner as the new creative visionary for its men’s division. This appointment signifies a pivotal moment for the maison, blending Bonner’s British-Jamaican flair with Hermès’ storied heritage.

Hermès begins a new chapter. The French luxury maison has appointed designer Grace Wales Bonner as the new creative director of its men’s division, marking a turning point in the firm’s creations. Of British-Jamaican origin, Bonner succeeds Véronique Nichanian, who left last week after 37 years at the helm of the line, becoming the longest-serving creator in the artistic direction of a fashion brand.

Pierre-Alexis Dumas, a member of the sixth generation of the founding family and artistic director of Hermès, has stressed that the contemporary vision of Wales Bonner “will continue to shape the style of the men’s line, combining his view of the times with the heritage of the house. Dumas has also underlined “his taste and curiosity for artistic practice”, in tune with the creative approach and legacy of Hermès.

“Starting this new chapter and joining a house with such a lineage of craftsmen and creators is a dream for me,“ acknowledged the designer on the occasion of her appointment as head of the brand’s menswear collections. Although the name of the British Kim Jones, former creative director of Dior Men, was part of the pools to replace Nichanian, finally the chosen one has been a creative of the sector, a regular of the Parisian fashion week.

Graduated in 2014 from Central Saint Martins, Grace Wales Bonner has built a singular discourse around the visual and intellectual experience of black culture, with an aesthetic language that balances British Savile Row tailoring and streetwear influences. His proposal combines identity, formal rigor and socio-cultural reflection, a synthesis that has earned him recognition on the international scene.

Grace Wales Bonner will take over from Véronique Nichanian after almost four decades of design.

After her debut in London with the Ebonics collection, which earned her the British Fashion Award for best emerging menswear designer, the creator was awarded the LVMH Prize in 2016, consolidating her position as one of the most promising voices of her generation and positioning herself as an emerging talent on the demanding Parisian scene.

Over the last decade, Wales Bonner has expanded her eponymous brand into women’s fashion, signing media collaborations with brands such as Adidas and Dior, and curated an exhibition for MoMA New York in 2023. That same year she was a special guest at the Florentine menswear show Pitti Uomo, reinforcing her connection to European-rooted craftsmanship and tailoring.

The appointment comes at a time of strength for Hermès’ menswear division, traditionally one of the group’s most stable areas, although less representative in terms of turnover. The family-owned company, which is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and closed 2024 with double-digit growth, maintains a model based on discretion, internal control of its production and a narrative centered on exclusivity and artisanal excellence.

Industry sources suggested that Hermès would opt for continuity, avoiding a disruptive turn in a segment that embodies the group’s most classic values. However, the arrival of Wales Bonner introduces a generational and cultural nuance that could open a new stage without altering the identity balance of the maison.

The appointment coincides with the imminent presentation of the results of the third quarter, scheduled for Wednesday before the market opening, a context that adds excitement to the movement. The designer will make her debut at Paris Fashion Week next January, inheriting a legacy of precision, sobriety and savoir-faire.