Creative Transition at Fendi: Maria Grazia Chiuri Steps In Under LVMH’s Confirmation

LVMH puts an end to the creative soap opera with Maria Grazia Chiuri, opening a new chapter in the history of Fendi with a familiar face. The Italian fashion designer will return to the Italian house to assume the position of global creative director, an unprecedented position in the structure of the brand, as announced by the French group through a statement.

After her departure from Dior last May, when the creative was relieved by Irish Jonathan Anderson, Chiuri returns to the place where she began her career in 1989. At that time, the designer was part of the accessories team that drove one of the brightest eras of the firm also owned by the LVMH group.

“Maria Grazia Chiuri is one of the greatest creative talents in fashion today, and I am delighted that she has chosen to return to Fendi,“ said Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of the conglomerate. “I am convinced that she will contribute to the artistic renewal and future success of the maison, perpetuating its unique heritage,“ he added, clearing up any doubts about the creative’s possible departure from the group, after a farewell to Dior that was not without rumors.

The first women’s collection under her direction will be presented in February 2026 during Milan Fashion Week, followed by the men’s collection in June and Haute Couture in July. The decision to concentrate all lines under a single creative direction marks a strategic shift in Fendi’s structure, which until now had divided management by category.

LVMH has given Fendi a new role for a new cycle

“This is a time of uncertainty in the sector, but also of opportunity if creativity is understood as a driving force,“ explained Spaniard Ramon Ros, Fendi’s CEO since July, in an interview. “You need someone with determination, absolute control of the craft and a strong vision that cuts through the noise and focuses on the product,“ the executive argued.

Ros also stressed that the position will allow Chiuri to “fully express her vision”, transcending garment design to “create culture and reflect the world we live in”. For Ros, the appointment will provide the brand with long-term narrative coherence.

The Italian designer has also celebrated the symbolic weight of her return. “I return to Fendi with honor and joy, after having had the privilege of starting my career under the guidance of the founders, the five Fendi sisters,“ said Chiuri in the same statement. “This house has always been a forge of talent and a school for generations of creatives,“ she stressed.

Chiuri’s appointment comes just weeks after Silvia Venturini Fendi was named honorary president of the maison. Venturini Fendi, granddaughter of the founders, has played a key role in the creative continuity of the brand following the departure of British Kim Jones in 2024. Between 1992 and 2019, she shared artistic direction alongside Karl Lagerfeld and has been responsible for accessories and menswear for three decades.

Silvia Venturini Fendi left the brand’s top line a few weeks ago

Ros also remarked that the fact that Chiuri knows the house from the inside will strengthen the link between the past and the future. “With Silvia as honorary president, it will give more visibility to the archive, which is not always sufficiently recognized outside,“ he said, insisting that the company “is working to write the next chapter of the next hundred years of Fendi.“

The relationship between the two designers is fluid, which is an advantage in the long-term vision. Venturini Fendi attended Chiuri’s last runway show for Dior last May. The arrival of the Italian does not represent a break, but a transition articulated on the continuity of the family heritage and the legacy of craftsmanship that distinguishes the brand.

Chiuri’s career has been defined by her ability to connect creativity with commercial success. During her nine years at the helm of Dior, the designer was instrumental in the brand’s expansion. According to estimates by HSBC holdings, turnover rose from €2.2 billion in 2017 to €8.7 billion in 2024. Her collections, recognizable by codes such as the Bar jacket, tulle skirts or Book Tote bags and slingbacks, combined a feminist narrative with highly successful products.

Before her time at Dior, Chiuri was co-creative director at Valentino with Pierpaolo Piccioli, with whom she also coincided during her early years at Fendi. The two are credited with developing some of the biggest commercial successes in contemporary fashion, such as the Baguette bag at Fendi and Rockstud shoes at Valentino.