Grace Wales Bonner Named Menswear Creative Director at Hermès

In a defining moment for the fashion industry, Hermès has appointed Grace Wales Bonner as its new Creative Director of Men’s Ready-to-Wear —a historic move that makes her the first Black woman to lead design at a major European luxury house.

The British designer, 35, who launched her namesake menswear label in 2014 and maintains a longstanding collaboration with Adidas, will present her debut collection for Hermès in January 2027.

Wales Bonner will take the reins from Véronique Nichanian, who recently stepped down after an extraordinary 37-year tenure, one of the longest in fashion history. Nichanian’s departure marks the end of a storied era for Hermès, as the house looks toward a future shaped by Wales Bonner’s refined balance of culture, craftsmanship, and intellect.

“I am very happy to welcome Grace into our family of artistic directors,” said Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Hermès’ artistic director. “Her contemporary vision of fashion, craftsmanship, and culture will continue to shape the style of Hermès men’s ready-to-wear, confidently blending her perspective on the times with the house’s heritage. Grace’s taste and curiosity for artistic practice strongly resonate with Hermès’ creative approach. This is only the beginning of a dialogue that will continue to grow.”

In response, Wales Bonner shared her gratitude and excitement for the new chapter:

“I am deeply honored. Beginning this new chapter and joining such a lineage of artisans and creators is a dream for me. I express my sincere gratitude to Axel Dumas and Pierre-Alexis Dumas for giving me the opportunity to bring my vision to this truly magical house.”

Born in London to an English mother and Jamaican father, Wales Bonner has spent the past decade redefining the language of menswear through a lens that merges intellectual depth with elegant minimalism. A Central Saint Martins graduate, she first gained attention with her 2014 thesis collection “Afrique”, which won the L’Oréal Professionnel Talent Award and set the tone for her culturally resonant approach to design.

Immediately after graduating, she established her eponymous menswear brand, known for its exploration of Black identity and global luxury. Her debut collection, “Ebonics” (2015), earned her the British Fashion Award for Emerging Menswear Designer, and by 2018, she expanded into womenswear—further broadening her dialogue between fashion, history, and modern expression.

Her ascent has been meteoric. In 2016, she received the LVMH Young Designer Prize, solidifying her place among fashion’s brightest innovators. Blending Savile Row tailoring with Afro-Atlantic narratives and subtle streetwear elements, Wales Bonner’s work exists at the crossroads of heritage and modernity.

Her creative reach extends beyond fashion. She has collaborated with Adidas, Dior, and artist Kerry James Marshall, and in 2023 served as the guest designer at Pitti Uomo before curating an exhibition for MoMA’s “Artist’s Choice” series in New York—affirming her status as one of the most thoughtful voices bridging art and design.

Now, as she joins the storied ranks of Hermès, Grace Wales Bonner’s appointment represents both progress and poetic justice. Her vision—rooted in intellect, identity, and craftsmanship—aligns perfectly with the house’s timeless codes while pushing them toward a more inclusive, forward-thinking horizon.

When Wales Bonner unveils her first collection for Hermès in January 2027, the fashion world will witness the next evolution of modern luxury— a dialogue between legacy and liberation, tradition and transformation.