Grace Wales Bonner Named Creative Director of Hermès Men's Wear
British fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner, known for her cerebral and soft-spoken approach to fashion, has been appointed creative director of men's wear at Hermès, a prominent French fashion house. At 35, Bonner is the first-ever Black woman to lead design at a major fashion house. She will take over the position from Véronique Nichanian, who stepped down after 37 years. Bonner's first collection for Hermès will be shown in January 2027, marking a new chapter in her career.
Key Takeaways:
- Bonner is the first-ever Black woman to lead design at a major fashion house, shattering the industry's current inclination toward creative directors who share two criteria: pale and male.
- Bonner has been a top candidate for major jobs at luxury labels for years, including Louis Vuitton and Givenchy.
- She has founded her namesake label in 2014, straight out of London's Central Saint Martins College of Art, and has had a longstanding collaboration with Adidas.
- Bonner's collections pull inspiration from the Black diaspora, including her debut collection "Ebonics" and a recent collection featuring "WB" varsity jackets with Black American colleges as a starting point.
- She has won numerous design awards and has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
- Bonner has demonstrated a shrewd commercial eye, achieving success with her Adidas collaboration and turning the label's once-stale Samba sneaker into a must-have.
Statistics:
- Véronique Nichanian stepped down as artistic director of Hermès men's wear division after 37 years.
- Grace Wales Bonner will show her first collection for Hermès in January 2027.
- Bonner has collaborated with Adidas on numerous projects, including her silver-tipped version of the Millennium sneaker and her Big Bird yellow version of the mesh SL76 shoe.
Sources:
- Bafic for The New York Times
- System magazine
- The New York Times
- The New York Times (2023)
- Dior
- Adidas
- Central Saint Martins College of Art