In a landmark move for the fashion industry, Grace Wales Bonner has been named the new creative director of menswear at Hermès. The 35-year-old British designer will take over from Véronique Nichanian, who has led the division for nearly four decades. Her inaugural collection is scheduled to debut in January 2027.
Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Hermès’s general artistic director, expressed enthusiasm about the appointment, highlighting Wales Bonner’s artistic curiosity and its alignment with the brand’s creative philosophy.
Since founding her own label in 2014 after graduating from Central Saint Martins, Wales Bonner has built a reputation for thoughtful, craft-focused design. Her work often explores themes of Black identity and cultural heritage, blending influences from tailoring, art, and global traditions. She is expected to continue leading her own brand while taking on her new responsibilities at Hermès.
Wales Bonner’s influence extends beyond high fashion. Her ongoing collaboration with Adidas has transformed classic sneaker styles into cultural phenomena, with releases selling out rapidly and driving trends worldwide. In 2023, one of her reinterpreted sneaker designs was named “shoe of the year” by a leading search platform.
Her designs have also been worn by prominent figures, including Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and were recently featured in a major museum exhibition. At this year’s Met Gala, she dressed a range of celebrities, from Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton to musician FKA twigs.
Throughout her career, Wales Bonner has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious LVMH Prize and a CFDA award. Her approach to fashion is often described as academic and interdisciplinary, drawing from a wide array of inspirations—from Ethiopian history to Caribbean culture.
Born and raised in London, she credits her multicultural upbringing and daily travels across the city with shaping her perspective on style as a fluid and hybrid form of expression. As she once noted, her work thrives in the space “between two things,” resisting fixed categories and embracing duality.
