Diane von Furstenberg has named Henry Zankov as the brand’s new artistic director. This move signals a new chapter for the iconic fashion house as it works on revitalizing its brand for the long term.
DVF CEO Graziano de Boni announced the appointment, and Zankov is starting right away. He will lead all aspects of the brand’s creative direction, from designing collections to shaping its visual identity. His first runway show for DVF will be at New York Fashion Week this September.
Even in his new role, Henry Zankov will continue to run his own New York-based label, Zankov. He started the brand in 2020, and it quickly became known for bold knitwear, bright colors, and an artistic style.
Zankov first joined Diane von Furstenberg in 2014 and worked there for four years before starting his own brand. He returned to DVF in 2025 to design a special capsule collection that launched at Bergdorf Goodman.
“I have always been surrounded and inspired by strong women, and Diane is the ultimate embodiment of that,” said Zankov. “The DVF woman is a rebel, confident, curious and independent. It is an honour and privilege for me to build on Diane’s legacy and carry the brand into the future.”
Diane von Furstenberg also shared her excitement about the appointment, praising Graziano de Boni’s leadership and Zankov’s creativity. “I am looking forward to seeing how Henry’s design flair, sense of colour and natural sensibility will succeed in winning over a new generation,” she said.
Zankov graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and has worked in fashion for almost 15 years. Before starting his own brand, he was an assistant menswear designer at Donna Karan and worked with brands like Jason Wu and DKNY. He also teaches at Parsons School of Design.
Since joining DVF in 2023, CEO Graziano de Boni has worked to rebuild the brand’s identity, make its products more authentic, and improve its global retail strategy. De Boni said that bringing operations back in-house in 2025 was a planned move to regain control over the brand’s creative and business direction.
“This appointment marks a new phase in DVF’s evolution,” de Boni said. “Henry brings fresh energy, a strong vision and renewed cultural relevance, attracting a new generation to DVF.”
Henry Zankov’s label is known for its playful but minimalist style, mixing bold graphic patterns, textured fabrics, and artistic influences from sculpture, typography, and modern art. His designs often reference famous artists like Pablo Picasso, Fernand Léger, Ellsworth Kelly, and Jasper Johns.
In 2024, Zankov won the CFDA Emerging American Designer of the Year award, confirming his reputation as one of fashion’s most promising new talents.
Now that Henry Zankov is leading Diane von Furstenberg’s creative direction, the brand seems ready to combine its classic legacy with a fresh, modern approach to reach a younger global audience.
