The world-famous French luxury house Hermès has appointed Grace Wales Bonner as its new creative director of menswear, making her the first Black woman to lead design at a major global fashion house.
At just 35, the London-born designer, known for her intellectual approach to fashion that fuses European tailoring with Afro-Atlantic cultural narratives, will officially debut her first Hermès collection in January 2027, succeeding Véronique Nichanian, who has helmed the division for an extraordinary 37 years.
Wales Bonner, a graduate of Central Saint Martins, launched her eponymous label in 2014 and has since garnered major accolades, including the LVMH Young Designer Prize (2016) and the CFDA International Men’s Designer of the Year (2021). Her work, characterized by an exploration of identity, heritage, and craftsmanship, has dressed icons such as Lewis Hamilton, FKA Twigs, and Jeff Goldblum, while her ongoing collaboration with Adidas continues to resonate across fashion and culture.
Speaking on her appointment, Wales Bonner said she was “deeply honoured” and described the role as “a dream realised.” Hermès artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas praised her for her “curiosity, cultural sensitivity, and ability to connect craftsmanship with the modern world.”
As she takes the reins of one of fashion’s most storied maisons, Wales Bonner stands at the intersection of history and innovation, a symbol of how heritage and modern identity can coexist beautifully within luxury.
