The 35-year-old Londoner gained international acclaim for her distinct and intellectual approach to fashion (Photo: Malick Bodian)
British designer Grace Wales Bonner has been named the new creative director of men’s ready-to-wear at Hermès, becoming the first Black woman to lead design at a major European luxury house.
She succeeds Véronique Nichanian, 71, who led the division for 37 years, and will present her first collection for the French maison in January 2027.
“I am really pleased to welcome Grace to the Hermès artistic director family. Her take on contemporary fashion, craft and culture will contribute to shaping Hermès men’s style, melding the house’s heritage with a confident look on the now,” says general artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas in a statement.
“Grace’s appetite and curiosity for artistic practice strongly resonate with Hermès’ creative mindset and approach. We are at the start of an enriching mutual dialogue.”
Wales Bonner founded her eponymous brand in 2014 after graduating from Central Saint Martins College of Art in London. She gained international acclaim for her distinct and intellectual approach to fashion, often exploring cross-cultural identity, drawing from a vast array of influences, including the Black diaspora, African cultural heritage and Caribbean aesthetics. The 35-year-old is expected to continue to helm her brand alongside her new role.
Her ascent in the fashion world is marked by moments of powerful cultural resonance.
In 2019, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, opted for a white Wales Bonner trench dress to introduce her firstborn Archie to the world alongside Prince Harry at Windsor Castle.
More recently, a velvet suit embroidered with cowrie shells — a symbolic embellishment historically used as currency in parts of West Africa — from the designer’s autumn/winter collection was spotlighted at The Met’s Costume Institute 2025 exhibition, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. At the accompanying Met Gala, Wales Bonner made her debut dressing Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, singer FKA twigs and actor Jeff Goldblum.
Through collaborations with brands like Adidas (she is widely credited with the successful revival of the Samba sneaker), exhibitions at institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Serpentine Gallery, Wales Bonner continues to use fashion as a powerful vehicle for storytelling and cultural expression.
“I am deeply honoured to be entrusted with the role of creative director of Hermès men’s ready-to-wear. It is a dream realised to embark on this new chapter, following in a lineage of inspired craftspeople and designers. I wish to express my gratitude to Pierre-Alexis Dumas and Axel Dumas for the opportunity to bring my vision to this magical house,” she says.
