British designer Grace Wales Bonner has been appointed as the new creative director of menswear at Hermès, marking a historic moment for the storied French luxury house.
At 35, Wales Bonner becomes the first Black woman to lead design at a major fashion house, according to The New York Times.
In a statement shared on Tuesday, the London-born designer said she was “deeply honoured to be entrusted with the role”, describing the appointment as “a dream realised.”
She succeeds Véronique Nichanian, who has helmed Hermès’s menswear division for nearly four decades. Nichanian’s final collection will debut in Paris in January 2026, while Wales Bonner’s first collection is set to launch in 2027.
A new chapter for Hermès
The appointment has stirred excitement across the fashion industry. Vogue noted that while insiders expected an internal promotion, Hermès instead opted for a “renowned global talent.”
A visionary career
Born in London to an English mother and Jamaican father, Wales Bonner launched her eponymous label in 2014, shortly after graduating from Central Saint Martins. Her brand quickly gained acclaim for blending European tailoring with Afro-Atlantic aesthetics, exploring identity through clothing.
She has dressed a long list of cultural icons, including Lewis Hamilton, FKA Twigs, and Jeff Goldblum, and co-created T-shirts with Solange Knowles.
Beyond fashion, Wales Bonner has curated exhibitions at New York’s Museum of Modern Art and hosted performances at London’s Serpentine Galleries. Her ongoing collaboration with Adidas has also earned praise for its thoughtful reinterpretations of sportswear classics.
Recognized for her contributions to British fashion, she was appointed MBE in 2022.
As she steps into one of fashion’s most prestigious roles, Wales Bonner’s appointment signals a powerful moment — not just for Hermès, but for the industry’s ongoing evolution toward greater inclusivity, creativity, and cross-cultural dialogue. Photo by Walterlan Papetti, Wikimedia commons.
