The British designer succeeds Véronique Nichanian after nearly four decades, signalling a bold pivot for the storied French house.

In a move that has sent ripples across the luxury-fashion landscape, Hermès announced on the 21st of October 2025 that British designer Grace Wales Bonner will become its new creative director for menswear, succeeding Véronique Nichanian, who has held the role for nearly 37 years.

Nichanian, whose tenure dates back to the late 1980s, has long been a steady hand at the helm of Hermès’s men’s collections—making this transition a noteworthy moment in the brand’s history. Wales Bonner, 35, brings a markedly different energy: younger, culturally fluent, and attuned to the intersection of heritage tailoring and contemporary design.

A Turning Point for Hermès Menswear

The appointment marks a clear signal: Hermès is looking to evolve its men’s offering while remaining anchored in its craftsmanship and legacy. In the official announcement, Hermès’s general artistic director praised Wales Bonner’s ability to “meld craft, culture and contemporary fashion,” framing the move as a “mutual dialogue” between designer and house.

Analysts are reading this as part of a broader shift in luxury fashion — as heritage houses seek to refresh their appeal to younger audiences and diversify creative leadership. For Hermès, a brand better known for ownership continuity than designer turnover, the move is especially bold.

Wales Bonner: A Designer Forged in Cultural Depth

Grace Wales Bonner has forged a reputation for menswear that engages diaspora narratives, tailoring tradition and modern sensibility. After graduating from Central Saint Martins, she launched her eponymous label in 2014, earning multiple awards and acclaim for her Afro-Atlantic aesthetic.

Her recent collections reflect a refined balance: sharply-cut jackets and suiting, vibrant knitwear, athletic influences and cultural reference points. This nuanced approach seems to align well with Hermès’s DNA of understatement, quality and timelessness.

The Legacy She Inherits

Véronique Nichanian’s long tenure at Hermès is itself exceptional in the fashion world. Over nearly four decades, she has defined the “Hermès man” with quiet sophistication, luxurious materials and an emphasis on silhouette rather than spectacle.

Her final collection is set to debut in Paris Men’s Fashion Week in January 2026, after which Wales Bonner’s first collection for Hermès will reportedly show in January 2027.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

For Wales Bonner, the task ahead is substantial: she must respect Hermès’s heritage while bringing her unique perspective. The house is known for its craftsmanship-first philosophy, a deliberate pace and minimal turnover of creative leadership. Fusing her bold signature with that ethos will require sensitivity and vision.

From a strategic vantage, menswear has become a more significant growth engine for Hermès. Bringing in fresh creative leadership signals the brand’s ambition to further elevate this segment and reach newer demographics without diluting its allure. Indeed, in the first half of 2025, Hermès reported significant momentum in “ready-to-wear and accessories” categories.

On the flip side, fashion watchers will scrutinise her debut collection: timing, reception, commercial performance — each will matter. The luxury consumer is increasingly discerning, balancing heritage and innovation, and the marketplace remains competitive.

The Visual Outlook: What to Expect

While the first Hermès collection under Wales Bonner is still over a year away, early indicators suggest certain themes she may bring forward:

• Sophisticated tailoring rooted in British craft tradition but layered with cultural and athletic references.
• Colour palettes and fabric explorations that nod both to Hermès’s equestrian-saddlery origins and Wales Bonner’s Afro-Atlantic aesthetic.
• Accessory collaborations or reinterpretations that may bridge menswear with broader lifestyle categories — an area Hermès has historically approached cautiously.

In Summary

With this appointment, Hermès isn’t merely changing leadership — it is reaffirming its stance: heritage luxury knows how to evolve without disruption. Grace Wales Bonner steps into one of the most trusted seats in fashion, carrying expectations heavy and high. Her success will rest not just on aesthetics, but on how she navigates legacy, innovation and commercial relevance. For the brand, for the designer, and for luxury menswear at large, the next 18 months promise to be closely watched.