GRACE WALES BONNER TAPPED BY HERMES TO REDEFINE MEN’S FASHION

The luxury fashion world just witnessed a major shockwave: Grace Wales Bonner has been announced as the new Creative Director of men’s ready-to-wear at Hermès, succeeding Véronique Nichanian after nearly four decades in the role.

At just 35, Wales Bonner becomes the first Black woman to lead menswear at a major luxury house, marking a historic pivot in fashion’s power dynamics. A graduate of Central Saint Martins, she launched her eponymous label in 2014 and has built her reputation on combining Afro-Atlantic cultural references with precision tailoring, while collaborating with heavyweights like Adidas and Anderson & Sheppard.

Hermès stated that Wales Bonner’s vision aligns with the house’s legacy of craftsmanship and cultural nuance: “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,” said Artistic Director Pierre‑Alexis Dumas. (The National )

Her first collection for Hermès is set to debut in January 2027, giving her nearly a year to reimagine what Hermès menswear could look like under this bold new leadership. This move signals that even the highest echelons of luxury are embracing more diverse creative voices — and that the fusion of heritage luxury + street-culture savvy will continue becoming mainstream.

Expect Hermès menswear to start feeling not just high-heritage, but also high-concept, culturally rich and direct in its language — exactly in the realm our youthful audience loves to dissect and engage with.