What's happened
Grace Wales Bonner, a British-Jamaican designer known for her focus on Black culture and heritage, has been appointed as Hermès' new creative director of men's ready-to-wear. At 35, she is the first Black woman to lead a major European luxury house's design team, succeeding Véronique Nichanian after nearly four decades. Her debut collection will be shown in January 2027.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
The Japan Times highlights Wales Bonner's reputation for meticulous craftsmanship and her awards, emphasizing her cultural research and unique style. Bloomberg underscores her appointment as a historic first for a Black woman at Hermès, noting her background and previous recognition in fashion circles. The Guardian provides context on her aspirations and her influence on Black culture and identity, framing her appointment as a long-overdue milestone. South China Morning Post emphasizes the rarity of such a leadership change in nearly four decades and her background, including her Jamaican heritage and her rise through industry accolades.
Contrasting opinions are minimal, but Bloomberg's focus on the historic significance and Guardian's emphasis on her cultural influence highlight different facets of her appointment—industry milestone versus cultural icon. Both agree on her importance and the symbolic weight of her role at Hermès, marking a significant moment for diversity in luxury fashion.
How we got here
Wales Bonner founded her eponymous brand in 2014 after graduating from Central Saint Martins. Her work explores Black identity, cultural legacy, and fashion's archetypes, blending fine tailoring with streetwear influences. Her collaborations with brands like Adidas and her recognition through awards such as the LVMH Prize and CFDA have established her as a prominent figure in contemporary fashion. Her appointment at Hermès marks a historic moment, breaking a four-decade leadership gap in the company's menswear division and making her the first Black woman to lead such a role at a major European luxury house.
Go deeper
More on these topics
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Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès, is a French high fashion luxury goods manufacturer established in 1837. It specializes in leather, lifestyle accessories, home furnishings, perfumery, jewellery, watches and ready-to-wear.
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Grace Wales Bonner is a British fashion designer, whose work "addresses the politics of identity, sexuality, and race through projects that delicately balance multinationalism with a sense of personal subjectivity".
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Pierre-Alexis Dumas is the artistic director of Hermès. Under his direction, the firm has seen its biggest growth in decades, with sales of 4 billion euros in 2014.