Meet Grace Wales Bonner, the New Creative Director of Hermès Menswear
Meet Grace Wales Bonner, the New Creative Director of Hermès Menswear
By Sophie Amen — November 5, 2025
On Oct. 21, Grace Wales Bonner was appointed as the creative director of menswear for Hermès, succeeding Véronique Nichanian after 37 years. Wales Bonner will lead the creative vision for the French house’s menswear.
After studying fashion at Central Saint Martins and graduating in 2014, she launched her eponymous label, Wales Bonner. Wales Bonner’s work seamlessly integrates cultural depth and refined elegance into menswear, earning her praise for her fusion of tailored silhouettes and Afro-Atlantic references. Her undeniable genius won her the LVMH Prize for Young Designers in 2016, marking her potential and putting her on the list of designers to watch.
As she expanded her brand, Wales Bonner maintained her deep engagement with cultural narratives, exploring Black identity and the African diaspora in a luxury context. As a result, her industry recognition grew; she received the CFDA International Men’s Designer of the Year Award in 2021 and British Menswear Designer of the Year at the Fashion Awards in 2024.
One of her most successful collaborations is her work with Adidas. They first collaborated in 2020, with the initial collection previewing on the runway during London Fashion Week. They have collaborated on numerous partnerships throughout the years, and are continuing their successful collaboration with a new collection of styles for the fall season. Wales Bonner is credited with redesigning the classic Adidas Samba, and the Wales Bonner influence reimagined several archive styles, with the Samba being a major focus. Wales Bonner has also collaborated with streetwear brands like Stüssy and artists such as Kerry James Marshall, always staying true to her storytelling through design.
Wales Bonner’s work was also featured in the “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” exhibit at the 2025 Met Gala, in addition to dressing multiple celebrities, including co-chair Lewis Hamilton, as well as Jeff Goldblum, Omar Apollo, and FKA Twigs.
By appointing Wales Bonner, Hermès points to bringing a fresh cultural energy into its menswear while still maintaining its refinement and luxury.
According to Pierre-Alexis Dumas, general artistic director of Hermès, “...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. Grace’s appetite and curiosity for artistic practice strongly resonate with Hermès’s creative mindset and approach.”
“It is a dream realised to embark on this new chapter, following in a lineage of inspired craftspeople and designers,” Wales Bonner said.
The intersection of culture, tailoring, identity, and luxury will be at the forefront. Even a simple glance back at her past work reveals that Hermès will be handled expertly, with menswear impeccably crafted and transformative.
All in all, Wales Bonner’s pivotal appointment means so much for menswear and fashion in general. Her eagerly-awaited first collection for Hermès is scheduled to debut in January 2027.
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