#legendFashionReview by Manit Maneephantakun @kaimanit 

A new turning point unfolds in the storied history of Hermès, as the French luxury maison appoints Grace Wales Bonner, the 33-year-old British designer, as its new Creative Director of Men’s Ready-to-Wear, succeeding Véronique Nichanian, who has held the position for an extraordinary 37 years.

A Symbolic Shift for Modern Luxury

Wales Bonner’s arrival marks a deeply symbolic moment in the world of high fashion.

She becomes the first Black woman ever appointed creative director at a major European luxury house, a milestone that not only reflects a structural shift within the industry, but also signals Hermès’s thoughtful embrace of cultural diversity and contemporary perspectives with quiet sophistication.

From Saint Martins to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré

A graduate of Central Saint Martins in London, Wales Bonner launched her eponymous label in 2014. Her work stands out for its poetic fusion of British tailoring and sportswear, enriched by profound cultural reflections. Through fashion, she explores identity, memory, and the heritage of the Black diaspora, engaging in nuanced post-colonial narratives that have earned her international acclaim.

Her style transcends fashion, it is a way of “telling stories through fabric.” Subtle yet incisive, refined yet powerful, her work reveals a deep understanding of human sensibility and emotion.

Hermès in the Hands of Grace Wales Bonner: Luxury in the Language of Time

In an official statement, Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Hermès’s General Artistic Director, expressed his admiration “Wales Bonner’s 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.” This suggests that under Wales Bonner’s direction, Hermès will not be changing its essence, but rather evolving it, continuing the brand’s spirit of craftsmanship with a new voice that speaks gracefully to the present moment.

The Beginning of a New Era

At a time when the fashion world is increasingly open to diverse voices and perspectives, this appointment represents more than just a creative transition. It is, in essence, a dialogue between classicism and contemporaneity, one that Hermès is uniquely positioned to lead.

How Grace Wales Bonner will weave her cultural sensitivity into the technical precision and artisanal mastery of Hermès remains a question that captivates every fashion eye around the world.

This is a moment of transformation from the hands of a French woman to a British woman, from the era of Véronique Nichanian to the dawn of Grace Wales Bonner: the new elegance of men.

Photo Courtesy by HERMES