The designer who once dreamed of working with Hermès is now running it
Grace Wales Bonner has officially entered her legacy era. The British-Jamaican designer — known for blending European tailoring with diasporic storytelling — has been named Creative Director of Hermès Men’s ready-to-wear, marking one of the most defining moves in modern fashion history.
Bonner after her spring/summer 2026 show in June 2025. (Justin Shin/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images)
It’s the kind of news that feels both inevitable and electrifying. For years, Bonner’s name has floated around in every “who should take over next?” conversation in fashion’s inner circles. And now, it’s official — the designer who once told System Magazine that she dreamed of working with Hermès is stepping into the role she literally manifested. If that’s not main-character energy, we don’t know what is.
Following Véronique Nichanian’s legendary 37-year tenure, Bonner’s appointment signals a shift: a younger, deeply cultural, and emotionally intelligent vision for Hermès Men. “It is a dream realized to embark on this new chapter, following in a lineage of inspired craftspeople and designers,” Bonner shared in her statement — the kind of quote that sounds like both a promise and a prophecy.
Since founding her eponymous label in 2014, Bonner has quietly rewritten what modern luxury looks like. She’s collaborated with Adidas, curated an exhibit at MoMA, and picked up fashion’s biggest trophies along the way — including the LVMH Prize, British Fashion Award for Emerging Menswear Designer, and the CFDA International Men’s Designer of the Year. Her work has always balanced precision with poetry, showing that craftsmanship doesn’t have to come at the expense of cultural depth.
Grace Wales Bonner and Antwaun Sargent (Photography Dia Dipasupil via Getty Images)
Hermès’ Artistic Director Pierre-Alexis Dumas called her vision “a blend of heritage and modern craft,” but for many, this appointment represents something even bigger. Bonner becomes the first Black woman to lead design at a major legacy fashion house, making her debut collection in January 2027 one of the most anticipated in years.
For a brand synonymous with quiet luxury, Bonner’s arrival adds a new dimension — one that feels intellectually grounded but emotionally resonant. Think less about loud reinvention and more about the subtle power of rewriting tradition on your own terms.
