Hermès Appoints Trailblazing Designer Grace Wales Bonner as Its New Menswear Head
In a move that has been hailed as long overdue, luxury fashion house Hermès has appointed British designer Grace Wales Bonner as its new creative director for menswear. At just 35 years old, Wales Bonner is the first female black designer to lead a major fashion house, and her appointment marks a significant milestone in the industry's ongoing struggle to increase diversity and representation.
Wales Bonner, who founded her eponymous label in 2014 after graduating from Central Saint Martins college of art in London, has been making waves in the fashion world with her bold and eclectic designs. Her menswear label is known for its intelligent use of materials and attention to craftsmanship, while also exploring themes of black style, identity, and cultural legacy.
The appointment was welcomed by industry figures, including Kenya Hunt, editor-in-chief of Elle UK, who described Wales Bonner's label as a "consistently bright spot in British fashion". The news comes after years of speculation about whom Hermès would appoint to the role, with many having tipped Wales Bonner for the position.
Under Wales Bonner's creative direction, the brand is expected to continue its efforts to revitalize and reimagine classic styles. Her designs have been influenced by a wide range of sources, including Savile Row tailoring, preppy collegiate coding, and even football culture. In 2023, her Adidas Originals collaborations resulted in sold-out Samba and Superstar sneakers that were worn by everyone from Rihanna to Rishi Sunak.
Wales Bonner's work is characterized by its exploration of black style and identity, a theme that she has discussed at length with the scholar Horace Ballard. Her approach is often described as a form of "jazz playing" in fashion - a musician may not invent their instrument but can create new styles and sounds.
The appointment of Wales Bonner at Hermès comes after a string of high-profile awards, including the LVMH prize for young fashion designers and the CFDA award for international men's designer of the year. In 2024, she was awarded another prestigious gong at the Fashion Awards.
Wales Bonner is expected to unveil her debut menswear collection in January 2027, after succeeding Véronique Nichanian as creative director. With her unique blend of style, craftsmanship and cultural sensitivity, Wales Bonner is set to make a lasting impact on the fashion world.
In a move that has been hailed as long overdue, luxury fashion house Hermès has appointed British designer Grace Wales Bonner as its new creative director for menswear. At just 35 years old, Wales Bonner is the first female black designer to lead a major fashion house, and her appointment marks a significant milestone in the industry's ongoing struggle to increase diversity and representation.
Wales Bonner, who founded her eponymous label in 2014 after graduating from Central Saint Martins college of art in London, has been making waves in the fashion world with her bold and eclectic designs. Her menswear label is known for its intelligent use of materials and attention to craftsmanship, while also exploring themes of black style, identity, and cultural legacy.
The appointment was welcomed by industry figures, including Kenya Hunt, editor-in-chief of Elle UK, who described Wales Bonner's label as a "consistently bright spot in British fashion". The news comes after years of speculation about whom Hermès would appoint to the role, with many having tipped Wales Bonner for the position.
Under Wales Bonner's creative direction, the brand is expected to continue its efforts to revitalize and reimagine classic styles. Her designs have been influenced by a wide range of sources, including Savile Row tailoring, preppy collegiate coding, and even football culture. In 2023, her Adidas Originals collaborations resulted in sold-out Samba and Superstar sneakers that were worn by everyone from Rihanna to Rishi Sunak.
Wales Bonner's work is characterized by its exploration of black style and identity, a theme that she has discussed at length with the scholar Horace Ballard. Her approach is often described as a form of "jazz playing" in fashion - a musician may not invent their instrument but can create new styles and sounds.
The appointment of Wales Bonner at Hermès comes after a string of high-profile awards, including the LVMH prize for young fashion designers and the CFDA award for international men's designer of the year. In 2024, she was awarded another prestigious gong at the Fashion Awards.
Wales Bonner is expected to unveil her debut menswear collection in January 2027, after succeeding Véronique Nichanian as creative director. With her unique blend of style, craftsmanship and cultural sensitivity, Wales Bonner is set to make a lasting impact on the fashion world.
finally some sense at Hermès they need someone with vision not just copying old designs. Grace Wales Bonner is about time for this role she's been killing it in her own label 
and bringing that black style & identity to the forefront which is long overdue 
. I'm hyped for what she's gonna do at Hermès, expect some bold moves and fresh perspectives 
like finally we got a female black designer runnin the show lol i remember when rihanna wore those adidas collab sneakers back in 2023 and people were all like "who's that?" now she's makin headlines everywhere! 
its about time too, industry has been sleepin on talent like gracie for years 
but im hyped to see what shes gonna bring to hermes style game 
So this is kinda awesome news for the fashion community! Finally, someone with Grace Wales Bonner's skills and vision gets to lead Hermès menswear 
. As a designer who's all about redefining black style and identity, I can already see her bringing some fresh energy to the brand 
. It'll be interesting to see how she puts her own spin on classic Hermès styles 
... Overall, this is a win-win for fashion fans everywhere 
. I'm excited to see what she brings to the table with her debut menswear collection in 2027 
. It's not just about Hermès winning, it's about the ripple effect this can have on the entire fashion industry 
I'm literally so hyped about Grace Wales Bonner being the new menswear head at Hermès! It's like, about time we saw a woman in this role, you know? Like back in my grandma's day, she was always talking about how women couldn't even be fashion designers, it was all just men doing that. But now, we're living in 2025 and Grace is breaking barriers left and right! 
her influence is already seen in so many other designers and brands, and i know her menswear collection is gonna be EVERYTHING 
cant wait to see what she does next!
. As a black woman, she's bringing a unique perspective to the table and I'm excited to see what she'll do at Hermès 
!
️ I'm curious to see how she'll revitalize classic styles with her fresh perspective. 
And let's not forget those sold-out Adidas Originals collaborations – a masterclass in streetwear chic. 
The fashion world needs more people like Grace Wales Bonner, who aren't afraid to break the mold and make a statement. 
she's literally been making waves in the fashion world for years and it's amazing to see her finally getting the recognition she deserves 
Grace Wales Bonner is literally the perfect person for the job she's so talented and her designs are always on point 
can't wait to see what she brings to the brand! 
. We've seen plenty of brands try to co-opt emerging talent and then just...lose them to their own internal politics 
. But I guess only time will tell if Wales Bonner can really shake things up at Hermès 
. With brands like Adidas Originals recognizing her talent and valuing her contributions, it's clear that she's got a lot of power and a lot to say 
. So here's to Wales Bonner - can't wait to see what she does next! 