Jamaican-British Designer Grace Wales Bonner Named Menswear Creative Director at Hermès

British designer Grace Wales Bonner, who proudly celebrates her Jamaican heritage, has been appointed Menswear Creative Director at Hermès, marking a historic milestone for both the French luxury house and Caribbean representation in global fashion.

The 35-year-old Central Saint Martins graduate — born in London to a Jamaican father and English mother — represents a new generation reshaping fashion’s creative leadership. She will debut her first collection for Hermès in January 2027, succeeding Véronique Nichanian, who held the role for nearly four decades.

Wales Bonner’s appointment arrives amid a wave of creative shifts across major fashion houses such as Chanel, Dior, and Gucci, as the industry seeks renewal after two years of slowed growth. On Monday, she acknowledged her new role in post on Instgram stating, “I am deeply honoured to be entrusted with the role of Creative Director of Hermès Menswear. It is a dream realized to embark on this new chapter, following in a lineage of inspired craftspeople and designers. I wish to express my gratitude to Pierre-Alexis Dumas and Axel Dumas for the opportunity to bring my vision to this magical house.”

While Hermès has long been defined by stability — with long-serving figures like Nichanian and accessories designer Pierre Hardy — this change signals a bold, forward-thinking evolution for the brand.

Her creative journey began in 2014 when her graduate collection “Afrique” won the L’Oréal Professionnel Talent Award. That same year, she launched her eponymous label, Wales Bonner, initially focused on menswear. She quickly gained global recognition for her intellectual and culturally layered approach, blending European tailoring with Caribbean spirituality and Black diasporic identity. Her collections explore heritage, masculinity, and postcolonial narratives, leading to collaborations with Adidas, MoMA, and the Serpentine Gallery.

Wales Bonner’s accolades include Emerging Menswear Designer at the British Fashion Awards (2015), the LVMH Young Designer Prize (2016), the British Fashion Council/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund (2019), and CFDA International Men’s Designer of the Year (2021). She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2022 for her contributions to fashion.

Beyond the runway, her work bridges art, music, and spirituality. She has curated acclaimed exhibitions such as A Time for New Dreams at London’s Serpentine Gallery and Spirit Movers at MoMA in New York. Her ongoing partnership with Adidas has produced 25 sold-out sneaker designs and the official Jamaica Football Federation kits, while her collaborations with renowned artist Kerry James Marshall have blended fashion with fine art.

Wales Bonner’s appointment makes her the first woman of Black heritage to lead a major luxury fashion house, positioning her as a symbol of progress and cultural fusion within one of the world’s most prestigious brands. Her first Hermès menswear collection, set for January 2027, is among the most anticipated in recent fashion history.