Meet Grace Wales Bonner, the new head of menswear at Hermès

Hermès, one of the world’s most established luxury fashion houses, has this week made history with the appointment of Grace Wales Bonner as creative director of their men’s ready-to-wear division.

She replaces Véronique Nichanian, who held the role for 37 years.

The move marks the first time a black woman will lead a major European luxury brand’s menswear section– and it comes at the right time for Hermès, as momentum toward broader representation in creative leadership grows all over the world. A shift in how legacy houses engage with cultural narratives and younger audiences is obviously on the horizon.

But who is Grace Wales Bonner? A relative unknown to everyone who isn't tuned into the fashion world, but a familiar face to those who are, Wales Bonner is a British designer known for blending academic and cultural depth into menswear.

Her appointment at Hermès does not respond to a quota or the need to jump onto a cultural trend. It fits within efforts to promote the excellence of the voices that were previously marginalised in the creative industries.

A steady upward course

Born in 1990 in South London, to a Jamaican father and English mother, Wales Bonner grew up immersed in both Caribbean and British influences.

She studied fashion at Central Saint Martins in London, where she graduated in 2014 with first-class honours. Her graduate collection, which explored black masculinity and cultural identity, earned her the L’Oréal Professionnel Talent Award and immediate attention from the fashion world.

Shortly after graduating, she launched her own label, Wales Bonner, with a clear focus on elevating black cultural narratives through luxury menswear. Her early collections were praised for their fusion of tailored silhouettes and Afro-Atlantic references, often incorporating historical and literary research into the design process.

These efforts and savvy won her the prestigious LVMH Prize for Young Designers in 2016, a move that recognised her international potential and marked her as one of the designers to watch not just in the UK, but in all of Europe.

Over the next few years she steadily expanded her brand, eventually adding womenswear and securing global stockists.

But she always maintained a strong brand identity, as she became known for her scholarly approach to fashion: each collection is rooted in cultural themes ranging from Ethiopian imperial history to London’s Lovers Rock music scene. Her work gained recognition not just for its aesthetic value but also for its thoughtful representation of the African diaspora in a luxury context.

Wales Bonner has also collaborated with institutions like the Serpentine Gallery and the Museum of Modern Art, curated exhibitions, and launched a very successful partnership with Adidas. By the time of her appointment at Hermès, she could already boast a litany of industry accolades, including the British Fashion Award for Menswear Designer of the Year and an MBE for services to fashion.

Wales Bonner at Hermès

Those impatient to see what she can do in the Hermès atelier will have to wait, as her first collection is scheduled to debut in January 2027.

Since she is known for her research-based design and subtle storytelling, it is expected she will bring a refined but cultural perspective to Hermès menswear.

The house is traditionally understated and avoids chasing trends, and Wales Bonner’s appreciation for tailoring, historical references, and quiet elegance aligns well with its values.

Industry observers anticipate that if she wants to evolve the menswear line, she will do so gradually, introducing new narratives and nuanced detailing without straying too far from the brand’s identity.