British-Jamaican designer Grace Wales Bonner has made history as the newly appointed Creative Director of Menswear at Hermès, becoming the first Black woman to lead design at a major global fashion house, according to The New York Times.
The 35-year-old designer, known for blending European tailoring with Afro-Caribbean cultural influences, expressed her excitement in a statement, calling the opportunity “a dream realised.” She succeeds Véronique Nichanian, who has led the French luxury brand’s menswear division for 37 years. Nichanian’s final collection will be shown in January 2026, with Wales Bonner’s debut set to launch in 2027.
Wales Bonner, who was born in London to an English mother and Jamaican father, launched her own label in 2014 after graduating from Central Saint Martins. Her work has since earned international acclaim, dressing stars like Lewis Hamilton, FKA Twigs, and Solange Knowles, while also collaborating with brands such as Adidas. In 2022, she was awarded an MBE for her contributions to fashion.
The announcement has been widely celebrated across the global fashion scene, including in Africa, where Wales Bonner has maintained strong ties. Notably, she collaborated with Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama to design the set for her Spring/Summer 2023 show at Pitti Uomo in Italy — using jute sacks sourced from Ghanaian markets, a powerful nod to African artistry within global fashion spaces.
Source: ameyawdebrah.com/
