Maria Grazia Chiuri has formally returned to Fendi as Chief Creative Officer, practically three a long time after starting her profession on the Roman maison. She will current her first Autumn/Winter 2026 assortment throughout Milan Fashion Week subsequent February.
Chiuri’s appointment comes six months after her departure from Dior, the place she served as Womenswear Creative Director and have become the primary lady to lead the model’s design group.
This is a full-circle second for the esteemed designer. Chiuri’s profession at Fendi, from 1989 to 1999, included ten years in equipment design, the place she notably helped form the home’s signature Baguette bag. She later moved to Valentino alongside Pierpaolo Piccioli, rising to joint Creative Director, earlier than becoming a member of Dior in 2016.
Her return follows the departure of Silvia Venturini Fendi from the Creative Director position in September, after holding the fort for womenswear since Kim Jones left in 2024. Venturini Fendi, the final member of the family actively concerned in artistic design, was promoted to honorary president, together with her new position specializing in preserving the home’s heritage and overseeing Fendi Casa. This shift left the query of Fendi’s artistic management unanswered – one which business insiders had lengthy anticipated could be Chiuri.
Ramon Ros, Fendi CEO, mentioned: “Her talent and vision will be instrumental in fortifying Fendi’s heritage, shaping the future talent in the house and deepening our commitment to Italian craftsmanship.”
LVMH Chairman, Bernard Arnault, added: “Maria Grazia Chiuri is one of the greatest creative talents in fashion today… Maria Grazia will contribute to the artistic renewal and future success of the maison, while perpetuating its unique heritage.”
The timing of Chiuri’s return coincides with broader strategic shifts. Ros, who took over as CEO in July, is tasked, together with the brand new Chief Creative Officer, with navigating the model into its second century.
The timing is essential. Parent firm LVMH is navigating a luxurious slowdown, reporting a 15% drop in first-half earnings to €9.01 billion (£7.8 billion). Its vogue and leather-based items division – house to Fendi, Dior and Louis Vuitton – noticed income fall 7% to €19.1 billion (£16.6 billion) as prosperous buyers tightened spending after years of worth hikes.
Chiuri mentioned: “I return to Fendi with honour and pleasure, having had the privilege of starting my profession below the steerage of the home’s founders, the 5 sisters. Fendi has at all times been a forge of abilities and a place to begin for a lot of creatives within the business.
“I am grateful to Mr Arnault for entrusting me with the task of helping to write a new chapter in the history of this extraordinary women-founded company.”