Maria Grazia Chiuri Returns to Fendi as Creative Director
Maria Grazia Chiuri is returning to Fendi, the house where she began her career, to lead its creative direction. In an interview, Chiuri stated her vision will blend “femininity, functionality, and sensuality,” emphasizing the importance of building a trusted team and fostering a collaborative studio culture where the creative director acts as a conductor.
- Maria Grazia Chiuri first worked at Fendi from 1989 to 1999 as an accessories designer, where she co-created the iconic Baguette bag alongside Silvia Venturini Fendi. - She succeeds Kim Jones, who was the artistic director of Fendi's womenswear and couture collections from 2020 until his departure in October 2024 to focus on his role at Dior Men. - This appointment follows her nine-year tenure as the first female creative director of Dior, which began in 2016 and concluded in 2025. - At Dior, Chiuri was known for weaving strong feminist messaging into her collections, starting with her debut "We Should All Be Feminists" t-shirt, and for driving significant commercial success with accessories like the Dior Book Tote and J'adior slingback heels. - Her departure from Dior came amid a broader wave of creative director changes in the luxury industry and reports of slowing growth, with some industry commentary suggesting creative stagnation despite her commercial success. - Chiuri's return to the LVMH-owned brand was announced in October 2025, and her first collection for Fendi is scheduled to be presented during Milan Fashion Week in February 2026 for the Fall/Winter 2026 season. - The move also follows Silvia Venturini Fendi's transition from creative director to the role of house president in September 2025, concentrating creative control under Chiuri. - Before Dior, Chiuri spent 17 years at Valentino, where she and her former creative partner Pierpaolo Piccioli were elevated to co-creative directors in 2008 and were responsible for the highly successful Rockstud accessories line.
