Hermès ushers in a new chapter: Véronique Nichanian bows out after 37 years as the maison looks ahead

The January 2026 edition of Paris Men’s Fashion Week will be remembered as the close of a defining era in men’s luxury fashion. On January 24, Véronique Nichanian presented her final collection as artistic director of Hermès Homme, bringing to an end 37 years of creative leadership marked by consistency, restraint and absolute mastery of craft.

The farewell of a quiet architect of style

Since joining the house in 1988, Nichanian has championed an approach deliberately distant from seasonal noise and rapid trend cycles. Her work has always focused on precision tailoring, exceptional materials and lasting elegance, shaping a menswear vision built to endure. Season after season, she refined a wardrobe designed for real life—pieces meant to age gracefully rather than chase instant attention.

Her Fall/Winter 2026–2027 collection, unveiled in Paris, felt both reflective and progressive. Clean silhouettes, intelligent layering, tactile fabrics and a restrained palette came together in a presentation that celebrated continuity over spectacle. More than a farewell, it was a reminder of how modern menswear can stay relevant without ever raising its voice.

Hermès and the power of long-term vision

In an industry defined by constant change, Hermès has once again demonstrated the strength of long-term thinking. Nichanian’s extraordinary tenure reinforced a clear identity for Hermès Homme and built deep trust with a global clientele increasingly focused on quality, authenticity and longevity. The maison has never pursued hype; it has cultivated confidence.

This philosophy resonates strongly today, as luxury recalibrates toward fewer products, deeper intention and a renewed respect for craftsmanship. Hermès stands as proof that evolution does not need abandoning one’s foundations.

The transition: Grace Wales Bonner and a global perspective

Hermès has already named her successor. Grace Wales Bonner will showcase her first collection for Hermès Homme in January 2027, opening a new creative chapter rooted in cultural dialogue and contemporary elegance. Known for her intellectual approach to design and her ability to blend European tailoring with Afro-Atlantic references, Wales Bonner brings a nuanced, globally attuned perspective to the house.

Her appointment signals an evolution rather than a rupture—an expansion of the Hermès menswear language toward storytelling, identity and modern masculinity, while remaining firmly anchored in the maison’s artisanal DNA.

Looking ahead

Véronique Nichanian’s departure is not an ending, but a carefully considered transition. Hermès once again shows that true luxury lies in continuity, clarity and respect for craft. As the industry searches for new directions, the Parisian house moves ahead with confidence and coherence.

When Grace Wales Bonner takes the runway next year, the world will witness not a sudden shift, but the steady evolution of an idea of elegance—one that continues to move ahead with purpose, discretion and a clear sense of the future.