It’s the fashion news that the industry has been expecting for a decade: Grace Wales Bonner is headed to a major luxury house. Today (October 21), it has been announced that the London-born fashion designer has been appointed menswear creative director at Hermès. 

This follows last week’s news that former creative director Véronique Nichanian would be stepping down from her role after 37 years (fashion’s longest serving creative director). Nadège Vanhée-Cybulski will continue her role as artistic director for Hermès womenswear. 

“I am very happy to welcome Grace into our family of artistic directors,” said Hermès artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas. “Her contemporary vision of fashion, craftsmanship, and culture will continue to shape the style of Hermès men’s ready-to-wear, confidently blending her perspective on the times with the house’s heritage. Grace’s taste and curiosity for artistic practice strongly resonate with Hermès’ creative approach. This is only the beginning of a dialogue that will continue to grow.” 

In an interview with System magazine from six years ago, Wales Bonner revealed that the Hermès position was a lifelong goal of hers: “A house with heritage is interesting to me, because I am interested in a framework and then disrupting elements of classicism within that. A dream of mine would be to work with a tailoring brand, as that is at the core of what I am doing. Maybe a brand like Hermès or even a Savile Row tailoring house,” she explained. 

Today, that dream becomes a reality. “I am deeply honoured to be appointed artistic director of Hermès Men’s ready-to-wear. Beginning this new chapter and joining such a lineage of artisans and creators is a dream for me. I express my sincere gratitude to Axel Dumas and Pierre-Alexis Dumas for giving me the opportunity to bring my vision to this truly magical house,” Wales Bonner said in a statement. 

The British-Jamaican menswear designer was born and raised in south London, between her mother’s home in Dulwich and her father’s home in Stockwell. She studied fashion at Central Saint Martins and graduated in 2014 (winning the L’Oreal Professional Talent Award), before founding her namesake label and showing during London Men’s the following year. 

In the past ten years, Wales Bonner has picked up the award for Emerging Menswear Designer at the British Fashion Awards, she’s moved her brand to Paris, won the LVMH Young Designer Prize, partnered with both Dior and adidas Originals, and been the guest designer at Pitti Uomo. Her impressive list of accolades, paired with a unique eye for tailoring, quality and ability to reflect culture, make her the ideal candidate for Hermès. Today is a good day for the fashion industry.