Fendi officially announced that Maria Grazia Chiuri has been made the Chief Creative Officer of Fendi a few days ago – she will succeed Kim Jones, who stepped down from the role this October.
It’s been six months since Chiuri stepped down as the creative director for Christian Dior, passing the torch on to Loewe alumni and JW Anderson founder Jonathan Anderson. She was the first woman to ever head the fashion house, and did so with a fresh eye: appointed in 2016, Maria Grazia Chiuri’s tenure at Dior marked a pivotal shift in the brand’s identity.
Her time at Dior was one of revival; Galliano’s Saddle Bag and the J’Adore Dior catchline were brought back to life under her directorship. Her debut Spring-Summer 2017 collection famously featured feminist slogans like “We Should All Be Feminists,” inspired by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s writings, and set the tone for a new era in fashion. By casting a light on profound voices and commemorating intercontinental culture, her runways became stages that presented women as being multifaceted through fashion, not simply existing for aesthetic purposes. Throughout her tenure, she collaborated with women creatives from around the world, including Shakuntala Kulkarni and Judy Chicago, has been inspired by traditional female practices, and paid tribute to centuries-old craftsmanship that Dior’s bespoke history has relied on ties with.
The history of the brand itself was still maintained during her reign – in 2021, Dior’s Château de Tarot campaign was something of an homage to Christian Dior’s superstitious character and adoration for fortune-telling, while her 2024 Miss Dior line was a radical reinvention of Philippe Guibourgé and Marc Bohan’s own originating in 1967. She’s also constructed her own lasting legacy: her classic Dior Book Tote recently underwent a revamp of its own as a part of Anderson’s debut. Chiuri’s final bow came in Rome, her hometown, with the Cruise 2026 collection staged at the Villa Albani Torlonia – a fitting yet rainy farewell that paid homage to her origins and her profound vision.
Chiuri stepping into the new shoes at Fendi will mark not only a joyous return but a full-circle moment in her illustrious career. After completing her studies in Rome at the prestigious Istituto Europeo di Design, she began her professional journey at Fendi in 1989, honing her craft in accessory design. It was during this formative period that she collaborated with Pierpaolo Piccioli, and together they contributed to the creation of the now-iconic Baguette bag. Their shared vision and collaboration eventually led them to Valentino, where they initially took charge of the accessories division. In 2008, the duo succeeded Valentino Garavani himself, stepping into the role of co-creative directors of the house.
“I return to Fendi with honour and joy, after having had the privilege of beginning my career under the guidance of the House’s founders, the five sisters,” Chiuri said in a statement the brand released across social media. “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”.
It’s difficult to say what may come next for Fendi under Chiuri’s direction, but if her tenure at Dior is any indication, the Roman fashion house may be on the cusp of a transformative era. Known for her unapologetically feminist approach and her ability to fuse tradition with modernity, Chiuri could bring a fresh perspective to Fendi – one that challenges the brand’s existing codes while honouring its heritage. Chiuri’s design philosophy has always been rooted in storytelling, be it cultural or political. At Dior, she elevated the runway into a platform for cultural dialogue, collaborating with female artists, poets, and thinkers to create collections that were as intellectually rich as they were visually stunning. If she shows a similar spirit at Fendi, it’ll be intriguing to see collections that are refracted through her own fresh lens of empowerment.
Her first collection will be shown next February in Milan.
