A timeless chapter in fashion comes to a graceful close as Véronique Nichanian, the artistic director of Hermès menswear, announces her departure after 37 extraordinary years. Her final collection will debut during Paris Men’s Fashion Week in January 2026, marking the end of one of the most enduring and influential tenures in luxury fashion. With this farewell, an era of understated excellence at Hermès comes to a close.
The Woman Who Defined Quiet Luxury
In 1988, Jean-Louis Dumas appointed Véronique Nichanian as head of Hermès menswear. A woman leading men’s fashion at a heritage house was rare, but it proved visionary. Véronique, trained at the École de la Chambre Syndicale, began her career at Cerruti before bringing her refined touch to Hermès. She was offered total creative freedom — and she used it to build something timeless.
Nichanian didn’t follow trends; she built a universe. One where elegance was quiet, materials spoke louder than logos, and men were dressed with emotional intelligence. She led with fabric: open-weave leathers, cashmere, and light silks. Her tailoring was immaculate, her colour palette poetic. Season after season, she delivered clothing and accessories that captured the essence of what fashion at its best should be: not just seen, but felt.
Photo: I-d.co
Accessories Were Part of Her Magic
Though best known for clothing, Véronique's vision extended far beyond the wardrobe. Her menswear shows regularly featured standout bags, sandals, belts, and watches — all grounded in the same values of craftsmanship and luxury.
From oversized weekenders that echoed the Birkin's silhouette to refined leather totes, her accessory work proved that masculine design could be both functional and expressive.
Photo: robbreport.com
Design With a Business Edge
In a time of fast fashion and faster trends, Hermès remained steadfast. While other brands chased seasonal drops, Nichanian kept Hermès to just two collections a year — no pre-fall, no resort — just focus and excellence. And it worked: in the first half of 2025, Hermès grew 8% overall; ready-to-wear and accessories rose 5.5%, and leather goods and saddlery saw 11.3% growth.
Photo: runwaystylemedia.com
A Quiet Exit, On Her Own Terms
Véronique's departure wasn’t sudden. She revealed she had been discussing it for over a year with the Hermès leadership team. “Hermès has, above all, shown great elegance by allowing me to choose the moment that felt right,” she told Le Figaro. Her decision follows a season of major shifts — 15 designer debuts across luxury brands — and yet hers is a goodbye filled with grace, not noise.
Who’s the Next Hermès Menswear Designer?
The fashion world is watching closely — and so are we! Hermès has appointed Grace Wales Bonner as the new artistic director of men’s ready-to-wear, succeeding Véronique Nichanian. Grace's take on contemporary fashion, craft, and culture will contribute to shaping the next chapter of Hermès men’s style.
Photo: hermes.com
A Heartfelt Thank You, Véronique
For almost forty years, Véronique Nichanian turned Hermès menswear into a quiet sanctuary — a place where restraint was radical and elegance felt effortless. In a world driven by speed and spectacle, her work offered something rare: consistency without repetition, luxury without pretence. Each collection felt intimate, intelligent, and quietly ahead of its time.
She designed clothes with softness, movement, and emotional clarity.
Now, she is stepping away to explore new dreams — and perhaps spend more time in Japan. But her legacy remains. It lives in every precisely cut jacket, in every rich shade of olive green, and in every man who quietly chooses quality over noise.
With love,
Lilian
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