Chiuri returns to Fendi following her exit from Dior, ready to reshape the house where her iconic fashion journey began.
Italian fashion welcomes back one of its most compelling voices. Maria Grazia Chiuri, former Dior creative director, has officially been named Chief Creative Officer of Fendi, the house confirmed today. Her first collection will be revealed in February 2026 during Milan Fashion Week, marking a pivotal new chapter for the Roman maison.
The appointment brings Chiuri full circle: she worked at Fendi from 1989 to 1999 as an accessories designer, and famously helped develop the original Baguette bag. This new role is not only a professional comeback, but also a deeply personal return to her roots.
“Maria Grazia Chiuri is one of the greatest creative talents in fashion today, and I am delighted that she has chosen to return to Fendi to continue expressing her creativity within the LVMH group,” said Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH.
The move comes as Ramon Ros, Fendi’s newly appointed CEO, steers the brand into a refreshed era. With Kim Jones stepping down and Silvia Venturini Fendi transitioning into an ambassadorial role as Honorary President, Chiuri’s arrival signals a generational shift at the helm of the house.
“The role of a creative director is no longer to simply design beautiful clothes but to curate a culture and hold a mirror to the world we live in,” said Ros. “Her talent and vision will be instrumental in fortifying Fendi’s heritage and shaping its future.”
Chiuri expressed deep gratitude and a strong emotional connection to her new post: “I return to Fendi with honour and joy, having had the privilege of beginning my career under the guidance of the house’s founders, the five sisters.”
During her transformative tenure at Dior, Chiuri became the house’s first female lead designer, embedding a feminist and artistic voice into the brand’s DNA. Her debut Spring/Summer 2017 collection included the now-iconic “We should all be feminists” T-shirts, setting the tone for years of socially conscious storytelling. She collaborated with renowned female artists such as Judy Chicago, Faith Ringgold, Eva Jospin and Mickalene Thomas, while also championing global craftsmanship beyond Dior’s traditional Francophone lens.
Her results were as impactful as her message: according to HSBC, Dior sales soared from €2.2 billion in 2017 to €9.5 billion in 2023.
Now based entirely in Rome, where Fendi is also headquartered, Chiuri is already immersed in new projects — including the restoration of the Teatro Della Cometa, a historic city landmark. Her return to Fendi feels like a natural extension of her path: a homecoming laced with purpose and vision.
From her early days under the mentorship of the Fendi sisters to her revolutionary years at Dior, Chiuri brings a wealth of expertise and cultural insight. With her at the helm, Fendi enters a bold new era — one that honours its legacy while carving out a future written by a woman who understands the power of fashion to provoke, protect and evolve.
