Grace Wales Bonner; the Creative Helm of Hermes Menswear

Written by Greta Felton

Comfortable, familiar, and iconic pieces glided down the runway in Paris, France, on March 13, 2025. Supple leather overshirts and water-repellent parkas swished softly as tailored trenches and sleek balaclavas drew audible gasps from the audience.

Photos: Looks from Hermès Fall/Winter 2025

Hermès’ Fall/Winter 2025 collection, Inhabiting Time, was built on the idea of “inhabiting a garment as you would a house”—a sentiment that translated into pieces that felt both protective and deeply personal. Three months later, the second half of the collection debuted at the Hermès Shanghai Show. The looks mirrored the hibernation-chic essence of Paris while embracing Hermès’ equestrian heritage, dressing what the brand calls the “cosmopolitan explorer” for brisk commutes and winter errands.

Now, all eyes turn to her successor: 35-year-old Grace Wales Bonner. Bonner is known for bringing an intellectual edge shaped by her namesake label and LVMH Young Designer Prize recognition and for her Euro-African editorial flair and poetic approach to menswear. Her appointment signals a shift toward cultural dialogue and storytelling.

Photos: Designer Grace Wales Bonner

She has often compared her design process to jazz music, exploring Black style and finding harmony within fashion’s broader “music.” Though not yet a household name, her influence is everywhere: from the revival of Adidas Sambas and Superstars to her styling work seen on Meghan Markle, Lewis Hamilton, Kendrick Lamar and Jeff Goldblum.

“In the hours since Bonner’s hire, social media has been awash in heart emojis and hurrahs for the 35-year-old Londoner,” notes GQ writer Samuel Hine.

Hermès enthusiasts, both new and longtime fans, have welcomed the young designer with open arms. Online platforms like Substack and Threads are buzzing, praising her distinctive aesthetic, dedication to cultural representation and fresh creative vision.

Her first collection for the brand will debut a year after Nichanian’s final show, in January 2027. The fashion world waits to see: will she honor the house’s heritage, weave in her Adidas-era influence, or surprise with something entirely new?

With change in the air, it will be fascinating to see how she interprets modern luxury from her youthful, globally conscious perspective.

Edited by Polly Drebin, Ava Palmieri, Claudia Rothberg, & Isabella Zapata