In a rather surprising move, Fendi has announced Kim Jones as the fashion house's new artistic director for its women's division. The British designer known for his well-received collections for Louis Vuitton menswear (2011–2018) and now Dior Men, will take on Fendi's haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur collections for women.
This appointment also marks Jones' first key role in womenswear. Having started his career as creative director for Alfred Dunhill in 2008, his subsequent roles in LVMH-owned fashion houses have been exclusively in menswear. Fendi, which is also under LVMH's portfolio of brands, will retain Silvia Venturini Fendi as the artistic director of accessories and menswear.
Jones will remain as the artistic director of Dior Men, where he has successfully merged the couture sensibilities of the house with a modern and at times streetwear slant. In a press release, Jones expressed: "I would like to profoundly thank Monsieur Arnault, Pietro Beccari (chairman and CEO of Christian Dior Couture), Serge Brunschwig (Fendi's chairman and CEO) and Silvia Venturini Fendi for this incredible opportunity. Working across two such prestigious houses is a true honour as a designer and to be able to join the house of Fendi as well as continuing my work at Dior Men is a huge privilege."
The late Karl Lagerfeld was the creative director for Fendi from 1965 till his passing last year. And during that time, he also took creative reins at Chanel from 1982, as well as his own brand since 1984. Jones' appointment at Fendi makes him the first designer to hold appointments at two different LVMH-owned fashion houses, of which none are his own.
Jones is set to make his debut Fendi ready-to-wear collection for the autumn/winter 2021 season in February during Milan Fashion Week.
