Prime Highlights:
- Maria Grazia Chiuri rejoins Fendi as chief creative officer after leaving Dior, where she was the first woman to lead its women’s collections.
- Her return signals Fendi’s ambition to blend heritage with innovation, starting with her first women’s collection debuting in Milan in February 2026.
Key Facts:
- Chiuri began her career at Fendi in 1989 and contributed to iconic accessories before working at Valentino and Dior, where she helped grow Dior’s revenue from €2.2 billion in 2017 to €8.7 billion in 2024.
- Silvia Venturini Fendi has been named honorary president and will continue overseeing jewelry collections, while Ramon Ros became Fendi’s CEO in July 2025.
Background
Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri has rejoined Fendi as chief creative officer, following her exit from Dior in May. Chiuri began her career at Fendi in 1989, contributing to the brand’s accessories line, and now returns to lead a new chapter under the LVMH group.
Chiuri’s first women’s collection for fall 2026 will debut in Milan in February, with menswear scheduled for June and couture in July. Fendi chairman and CEO Ramon Ros said the role allows Chiuri to guide the brand with a unified vision, creating products that resonate beyond a single season.
Chiuri expressed joy at returning, praising Fendi’s founders for nurturing creative talent. LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault called her “one of the greatest creative talents in fashion today,” emphasizing her ability to drive artistic renewal.
The appointment follows internal changes, including Silvia Venturini Fendi’s elevation to honorary president and Ros joining as CEO in July. Venturini Fendi will continue to oversee the jewelry collections alongside Chiuri’s leadership.
Chiuri has worked for nine years at Dior as the first female head of women’s collections, where she was able to combine business performance with feminist narratives, contributing to the increase in the revenue of Dior from €2.2 billion in 2017 to €8.7 billion in 2024.
Having her iconic styles, such as the Bar jacket, Book Tote bag, and Rockstud pump, Chiuri has been employed at Valentino, Fendi, and Dior, earning a reputation as someone who not only knows the customer but also can design collections celebrated around the world.
With her return, Fendi aims to balance its rich history with forward-looking creativity, ensuring long-term growth and reinforcing its Italian craftsmanship values.
