Maria Grazia Chiuri has been appointed as Fendi’s Chief Creative Officer, the fashion house announced today. She will debut her first collection for Fall/Winter 2026 at Milan Fashion Week next February. This marks her return to Fendi six months after leaving her role as creative director at Dior. Chiuri, who is from Rome, previously spent a decade at Fendi from 1989 to 1999 as an accessories designer, where she played a key role in creating the iconic Baguette bag.

Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH Group, expressed his enthusiasm: “Maria Grazia Chiuri is one of fashion’s top creative talents. I’m thrilled she’s returning to Fendi within the LVMH family after sharing her bold vision elsewhere. With the support of Fendi’s teams in her beloved city, I’m confident she’ll bring artistic renewal and future success while honoring the maison’s unique heritage.”

Fendi has been without a dedicated womenswear creative director since Kim Jones left in October 2024. Silvia Venturini Fendi, granddaughter of founders Adele and Edoardo Fendi, temporarily took on womenswear responsibilities alongside her menswear duties during the brand’s 100th-anniversary celebrations in 2025. On September 29, she transitioned to a new role as Honorary President, focusing on ambassadorial work.

Fendi Chairman and CEO Ramon Ros commented, “I’m excited to welcome Maria Grazia. Today, a creative director does more than design clothes—they shape culture and reflect our world. Her talent and vision will strengthen Fendi’s legacy, mentor future talent, and deepen our dedication to Italian craftsmanship.” Ros, who assumed his position this past July, aims to revitalize the brand. Before Jones’ tenure began in 2020, Karl Lagerfeld had designed Fendi’s womenswear from 1965 until his passing in 2019. Ros hopes Chiuri, who previously led womenswear at Dior while Jones handled menswear, will bring fresh relevance to Fendi.

Chiuri shared, “I’m honored and joyful to return to Fendi, where I started my career under the guidance of the five founding sisters. The house has always been a talent incubator, thanks to these remarkable women who nurtured generations of creativity. I’m grateful to Mr. Arnault for trusting me to help write a new chapter in this extraordinary women-founded company’s history.”

The appointment is also a homecoming for Chiuri geographically, as Fendi is based in Rome. Since leaving Dior in Paris, she has been living in Rome full-time, working on personal projects like restoring the historic Teatro Della Cometa performance venue.

Chiuri originally left Fendi in 1999 with her creative partner Pierpaolo Piccioli to join another Roman fashion house, Valentino. After founder Valentino Garavani retired in 2008, Chiuri and Piccioli became joint creative directors, following a brief stint by Alessandra Facchinetti. Chiuri spent seven successful years at Valentino before moving to Dior in 2016 as Raf Simons’ successor.

At Dior, she made history as the first female lead designer for womenswear. She shifted the brand’s focus to celebrate women, famously introducing “We should all be feminists” T-shirts in her Spring/Summer 2017 debut. Throughout her tenure, she collaborated with female artists such as Judy Chicago, Faith Ringgold, Eva Jospin, and Mickalene Thomas.At Dior, she applied her extensive knowledge of accessories and broadened the brand’s perspective by collaborating with artisans and creators outside its usual French-speaking sphere. HSBC reports that Dior’s sales surged from €2.2 billion in 2017 to €9.5 billion in 2023. Now, she can focus all her deep fashion expertise on growing the very house where her career started.

Related news:
– Silvia Venturini Fendi is stepping down as creative director.
– Maria Grazia Chiuri is set to leave Dior.
– Kim Jones will be departing from Fendi.

Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Maria Grazia Chiuris return to Fendi designed to be clear concise and in a natural tone

General Beginner Questions

1 Who is Maria Grazia Chiuri
Maria Grazia Chiuri is a highly influential Italian fashion designer She is best known for being the first female Creative Director at the French luxury house Dior a position she held since 2016

2 Wait I thought she was at Dior Is she leaving
Yes she is leaving her role as Creative Director of Diors womens collections Her final collection for Dior will be the Haute Couture show in September 2024

3 So what is her new role at Fendi
She has been appointed as the Chief Creative Officer for Fendis womenswear haute couture and fur collections

4 Is this a new job for her or has she worked at Fendi before
This is a return for her She actually began her career at Fendi in 1989 where she worked for over a decade and was part of the team that designed the iconic Baguette bag

5 Why is this a big deal in the fashion world
Its a major event because she is one of the most powerful designers in the industry Her move from a giant like Dior back to the familyowned Fendi signals a significant shift in the luxury landscape

Advanced IndustryFocused Questions

6 What does a Chief Creative Officer do compared to a Creative Director
While the roles are similar a Chief Creative Officer often implies a broader more strategic leadership role She will likely have influence over the brands overall creative vision and direction not just designing seasonal collections

7 Who was designing for Fendi before her
Kim Jones was the Creative Director for Fendis womenswear and haute couture while Silvia Venturini Fendi continues as Creative Director for accessories and menswear

8 What is Kim Jones doing now
Kim Jones is remaining in his role as the Artistic Director of Dior Men He is not taking over Maria Grazia Chiuris position at Dior Womenswear