The rejigs in the upper echelons of the fashion industry have gotten even more exciting.
The game of musical chairs at the helm of luxury fashion houses is far from over. We’re only in our second month this year but exciting changes are already afoot.
Just a quick refresher, 2024 was a year of hellos and goodbyes between luxury brands and their creative directors, with The POST reporting on these industry-shaking revamps. Hedi Slimane and John Galliano bid farewell to Celine and Maison Margiela respectively. Last December, Matthieu Blazy left Bottega Veneta to join Chanel as Virginie Viard’s successor. In January, Proenza Schouler founders Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez stepped down from their roles.
More recently—and in a span of less than a week at that—Dior bid an acclaimed creative director adieu, while Maison Margiela welcomed a new one to the same post.
Related story: Proenza Schouler founders Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez step down. What’s next?
Related story: Chanel names Matthieu Blazy as new artistic director
Kim Jones says goodbye to Dior
On Friday morning, it was confirmed that Kim Jones is ending his tenure as Dior Men’s artistic director. “It was a true honor to have been able to create my collections within the House of Dior, a symbol of absolute excellence,” Jones said in a statement through Dior. “I express my deep gratitude to my studio and the ateliers who have accompanied me on this wonderful journey. They have brought my creations to life. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the artists and friends I have met through my collaborations.” Jones also conveyed his “sincere gratitude” towards Bernard and Delphine Arnault for their full support.
For nearly two decades, Jones has steadily built a name for himself in the cutthroat luxury fashion industry. From 2011 to 2018, he served as artistic director of Menswear at Louis Vuitton, where he spearheaded the landmark collaboration between the French luxury label and New York streetwear brand Supreme.
Related story: Change is coming to Chanel. Who will replace creative director Virginie Viard?
Related story: Fendi bids Kim Jones farewell
Thereafter, the 51-year-old British designer spent seven years at the helm of Dior, succeeding Kris Van Assche who left the atelier in 2018. As Dior’s top creative, he launched a string of memorable collaborations including those with Nike, Hajime Sorayama, Travis Scott, and Lewis Hamilton. From September 2020 to October 2024, he concurrently served as artistic director at Fendi, taking charge of the brand’s haute couture, ready-to-wear, and fur collections.
On top of being recognized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and the British Fashion Awards, Jones was also awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2020. He was also formally knighted by France’s Legion of Honor ahead of his final FW25 Men’s show.
Related story: Change is coming to Chanel. Who will replace creative director Virginie Viard?
Related story: Lanvin welcomes Peter Copping as new artistic director
Related story: Hedi Slimane out, Michael Rider in as Celine’s new artistic director
Maison Margiela welcomes Glenn Martens
The avant-garde luxury fashion house, meanwhile, says hello to Glenn Martens following Galliano’s exit from the maison last December after almost a decade. Martens’ appointment as creative director of the Paris-based brand seems serendipitous as he shares quite a few important things in common with founder Martin Margiela, starting with the fact that they’re both Belgian. They also graduated from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and honed their craft in Paris under French fashion legend Jean Paul Gaultier.
“I feel extremely honored to join the amazing Maison Margiela, a truly unique house that has been inspiring the world for decades. And I thank Renzo for the trust he is putting in me,” the 41-year-old designer said in a statement. Renzo Rosso is CEO of OTB Group and founder of Diesel, where Martens serves as artistic director and is credited for bringing back cool to the erstwhile struggling brand. It’s unclear, as of writing, whether or not he will continue with the post. The date of Martens’s first fashion show for Maison Margiela, likewise, is yet to be announced.
Related story: Burberry CEO gets replaced after ‘disappointing’ results
