LVMH has just announced the appointment of Maria Grazia Chiuri as Chief Creative Officer of Fendi. Returning to the Roman maison where she began her career, Chiuri’s first womenswear collection will be shown in Milan in February 2026.
Fendi Appoints Maria Grazia Chiuri As Its Chief Creative Officer
When Silvia Venturini Fendi stepped down as Creative Director of Fendi and took on the position of Honorary President, her exit fuelled rumours that Maria Grazia Chiuri was returning to Fendi. Her appointment was just confirmed by the Roman maison today and she will present her first collection, Fendi Fall Winter 2026-27, in Milan next year.
“Maria Grazia Chiuri is one of the greatest creative talents in fashion today and I’m delighted that she is returning to Fendi… Surrounded by the Fendi teams and in a city that is dear to her, I’m convinced that Maria Grazia will contribute to the artistic renewal and future success of the Maison, while perpetuating its unique heritage”, says Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH Group.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Maria Grazia into the team. The role of a creative director is no longer to simply design beautiful clothes but to curate a culture and hold a mirror to the world we live in. Her talent and vision will be instrumental in fortifying Fendi’s heritage, shaping the future talent in the house and deepening our commitment to Italian craftsmanship”, states Ramon Ros, Fendi Chairman and CEO.
“I return to Fendi with honour and joy, having had the privilege of beginning my career under the guidance of the House founders, the five sisters. Fendi has always been a forge of talents and a starting point for many creatives in the industry, thanks to the extraordinary ability of these five women to foster and nurture generations of vision and skill. I am grateful to Mr. Arnault for entrusting me with the task of helping to write a new chapter in the history of this extraordinary women-founded company”, says Maria Grazia Chiuri.
Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Legacy At Dior
Maria Grazia Chiuri had a transformative impact on Dior since taking on the role of Artistic Director Of Women’s Collections in 2016. She holds the distinction of being the first woman to lead the ateliers and design teams of Christian Dior!
Chiuri has over twenty-five years experience in luxury fashion including an eight-year tenure as co-creative director of Valentino alongside Pierpaolo Piccioli. The award-winning design duo revitalised Valentino’s codes, ‘growing the business to reach $1 billion in revenue in 2015,’ per BoF.
The Istituto Europeo di Design alumnus revitalised Dior’s heritage by combining the iconic aesthetic with contemporary perspectives. ‘I strive to be attentive to what is happening in the world and to create fashion that resembles the women of today. Fashion that accompanies them in their transformations, avoiding stereotypical categories of «masculine-feminine, «young-less young,» «reason-emotion»,’ Chiuri explained at her first runway show for Dior.
Chiuri champions the importance of plurality and self-affirmation. Her designs incorporate the elegance, craftsmanship and luxurious fabrics Dior is recognised for, but she integrates them with social commentary and cultural relevance. Under Chiuri’s creative baton, Dior brought back its iconic saddle bag. She also created slogan T-shirts quoting feminists such as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and late American art historian Linda Nochlin. Some popular slogan tees include ‘We Should All Be Feminists’, ‘Sisterhood Is Powerful’ and ‘Women’s Love Is Unpaid Labour’.
The spotlight on craftsmanship is evident in her collaborations with artisans and her dedication to traditional techniques. Beyond ready-to-wear, she expanded Dior’s portfolio into fashion accessories, footwear, and jewellery, integrating the core ethos of empowerment and modern femininity into these categories. In July 2019, Maria Grazia Chiuri was awarded the Légion d’honneur, France’s highest honour.
Silvia Venturini Fendi’s legacy at Fendi
Silvia Venturini Fendi has been an instrumental force in shaping the trajectory of Fendi, the iconic Italian fashion house founded by her grandparents in 1925. Joining the family business in the early 1990s, she collaborated closely with Karl Lagerfeld, Fendi’s creative director since 1965. Together, they combined Roman heritage craftsmanship with contemporary design.
Venturini Fendi’s significant contributions include the creation of the Baguette in 1997, a design that became a cultural phenomenon. In 1992, she launched the Fendissime diffusion line, which expanded Fendi’s reach into ready-to-wear. Following Lagerfeld’s passing in 2019, Venturini Fendi took on greater creative responsibilities, overseeing the men’s and accessories collections, and later the women’s collections, steering the luxury brand through pivotal transitions.
The Hand-in-Hand initiative launched in 2020 showcased Fendi’s commitment to global artistry by collaborating with artisans worldwide to redesign the Baguette bag, incorporating diverse cultural elements into its design. In 2021, the luxury brand partnered with Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS, resulting in a collection that merged Fendi’s aesthetic with SKIMS’ modern and sensual loungewear, appealing to a wider audience.
In 2025, as Fendi celebrated its 100th anniversary, Venturini Fendi presented Spring Summer 2026 at Milan Fashion Week. Models walked down a pixelated runway in relaxed romantic ensembles, with standout pieces like tiered fishtail skirts and organza-collar bomber jackets. Accessories, including the reimagined Peekaboo bag embellished with sequins and floral beading, showcased the brand’s commitment to innovation. This marked a significant milestone in Fendi’s legacy, combining tradition with modernity.
After decades of shaping Fendi’s creative direction, Silvia Venturini Fendi has stepped down from her role as creative director, transitioning to the position of honorary president. This move signifies a new chapter for the luxury brand. Her legacy is embedded in Fendi’s identity, one of family tradition, artisanal craftsmanship, and innovative design.
Jasmeen Dugal is Associate Editor at FashionABC, contributing her insights on fashion, technology, and sustainability. She brings with herself more than two decades of editorial experience, working for national newspapers and luxury magazines in India.
Jasmeen Dugal has worked with exchange4media as a senior writer contributing articles on the country’s advertising and marketing movements, and then with Condenast India as Net Editor where she helmed Vogue India’s official website in terms of design, layout and daily content. Besides this, she is also an entrepreneur running her own luxury portal, Explosivefashion, which highlights the latest in luxury fashion and hospitality.
