BREAKING NEWS OUT OF PARIS: Kim Jones Named Fendi’s Artistic Director For Womenswear

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Fendi Fall 2020 Ready-To-Wear.

PARIS, FRANCEKim Jones will join Italian luxury house Fendi as artistic director for womenswear collections, the Roman ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes and fur-maker said today Wednesday (September 9).

The designer will continue in his role as artistic director at Dior Homme, which D.M. Fashion Book confirmed in March 2018 (see it here).

Jones left Louis Vuitton in January 2018 and showed his final collection (fall 2018 menswear) for the house  during Paris Fashion Week (see it here). The English designer has reinvigorated Dior‘s menswear business since 2018 by mixing sports and streetwear references with deft luxury tailoring that reinterpreted house signatures like the Bar Suit for men.

Fendi lost its designer of more than 54 years when Karl Lagerfeld passed away in February 2019 (see it here). Silvia Venturini Fendi, who had stepped into Lagerfeld‘s role in the interim, will return to focusing on accessories and menswear collections, Fendi‘s statement said.

Joneshas continuously proven his ability to adapt to the codes and heritage of the LVMH houses while revisiting them with great modernity and audacity,” said Bernard Arnault,  Chairman and CEO of LVMH, the luxury conglomerate that owns both brands.

Stay tuned for D.M. Fashion Book for all updates to this developing story.

UPDATE 1:

Fendi said Jones would work in tandem with Silvia Venturini Fendi, who has soldiered on as the main creative force and media figurehead following the death of Lagerfeld.

His title will be artistic director of haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur collections for women. Venturini Fendi will continue to head the accessories and men’s collections at Fendi.

This will mark Jones’s first real foray into women’s wear, and puts the British designer in a rare league straddling two marquee luxury brands.

Jones is to show his first collection for Fendi in February 2021, the Italian brand said in a brief press release.

Kim Jones is a great talent and since joining, he has continuously proven his ability to adapt to the codes and heritage of the LVMH houses while revisiting them with great modernity and audacity,” said Bernard Arnault. “At Fendi, I am convinced that his vision and passion will highly contribute to the success of the women’s collections.”

Serge Brunschwig, chairman and CEO of Fendi added: “Kim is one of the most talented and relevant designers of today. With Silvia Venturini Fendi, who has virtuously carried on Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld legacy, Kim will bring his contemporary one of a kind point of view into the world of Fendi.”

Venturini Fendi, whose title is artistic director of Fendi accessories and menswear, welcomed Jones, “to whom I am bound by deep respect and friendship. I am looking forward to take the Fendi universe to the next level with him.”

Working across two such prestigious houses is a true honor as a designer and to be able to join the house of Fendi as well as continuing my work at Dior Men’s is a huge privilege,” Jones said.

Fendi Fall 2020 Ready-To-Wear.

Fendi Fall 2020 Ready-To-Wear.

Fendi Fall 2020 Ready-To-Wear.

Photos Credit: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com

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Donovan

Donovan is the CEO and Editor-In-Chief of www.dmfashionbook.com. For all general inquiries please email don@dmfashionbook.com Donovan has a BA in Journalism & Media Studies from the prestigious Rutgers University. He's currently studying entertainment and fashion law.