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Sep 9, 2020
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Kim Jones to design Fendi women’s wear and couture, stay at Dior Men

Published
Sep 9, 2020

Kim Jones has added another impressive title to his CV. Jones has been named Artistic Director of haute couture, ready-to-wear and fur collections for women of Fendi, in a remarkable ascension for the British designer.


Dior Men - Pre-Fall2020 - Menswear - Miami - © PixelFormula



Kim Jones will join Silvia Venturini Fendi, third generation of the Fendi family, who will continue to create the accessories and menswear collections. Kim Jones will at the same time maintain his role as Artistic Director of Dior Men, Fendi said in a release.

Jones in effect succeeds Karl Lagerfeld, who passed away in February 2019, after five decades at the Rome-based fur specialist, and whose position was never filled.

 “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. At Fendi, I am convinced that his vision and passion will highly contribute to the success of the women’s collections,” said Bernard Arnault, chairman of LVMH which controls Fendi and Christian Dior among scores of luxury marques.

“I would like to profoundly thank Monsieur Arnault, Pietro Beccari, Serge Brunschwig and Silvia Venturini Fendi for this incredible opportunity. 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,” said Jones, referring to the CEOs of Dior and Fendi, respectively.

The move is Jones’ latest within the LVMH empire, and follows on his nomination as menswear designer at Dior Men in 2018, when he succeeded Kris Van Assche and the house renamed the menswear division Dior Men, and no longer Dior Homme. While at Dior, he added a conceptual yet also highly commercial touch to the men’s division, linking with fine artists like Shawn Stussy, Kaws and Daniel Arsham, and bringing Dior on the road with an epic show in Tokyo in November 2018. Joined there by David Beckham, for whom he designed the suit worn by the soccer star to Prince Harry’s wedding in May 2018.

His appointment at Fendi makes him one of the very few designers ever to take creative direction of two different global fashion houses simultaneously; and two work in different countries at the same time on both menswear and women’s wear.

Prior to Dior, Jones spent seven years at Louis Vuitton as menswear designer, winning critical acclaim there with his travel inflected designs and  polished shows.
 
 “I am thrilled to welcome Kim Jones at Fendi. 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,” said Fendi CEO Brunschwig.  While  Silvia Venturini Fendi, Artistic Director of Fendi accessories and menswear, added: “My warmest welcome to Kim, 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.”

Jones will present his first Fendi ready-to-wear collection for Fall/Winter 2021-22 season during Milan Fashion Week in February.

A graduate of Central St Martins, Jones opened his own brand after college in 2003, before being appointed Creative Director of UK brand Dunhill in 2008. Born in Hammersmith, London, Jones will celebrate his 47th birthday this Friday. Talk about a nice way to enjoy an anniversary.
 

 

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