Maria Grazia Chiuri Returns to Fendi as Chief Creative Officer

Maria Grazia Chiuri has been named the new chief creative officer of Fendi, succeeding Kim Jones, who stepped down this past October. Silvia Venturini Fendi, who had been serving as artistic director of womenswear, menswear, and accessories, officially transitioned to house president this September. Chiuri’s first collection in her new role will be unveiled in Milan during the fall/winter 2026 season in February.

Chiuri has a long history with the Fendi. The Rome-born designer studied at the city’s IED Istituto Europeo di Design, and began her tenure at the house in 1989 as an accessories designer. During her time there, she and her creative partner Pierpaolo Piccioli worked on hit items including the iconic Baguette bag. The duo jumped to Valentino a decade later, handpicked by Valentino Garavani himself to design accessories. In 2008, they became co-creative directors of Valentino and once again became known for creating must-have accessories, notably the Rockstud collection.

“I return to Fendi with honor and joy, having had the privilege of beginning my career under the guidance of the House’s founders, the five sisters,” Chiuri said in a statement. “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.”

In 2016, Chiuri was named the creative director of Dior, making her the first woman to hold the position. She incorporated feminist themes into her collections—working with notable intellectuals like Robin Morgan and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie—and collaborated with an array of female artists, including Nikki de Saint Phalle, Mickalene Thomas, Graciela Iturbide, and Judy Chicago.

Chiuri backstage with models during couture week.

In a 2020 interview with ELLE, she told writer Alexis Okeowo that when she was growing up, “Everyone thought fashion was a domestic job. They didn’t recognize it as cultural and artistic work.” During her time at Dior, she sought to change that perception by spotlighting the artistry of craftspeople like the Chanakya Atelier in Mumbai, a longtime creative partner of hers, as well as artisans from Ukraine to Côte d’Ivoire.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Maria Grazia into the team,” added chairman and CEO Ramon Ros in the statement. “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.” Now, with the resources of a 100-year-old house behind her, the world will be her canvas.

Additional reporting by Tasha Nicole Smith and Alexandra Hildreth.