Chiuri has returned to the house as the chief creative officer of Fendi where her career began thirty-six years ago. She left Dior in May to take on the role of chief creative officer at Fendi, a Rome-based luxury brand owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. This appointment confirms months of industry speculation and marks a significant homecoming for Chiuri, who first joined Fendi in 1989 and helped establish the brand’s accessories division.
Bernard Arnault, chairman and Chief executive officer of LVMH, expressed his confidence in Chiuri’s ability to shape the future of the storied Roman fashion house. “Maria Grazia Chiuri is one of the greatest creative talents in fashion today, and I am delighted that she has chosen to return to Fendi to continue expressing her creativity within the LVMH group, after sharing her bold vision of fashion. Surrounded by the Fendi teams and in a city that is dear to her, I am convinced that Maria Grazia will contribute to the artistic renewal and future success of the Maison, while perpetuating its unique heritage,” he said. Chiuri will contribute to the artistic renewal of the maison while honoring its heritage, surrounded by the Fendi teams and working in Rome, a city she knows intimately.
A strategic leadership role
The position of chief creative officer represents a new direction for Fendi. Ramon Ros, the company’s chairman and CEO, explained that the position allows Chiuri to fully express her creative vision across all product categories. For the first time, one person will oversee the womenswear, menswear, and couture collections, ensuring consistency and long-term stability in the brand’s creative output.
Ros emphasized that the modern Creative director must do more than design beautiful clothes. The role now requires curating a culture that reflects the world we inhabit. The current moment of uncertainty in the luxury industry demands a designer with determination, complete mastery of the craft, and a strong vision.
Foundations built at Fendi
Maria Grasia Chiuri‘s history with the house runs deep. She studied at the Istituto Europeo di Design in Rome before joining Fendi where she collaborated with Silvia Venturini Fendi and Pierpaolo Piccioli. Together, they created the iconic Baguette bag, one of the most culturally significant accessories of the 1990s.
Chiuri expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to return to Fendi and for the guidance she received from the five founding sisters. Chiuri acknowledged the house’s reputation as a breeding ground for talent and a launching pad for many creatives in the industry. The founding sisters had an extraordinary ability to foster generations of vision and skill.
From Valentino to Dior
After nearly a decade at Fendi, Chiuri moved to Valentino in 1999. She and Piccioli initially oversaw accessories before becoming co-Creative directors in 2008. While at Valentino, they introduced the Rockstud pump, which became a commercial success. The duo spent seventeen years at Valentino before Chiuri left for Dior in 2016.
During her nine years at Dior, Chiuri became the first woman to oversee the design of women’s collections at the French fashion house. She developed strong brand signatures, including the Bar jacket, pleated tulle skirts, and popular accessories, such as the Book Tote bag and the Slingback shoe. Her collections helped Dior grow from 2.2 billion euros in sales in 2017 to an estimated 8.7 billion euros in 2024. She staged blockbuster shows in destinations ranging from Mumbai and Mexico City to Tokyo, Athens, Marrakech, and Seoul.
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Shared values and vision
Fendi and Chiuri share a commitment to Italian artisanal craftsmanship. Ros highlighted her ability to strengthen production at the creative and industrial levels. The company aims to create unique, iconic products that bring long-term joy and empowerment to customers, rather than merely providing short-term fashion trends.
Chiuri’s prior experience at Fendi allows her to understand and communicate the brand’s history and potential future. With Silvia Venturini Fendi now serving as honorary president, the brand will receive more visibility and attention for its archive and past achievements. The brand aims to create the next chapter and work toward the next hundred years with passion and vision.
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Understanding context and community
Ros praised Chiuri’s ability to connect with customers through empathy. She has the intelligence to quickly grasp what is happening in the world and what people need. This quality is particularly important since designers sometimes need to function more as sociologists than as pure creators.
The executive also noted Chiuri’s consistency, determination, and mastery of her craft. These qualities form the foundation of a successful fashion house. Her professionalism and discipline are remarkable and have been developed over years of dedicated work. All of this aligns with Fendi’s philosophy of creating unique, long-lasting products.
Continuity within the family
At the end of September, Silvia Venturini Fendi was named honorary president, confirming speculation about changes at the brand following Kim Jones’s departure last October. Venturini Fendi is a third-generation member of the Fendi family. From 1992 until 2019, she collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld on artistic direction. Since 1994, she has been responsible for the accessories and menswear lines.
This year, during the house’s centenary, Venturini Fendi was tasked with designing the women’s collections after Jones’s departure. Last month in Milan, she presented her final collection for Spring/Summer 2026, featuring colorful, crafty, and fun ready-to-wear pieces, as well as highly embellished versions of popular accessories, including the Baguette and the Peekaboo. Chiuri and Venturini Fendi have a good relationship; Venturini Fendi attended Chiuri’s final Dior show in May.
Silvia’s daughter, Delfina Delettrez Fendi, remains in charge of the brand’s jewelry collections. Fendi has long been a hotbed of talent, with many designers moving on to head major brands after starting there. Examples include Pierpaolo Piccioli, Alessandro Michele, and Frida Giannini.
Looking ahead
Chiuri’s first womenswear collection for Fall/Winter 2026 will be presented in Milan in February. It will be followed by the menswear collection in June and the couture collection in July. This unified approach under one creative leader represents a departure from the past and signals Fendi’s commitment to a cohesive creative vision.
This change comes at a pivotal moment for Fendi and the broader luxury industry. There have also been shifts at the executive level: Ros joined as CEO on July 1st, having previously served as president and CEO of Louis Vuitton in mainland China. He succeeded Pierre-Emmanuel Angeloglou, who became deputy CEO of Christian Dior Couture.
A celebration in Rome
Chiuri’s final collection for Dior took place in May. It presented cruise and haute couture looks against the backdrop of the Villa Albani Torlonia in her hometown of Rome. Regular collaborators attended, including artist Eva Jospin and photographers Brigitte Niedermair, Brigitte Lacombe, and Maripol. Before her final Dior show, Chiuri unveiled her personal investment in Rome’s Teatro della Cometa, which she has restored over the past five years.