Véronique Nichanian will present her final collection on January 24th, 2026, during Paris Fashion Week Men’s, marking the end of her extraordinary tenure at the French luxury house. The announcement confirms that fashion’s longest-serving Creative director has chosen to step away from the position she has held since 1988, when the legendary Jean-Louis Dumas personally invited her to join Hermès.
In an interview with Le Figaro, the 71-year-old designer revealed her decision, explaining that she had been discussing the transition with Hermès CEO Axel Dumas and Artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas for several years. “Hermès was gracious enough to let me choose the moment that felt right to step away,” she stated. “Now feels like the right time to pass the baton.”
Nichanian’s tenure is an unprecedented achievement in the luxury fashion industry, where Creative directors typically stay for much shorter periods. During her 37 years at Hermès, the company transformed from a respected French brand into a global luxury powerhouse with revenues reaching 15.2 billion euros in 2024.
A career built on conviction
Nichanian arrived at Hermès in 1988, having graduated from the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and having worked at Cerruti under Nino Cerruti. She became one of the few women to lead a menswear division at a major luxury house. She joined during an era when Jean-Louis Dumas was revolutionizing the brand.
In an official press release, Hermès praised Nichanian’s vision, describing her approach with poetic precision. The company thanked her for “her eye, her vision, her generosity, her energy, and her curiosity,” noting that she led “with conviction and imagination the destiny of a man who walks with style.”
Nichanian reflected on her journey with evident pride: “I have decided to present my latest home collection on January 24th,” she declared. “Working for Hermès since 1988 has been an immense pleasure.”
The philosophy of function
The designer’s approach has always centered on what she calls “vêtements-objets” – garments that function like objects, designed to last. She emphasized her commitment to creating “a contemporary wardrobe where materials blend, techniques combine, and innovation meets heritage“.
Her collections have been characterized by sensual textures and technical innovation. Think leather openwork weave on shirts and trousers, rough edges on silk twill bandanas, ribbed and nubby knits – all executed with a breezy sense of luxury. She was among the first designers to experiment with matte finishing on nubuck crocodile.
“For me, there is not one Hermès man, but many Hermès men,” Nichanian explained, highlighting her belief that the brand’s menswear should serve diverse individuals rather than a single archetype. Her philosophy has been to create timeless pieces that accompany men through their lives, garments that are transformable, reversible, and enduring.
Creative freedom and craftsmanship
Nichanian has repeatedly credited Hermès for giving her complete creative freedom. “I am very proud to be part of this big family, where I have flourished with complete creative freedom,” she said in a press release.
This freedom has allowed her to explore technical innovations that would have been impossible elsewhere. When she first proposed a matte crocodile waistcoat, the leather craftsmen told her it couldn’t be done. “But they did it for me,” she recalled, illustrating the collaborative spirit between designers and artisans at Hermès.
Her dedication to craftsmanship has been absolute. “I am attached to handicrafts and attentive to the emotion that clothing evokes,” she said, emphasizing that garments should evoke feelings. The company noted that she has “always struck the right note by never compromising on standards, quality, or humor.“
Industry context
Nichanian’s departure comes during a period of significant upheaval among creative directors at major European luxury houses, including Chanel, Dior, and Balenciaga. However, Hermès has remained remarkably stable compared to its peers. Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski, the Artistic director of women’s ready-to-wear, has held her position since 2014.
The luxury industry currently faces challenges due to slowing consumption worldwide. Aspirational consumers have pulled back after years of steep price increases following the pandemic. Yet, Hermès has maintained its position through what analysts call its “safe-haven status.” Its ready-to-wear and accessories division posted a 6 percent sales growth in the first half of 2025.
Nichanian oversaw and elevated this division for nearly four decades, and it now accounts for 28 percent of Hermès sales. Her contributions have helped establish menswear as a crucial pillar of the company’s success.
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Looking forward
The House announced that Nichanian’s successor will be revealed in the coming days. However, no additional details have been provided. According to sources, the successor may be chosen from within the organization, with Benjamin Brett, one of Nichanian’s longest-serving deputies, being mentioned as a possibility.
Nichanian plans to use her newfound freedom to pursue her dreams, including spending several months in Japan, which has been a longtime ambition of hers. “I would like to thank Jean-Louis Dumas, Axel Dumas, Pierre-Alexis Dumas, and all of the teams for putting their trust in me,” she said, expressing her gratitude to the family and teams who supported her vision.
She also thanked her studio “very warmly” for all the years and adventures they shared, acknowledging the collaborative nature of her work. Her final words in the press release encapsulated her enduring philosophy: “My desire has always been to create contemporary clothing that will stand the test of time.”
A lasting legacy
Hermès praised Nichanian’s contributions to contemporary menswear, noting her reinvention of garments and their uses, as well as her constant research into materials, craftsmanship, and color. The company noted that people feel so comfortable in her clothes because she has always taken “sincere and genuine pleasure in dressing men.”
She gave men a timeless, chic, and discreet silhouette. The house noted that she invented personal details that she calls “égoïstes“—details meant only for the wearer. Passionate about technical innovations, she designed a wardrobe anchored in what Hermès calls “l’esthétique de la fonction” (“the aesthetics of function“), drawing from the house’s vocabulary while nourishing it with contemporary influences.
For nearly 40 years, her collections have enjoyed strong success with international clients around the world. Her influence on contemporary menswear rivals the stylistic revolutions led by Giorgio Armani or Hedi Slimane. She combined luxurious materials, ingenious cuts, technical experimentation, and relaxed elegance.
“The house has grown significantly over the years, but at its core, it remains the same,” Nichanian reflected. “I still feel that sense of family that placed its trust in me. Of course, it’s a much larger family now.” This sentiment encapsulates what has sustained her through 76 collections: “I’ve always been happy here.“
