Maria Grazia Chiuri Returns To Fendi As The Maison’s New Chief Creative Officer
“I return to Fendi with honour and joy, having had the privilege of beginning my career under the guidance of the house’s founders, the five sisters.” Maria Grazia Chiuri announces as she gears up to present her first collection for Autumn/Winter 2026 during Milan Fashion Week next February
Former Creative Director of Dior and Co-creative Director of Valentino – Maria Grazia Chiuri – has now returned as the new Chief Creative Officer of Fendi. From beginning her career at Fendi in 1989 to co-designing the infamous Baguette Bag, Maria has soared to great heights with her accomplished return.
Bernard Arnault, Chairmain and CEO of the LVMH Group says, “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.”
Maria spent 17 years at Valentino, and along with Pierpaolo Piccioli (former creative director), they expanded and enhanced the brand with their creative energy, introducing the iconic Rockstud accessories line in 2010.
Creating history during her nine years at Dior, she was the first woman to lead their womenswear and saw to it that sales reached an estimated $7 billion during her tenure. She proudly embraced a female gaze that not only empowered women, but also made a bold impact on the fashion world. This was demonstrated through her “we should all be feminists” t-shirts, debuted in her Spring/Summer 2017 collection.
Fendi’s Chairman and CEO, Ramon Ros, is “thrilled to welcome Maria Grazia into the team. 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. Her talent and vision will be instrumental in fortifying Fendi’s heritage, shaping the future talent in the house and deepening our commitment to Italian craftsmanship.”
“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. I am grateful to Mr Arnault for entrusting me with the task of helping to write a new chapter in the history of this extraordinary women-founded company,” says Maria Grazia Chiuri.
Lead Image Courtesy of Instagram /@fendi and @mariagraziachiuri