Maria Grazia Chiuri has been appointed as the latest Chief Creative Officer at Fendi. Following a season of male-dominated appointments, this news feels like a win for women in fashion. Her return marks not only a reunion with the house where her career began but also a refreshing rebalancing in an industry that has lately leaned heavily towards male leadership.
This is not the first time Chiuri has served as a beacon of hope for female designers. Her appointment comes after her departure from Dior earlier this year, where she made history as the first woman to lead the brand’s womenwear collections. Over nine years, she embedded a powerful feminist narratives into Dior’s identity, celebrating craftsmanship, female creativity, and empowerment. Her tenure proved that commercial success and social consciousness need not be at odds — a vision she is expected to bring to her new role at Fendi.
Speaking on her return, Chiuri said: “I return to Fendi with honour and joy, after having had the privilege of beginning my career under the leadership of the House’s five founding sisters. Fendi has always been a breeding ground for talent and a starting point for many creatives in the industry, thanks to their extraordinary ability to encourage and nurture generations with their vision and expertise.”
The move also brings Chiuri full circle. She began her career at Fendi in 1989, working on accessories and playing a key role in the creation of the now-iconic Baguette bag. After appointments at Valentino, where she co-led the brand with Pierpaolo Piccioli, and Dior, where she established her independent creative voice, Chiuri returns to Fendi with decades of experience and an evolved aesthetic language.
At Fendi, she is set to take the helm across womenswear, menswear, and couture — weaving together the house’s creative identity under a single perspective. Her appointment follows Kim Jones’s exit from the brand in late 2024 and Silvia Venturini Fendi’s transition into an honorary leadership role, signalling a new chapter for the house under LVMH’s stewardship.
Chiuri’s debut collection is expected to show during Milan Fashion Week in February 2026, and anticipation is already high. Her arrival represents more than a change in creative direction; it symbolises the resilience and influence of women at the top of luxury fashion. In a landscape often shaped by male visionaries, Chiuri remains a spearhead in redefining what female leadership looks like — one grounded in empathy, intellect, and creative conviction.
