Italian fashion house Fendi has announced British designer Kim Jones as the new artistic director of women’s collections, marking the designer’s first foray into womenswear. He will continue in his role as artistic director of Dior Homme.
Following the death of Karl Lagerfeld last year, Fendi lost its designer of more than 54 years. Silvia Venturini Fendi, the third generation of the Fendi family, had stepped into Lagerfeld’s role in the interim and will now return to focusing on accessories and menswear collections, the fashion house’s statement said.
Jones’ new role also mimics that carried by his predecessor, who held two major design roles until his death in February of 2019.
“Kim Jones is a great talent and since joining, he has continuously proven his ability to adapt to the codes and heritage of the LVMH houses while revisiting them with great modernity and audacity,” chief executive of parent company, LVMH, Bernard Arnault said of the announcement in a release. “At Fendi, I am convinced that his vision and passion will highly contribute to the success of the women’s collections.”
In the official statement, Jones said: “I would like to profoundly thank Monsieur Arnault, Pietro Beccari, Serge Brunschwig and Silvia Venturini Fendi for this incredible opportunity. Working across two such prestigious houses is a true honour as a designer and to be able to join the house of FENDI as well as continuing my work at Dior Men’s is a huge privilege.”
Jones has held design roles previously at Louis Vuitton, where he led the men’s design team from 2011-18, Alexander McQueen, Hugo Boss, Mulberry and Dunhill.
The only remaining Fendi family member working at the house, Venturini Fendi, said: “My warmest welcome to Kim, to whom I am bound by deep respect and friendship. I am looking forward to taking the Fendi universe to the next level with him.”
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