The Roman designer’s homecoming signals a new Era for the house she helped shape, as she takes creative reins across all categories
Maria Grazia Chiuri has been named Chief Creative Officer of Fendi , the house confirmed today, marking a bold new chapter in the brand’s evolution—and a homecoming for one of Rome’s most influential designers.
Chiuri will unveil her debut collection for Fendi during Milan Fashion Week in February 2026, presenting womenswear for the Fall/Winter 2026 season. The appointment ends months of speculation and signals a decisive move by parent company LVMH to pair one of its most storied maisons with a designer known for blending craft, cultural resonance, and feminist clarity.
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. 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.
– Maria Grazia Chiuri
Her relationship with the house is both foundational and personal. Chiuri, a native Roman, began her career at Fendi in 1989, where she spent a decade designing accessories—including leading the creation of the iconic Baguette bag. She left in 1999 with Pierpaolo Piccioli to join Valentino, later becoming co-creative director. In 2016, she became the first woman to helm Dior’s womenswear, where she redefined the brand’s message through unapologetically feminocentric collections and high-profile collaborations with artists such as Judy Chicago and Mickalene Thomas.
Chiuri’s return to Fendi comes as the house restructures its leadership following Kim Jones’s departure in October 2024. Silvia Venturini Fendi—granddaughter of founders Adele and Edoardo Fendi—stepped in to oversee womenswear alongside her existing responsibilities for menswear, guiding the brand through its centennial in 2025. As of late September, Venturini Fendi was named Honorary President, transitioning into a new ambassadorial role while remaining closely tied to the house’s future.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Maria Grazia into the team,” said Fendi chairman and CEO Ramon Ros, who assumed his role in July.
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 future talent in the house and deepening our commitment to Italian craftsmanship.”
– Ramon Ros, CEO Fendi
“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,” added Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH. “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.”
While still based in Rome following her departure from Dior, Chiuri has recently focused on independent cultural projects, including the restoration of Teatro Della Cometa. Her appointment at Fendi brings her creative focus back to fashion—this time at the helm of a brand she helped shape from the start. With this move, Chiuri becomes one of the few female creative leads at a major European maison. It’s both a reflection of Fendi’s progressive spirit and a broader signal from LVMH that the future of luxury hinges on designers who understand fashion not just as product, but as a platform for culture, identity, and meaning.