Hermès Men’s Artistic Director Véronique Nichanian Steps Down After 37 Years

PARIS — Véronique Nichanian, fashion’s longest-serving creative director, will step down as men’s artistic director at Hermès after 37 years, a spokeswoman for the house confirmed on Thursday.

Nichanian announced her departure in an interview with French daily Le Figaro, adding that she will present her final collection in January. Le Figaro added that her successor is expected to be named in the next few days. Hermès did not provide any additional details.

The designer said she had been discussing handing over her duties for the last couple of years with Hermès chief executive officer Axel Dumas and artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas. 

“Hermès was gracious enough to let me choose the moment that felt right to step away,” she said. “Now feels like the right time to pass the baton.”

Nichanian was hired from Cerruti in 1988 by legendary Hermès executive Jean-Louis Dumas, and has seen the brand grow into an industry behemoth, with revenues of 15.2 billion euros in 2024.

“The house has grown significantly over the years, but at its core, it remains the same. I still feel that sense of a family that placed its trust in me, though of course, it’s a much larger family now,” she said.

“I’ve always been happy here. We share the same values, in particular a deep respect for craftsmanship, which I believe is a value for the future,” she added.