French-Armenian Véronique Nichanian is stepping down after an unprecedented 37-year tenure as the Artistic Director of Hermès’ menswear division, marking the end of an era defined by timeless elegance, quiet luxury, and impeccable craftsmanship. Appointed in 1988, Nichanian led Hermès to become a global symbol of understated design excellence, with collections that permanently reshaped men’s fashion. Her departure concludes the longest continuous creative directorship at a major fashion house—an extraordinary legacy that transformed how men dress.
Born in France on May 3, 1954, Nichanian studied at the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and began her career in 1976 at Cerruti, where she worked under Nino Cerruti. In 1988, she was personally appointed to Hermès by then-CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. She was instrumental in building the brand’s menswear identity from the ground up.
Her approach blended quiet luxury and modern wearability, with collections distinguished by the finest materials, sophisticated color palettes, and effortless elegance—garments that impressed with meticulous detail while remaining suited for everyday life. Rather than drastic seasonal reinventions, her design philosophy favored subtle modifications to classic silhouettes, emphasizing evolution over trend. She also focused on integrating innovative textiles and materials, further advancing Hermès’ commitment to precision and artistry. The designer often described her mission as slowing down time and bringing humanity into fashion.
For nearly four decades, Nichanian led with a clear and consistent vision that elevated understated menswear into a new global standard. Her work found lasting success with clients worldwide, establishing Hermès as one of the most influential names in luxury fashion.
Speaking to Le Figaro, the 71-year-old designer explained her decision: “I still love this job. But to do it the way I love requires more and more time—and today I want to devote that time to other things. Hermès has shown immense elegance by allowing me to choose the right moment to step away. I’ve been reflecting on this with Axel and Pierre-Alexis Dumas for the past year or two. It’s time to pass the baton.”
She added: “It is time to pass the torch,” expressing her joy and pride at leaving after enjoying “37 years of creative freedom.” While she still has ideas, Nichanian said she wants to dedicate more time to herself, including fulfilling a long-held dream of spending several months in Japan.
Her final collection for Hermès will debut in January 2026 at Paris Fashion Week, closing a legendary chapter in the house’s history. The maker of the iconic Birkin bag confirmed it will be presented at that show, with her successor to be announced in the coming days.
In its official announcement, Hermès shared the news “with heartfelt emotion,” paying tribute to her “eye, her vision, her generosity, her energy and her curiosity.” The statement continued:“Véronique Nichanian has written, with tremendous talent, the story of men’s ready-to-wear at Hermès and has applied her vision across the entire men’s universe.”
Throughout her tenure, Nichanian maintained unwavering consistency and a deep commitment to craftsmanship. She leaves behind an indelible mark on Hermès and the broader fashion industry. According to Women’s Wear Daily, she is the longest-serving fashion creative director in the world, having held her position for 36 years as of 2024—an achievement unmatched in modern fashion.
Nichanian was also one of the few women to lead a major men’s fashion house. Her legacy stands out even more as the European luxury sector experiences a wave of artistic director changes—many replacing women with men. In contrast, Hermès remains an outlier, maintaining women in leadership across both fashion divisions, with Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski heading womenswear since 2014.
Her departure comes amid a broader creative shake-up in the luxury industry, with houses such as Chanel, Dior, Celine, Balenciaga, Loewe, Gucci, and Versace all announcing leadership changes over the past year. While the global luxury market has seen a dip in sales, Hermès remains strong. The house reported over €8 billion ($9.4 billion) in revenue during the first half of 2025—a 7% year-over-year increase.
A successor to Véronique Nichanian is expected to be named soon, as the industry prepares to turn the page on a career that helped define modern menswear.
