Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 24, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 24, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleVéronique Nichanian ends her Hermes career with a final menswear show in Paris, passing the role to Grace Wales Bonner. The event featured a star-studded audience.
By Helen Reid
PARIS, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Hermes menswear designer Véronique Nichanian presented her final collection on Saturday in Paris after nearly four decades in the role, as the 71-year-old prepared to pass the baton to young British designer Grace Wales Bonner.
R&B star Usher mingled with Hermes executive chairman Axel Dumas ahead of the Paris Fashion Week show in the Palais Brongniart, with a more star-studded crowd than usual for the luxury house known for eschewing flashy marketing and celebrity ambassadors.
Models wore silk turtlenecks with leather trousers in a navy blue, black and taupe palette. Overcoats featured leather patches and shearling lining.
A shiny khaki crocodile-skin suit was a standout look, while Nichanian also mixed in pieces from earlier collections, like a navy leather suit with topstitched pinstripes from 2003 and a mocha calfskin jumpsuit from 1991. Jackets in orange and yellow provided flashes of colour.
Walking out to close the show, Nichanian got a standing ovation from an audience including fellow designer Paul Smith, rapper Travis Scott and actors James McAvoy and Chace Crawford.
Wales Bonner named by Hermes in October, is the first Black woman to lead a major fashion house. She will present her debut menswear collection next January.
(Reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama )
A fashion designer is a professional who creates clothing, accessories, and footwear, focusing on aesthetics, functionality, and trends in the fashion industry.
Menswear refers to clothing designed specifically for men, encompassing a range of styles from formal attire to casual wear.
A collection in fashion is a curated group of clothing and accessories designed by a designer for a specific season or theme.
A standing ovation is a form of applause where the audience stands up to show appreciation for a performance or presentation.
A luxury brand is a high-end brand known for its premium quality, exclusivity, and high price point, often associated with prestige and status.
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