An ambitious decision. Englishman Kim Jones, creator of Dior’s men’s collections , will also take charge of Fendi’s women’s collections, designed by Karl Lagerfeld until his death in 2019, the Italian house owned by LVMH announced on Wednesday, September 9 .
“Kim Jones will join Silvia Venturini Fendi, third generation of the Fendi family, who will continue to create accessories and men’s collections. Kim Jones will at the same time maintain his duties as artistic director of Dior homme, ”Fendi said in a statement.
Both Fendi and Dior are owned by the French luxury colossus LVMH, which belongs to Bernard Arnault. The British designer will present his first collection for Fendi during Milan Fashion Week next February.
Kim Jones, 46, has been in charge of men’s collections for the Christian Dior house since spring 2018, and had succeeded the Belgian Kris Van Assche, who had held this position for eleven years. He previously worked at Louis Vuitton, where he had distinguished himself through successful partnerships, notably with Supreme, a New York brand specializing in the world of sportswear.
“A Lagerfeldian approach”
As the fashion journalist Pierre Alexandre M’Pelé, alias PAM BOY on Twitter, indicates when was the last time we saw a stylist assume the artistic direction of two prestigious houses? “A very Lagerfeldian approach”, ironically Loïc Prigent in the caption of a video of the last Kaiser’s parade for the Italian label, published on Instagram this Wednesday, September 9.
“Kim Jones has never ceased to prove his ability to adapt the codes and heritage of the LVMH houses while revisiting them with great modernity and daring”, greeted Bernard Arnault, CEO of the world number one in luxury , cited in the press release. I am sure that her vision and passion will greatly contribute to the success of Fendi’s women’s collections. ”
“Working for two such prestigious houses is a real honor for a designer and being able to join Fendi while continuing my work at Dior is a great privilege,” said Kim Jones, quoted in the press release.
Karl Lagerfeld, Creative Director for Chanel, had also been recruited in 1965 by the Fendi sisters and was noted for his work with fur in the haute couture collections. Building on his success, in 1977 he presented his first women’s ready-to-wear collection for the Roman house, which he will never stop designing, in a duet with Silvia Venturini Fendi.
