After 37 years at Hermès, Véronique Nichanian—one of the longest-serving creative directors in the industry—is stepping down. And for those who understand the poetry of menswear, it feels like the end of an era.
Nichanian’s story is one of loyalty. She began her career at Cerruti before being handpicked by Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas in 1988. He didn’t just hire her—he entrusted her with the future of menswear. And she delivered, season after season, with grace.
A Different Kind of Power
Nichanian was never the loudest voice in the room. In an age of spectacle, she chose subtlety. While other houses chased virality, she built an entire universe on restraint, movement, and emotion. Her designs didn’t demand attention—they earned intimacy. She dressed men not in costumes, but in confidence.
For three decades, she shaped Hermès menswear into something deeper than luxury. She proved that true elegance doesn’t need a logo. She softened masculinity without weakening it. She understood how clothes should feel before how they should look. In her hands, a jacket could hold freedom. A sweater could hold memory.
Her power was consistency. While creative directors came and went across the industry, she stayed—and refined. Season after season, she showed that evolution can be quiet and still revolutionary. Hermès became the ultimate expression of timelessness because she treated time itself with respect.
End of an Era
So why does her departure sting? Because she wasn’t just a designer. She was the soul of a silhouette. The guardian of a philosophy. The rare creative who treated menswear as emotion, not product.
In speaking about her departure, she told Le Figaro, “I still love this job. However, I believe that to practice it the way I like to, it now requires more and more time — and today, I want to devote that time to other things…”
The 71-year-old added, “Hermès has, above all, shown great elegance by allowing me to choose the moment that felt right to step down. I’ve been thinking about it and discussing it with Axel and Pierre-Alexis Dumas for a year or two now. It’s time to pass the baton.”
What Comes Next?
Hermès faces a delicate transition. How do you replace someone who never followed trends, but wrote her own language of style? The next creative director will inherit a house built on subtle power and spiritual craftsmanship. To move forward without losing that essence will be both the brand’s greatest challenge—and opportunity.
Yet one thing is certain: Véronique Nichanian’s influence is now part of Hermès’ DNA. Even as she steps away, her vision endures.
Source: Vogue Business. (Images via Pascal Le Segretain/ Getty)
