FENDI TAPS KIM JONES AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S COLLECTIONS

Fendi announced on Wednesday that Kim Jones has joined the Italian luxury brand as its new artistic director of haute couture, ready-to-wear, and fur collections for women.

Jones will join Silvia Venturini Fendi, third generation of the Fendi family, who will continue to create the accessories and menswear collections. He will also maintain his role as artistic director of Dior Men.

Jones will present his first Fendi ready-to-wear collection for the fall/winter 2021-2022 season during Milan Fashion Week in February 2021.

“Kim Jones is a great talent and since joining, he has continuously proven his ability to adapt to the codes and heritage of the LVMH houses while revisiting them with great modernity and audacity,” said Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH, Fendi and Dior’s parent company. “At Fendi, I am convinced that his vision and passion will highly contribute to the success of the women’s collections.”

“I would like to profoundly thank Monsieur Arnault, Pietro Beccari, Serge Brunschwig, and Silvia Venturini Fendi for this incredible opportunity,” commented Jones. “Working across two such prestigious houses is a true honour as a designer and to be able to join the house of Fendi as well as continuing my work at Dior Men’s is a huge privilege.”

Serge Brunschwig, Fendi’s chairman and CEO declared: “I am thrilled to welcome Kim Jones at Fendi. Kim is one of the most talented and relevant designers of today. With Silvia Venturini Fendi, who has virtuously carried on Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy, Kim will bring his contemporary one of a kind point of view into the world of Fendi.”

And, Silvia Venturini Fendi, artistic director of Fendi accessories and menswear, added: “My warmest welcome to Kim, to whom I am bound by deep respect and friendship. I am looking forward to taking the Fendi universe to the next level with him.”