Hermès has announced the departure of Véronique Nichanian, its longtime artistic director of menswear, after an extraordinary 37-year tenure. 

Her final collection will be presented in January 2026 during Paris Fashion Week, closing a chapter that redefined quiet luxury and masculine elegance.

Nichanian, who joined Hermès in 1988 after a stint at Cerruti, was handpicked by then-CEO Jean-Louis Dumas to build the brand’s menswear identity from the ground up. What followed was nearly four decades of creative freedom, marked by impeccable craftsmanship, poetic restraint, and a philosophy she once described as “slowing down time”.

“It is time to pass the torch,” Nichanian told Le Figaro, adding that she leaves “with joy and pride” and plans to fulfill a long-standing dream of spending several months in Japan.

Hermès paid tribute to her “eye, her vision, her generosity, her energy and her curiosity,” acknowledging that the success of its men’s universe owes much to her singular leadership.

Under her direction, Hermès menswear became synonymous with breathable silks, sensual tailoring, and a color palette that whispered rather than shouted. 

Her Spring/Summer 2026 preview featured monkey prints on tote bags—“just for fun,” she told editors. 

As fashion’s longest-serving creative director steps away, the industry watches with reverence. Her successor is expected to be announced in the coming days.