Former Dior chief Chiuri returns to Fendi after 33 years

Maria Grazia Chiuri, the former Dior creative director, has been appointed as Fendi’s new Chief Creative Officer, marking her return to the Italian fashion house where she began her career more than three decades ago. The announcement, made by LVMH on October 14, 2025, ends months of speculation following her departure from Dior in May.fashionweekdaily

Chiuri’s appointment comes six months after she stepped down from Dior, where she served as creative director for nine years, being succeeded by Jonathan Anderson. Her new role at Fendi represents a homecoming of sorts—she originally joined the Roman house in 1989 as a 25-year-old accessories designer and played a crucial role in creating the iconic Baguette bag alongside Silvia Venturini Fendi. She will present her first collection for Fall/Winter 2026 during Milan Fashion Week in February 2026.vogue

Full Circle Career Move

The 61-year-old designer’s journey has been notably circular within the LVMH family. After her decade at Fendi (1989-1999), Chiuri moved to Valentino with her longtime collaborator Pierpaolo Piccioli, where they served as co-creative directors until 2016. She then took the helm at Dior, becoming the first woman to lead the French house’s women’s collections.wmagazine

“I return to Fendi with honor and joy, having had the privilege of beginning my career under the guidance of the House’s founders, the five sisters,” Chiuri said in a statement. “Fendi has always been a forge of talents and a starting point for many creatives in the industry, thanks to the extraordinary ability of these five women to foster and nurture generations of vision and skill.”fashionweekdaily

Strategic Succession at Fendi

Chiuri’s appointment fills the creative void left after a series of leadership changes at Fendi. Kim Jones departed as artistic director of womenswear in October 2024, leaving Silvia Venturini Fendi to oversee both men’s and women’s collections during the brand’s centennial year. Last month, Venturini Fendi stepped back from creative duties to become honorary president, paving the way for Chiuri’s return.vogue

LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnault praised the appointment, calling Chiuri “one of the greatest creative talents in fashion today” and expressing delight that she chose to return to Fendi to continue her creativity within the LVMH group. The move reflects LVMH’s strategy of retaining top talent internally, similar to Jonathan Anderson’s recent transition from Loewe to Dior.wmagazine

Chiuri’s appointment is part of a broader reshuffling in luxury fashion, with 2025 seeing new creative directors at major houses including Chanel, Gucci, and Balenciaga. Her commercial success at Dior, where she reportedly drove “staggering” financial growth, makes her particularly valuable to LVMH as the luxury sector faces challenging market conditions.styleonthedot