On Wednesday morning, fashion professionals all around the world woke up to at least a dozen emails announcing one of the most anticipated news of the industry; nearly two and a half years after Karl Lagerfeld’s passing, Fendi named Kim Jones his successor. Taking on the role of artistic director of womenswear at the Italian fashion house, Jones will be showing his first Fendi collection during Milan Fashion Week in February 2021.
Jones is the man behind the infamous Louis Vuitton x Supreme collection- a collaboration so ahead of its time that it earned him the title “messiah of menswear.” At least according to Hypebeast. He worked with Kanye before it was cool, and he has a collection of original 1985 Air Jordans that would leave any sneakerhead in a frenzy. Kim Jones, much like his predecessor, is a force to be reckoned with
Despite their parallel pioneer status in culture, Lagerfeld and Jones represent opposite ends of the spectrum as far as creativity and leadership go. Lagerfeld was a traditionalist, whereas Jones is an open advocate for change. Lagerfeld was known for overworking his team, while Jones has no issue screaming at HR to ensure his team members get compensated for all the extra work they put into designing multiple collections a year. But it looks like Fendi has an agenda behind this particular staffing call. Hiring from within and knowing what Jones is capable of, it is safe to assume LVMH anticipates a fresh perspective after 54 years.
Kim is an expert when it comes to breathing relevancy into heritage brands. His vision helped shape today’s menswear through his work for Louis Vuitton and Dior Homme. Louis Vuitton or Dior never stopped looking like Louis Vuitton or Dior, but they just adapted to a different tone. They evolved elegantly; his designs were innovative as they were on brand.
Fendi will be undergoing a makeover under Jones’s direction. It’s hard to tell what that change will entail and to what extent. Either way, the expected collection gives the industry an occasion to look forward to, providing an oddly reassuring sense of normalcy in these uncertain times.
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