Grace Wales Bonner Hermès 2026 team-building has begun. Grace Wales Bonner, who was named creative director of Hermès menswear in October 2025, has hired John-Gabriel Harrison to her design team as she prepares for her runway debut at Paris Men’s Fashion Week in January 2027, according to a report published Monday by WWD.
Harrison most recently held the head of design role at A.P.C., a post he took in November 2025 before exiting to join Hermès. He spent the prior nine years at Lanvin, working under three successive creative directors. His arrival is the first publicly confirmed designer hire to Wales Bonner’s Hermès atelier.
The appointment lands as Hermès expands its creative ranks across multiple divisions ahead of a major design transition. The house will skip the June 2026 men’s season entirely to give Wales Bonner additional development time.
Who Is John-Gabriel Harrison
Harrison is a Central Saint Martins MA graduate, the same institution that trained Wales Bonner. He began his career at Alexander McQueen before joining Lanvin in 2017 as head menswear designer.
His Lanvin tenure spanned three creative leadership eras: Lucas Ossendrijver’s final years, then Peter Copping’s brief stint, and most recently Bruno Sialelli. He departed Lanvin in 2019 and later resurfaced at A.P.C.
His A.P.C. tenure was short. A.P.C. recently named Ludivine Poiblanc its first outside artistic director, prompting a senior team reshuffle. Harrison’s exit followed almost immediately. His exact title at Hermès has not been disclosed.
- Education: MA, Central Saint Martins, London
- Early career: Alexander McQueen
- 2017–2019+: Head menswear designer, Lanvin
- November 2025: Head of design, A.P.C.
- May 2026: Joins Hermès menswear under Grace Wales Bonner
Wales Bonner’s Mandate at Hermès
Wales Bonner was appointed in October 2025, succeeding Véronique Nichanian, whose 37-year tenure at Hermès menswear is the longest of any creative director at a major fashion house. Nichanian presented her final men’s collection in January 2026. Wales Bonner is the first woman of Black heritage to lead design at a major luxury label.
She continues to run her eponymous Wales Bonner brand alongside the Hermès role. Her academic credentials come from Central Saint Martins, where she graduated in 2014. She won the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers in 2016.
“It’s such a magical house. I’m really looking forward to working with the heritage, and having a perspective on that.” — Grace Wales Bonner, creative director of Hermès menswear
Her January 2027 debut places her in a crowded calendar of high-profile creative director resets. Dior Cruise 2027 debut at LACMA and Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel Cruise 2027 debut in Biarritz both arrive ahead of her. Gucci Cruise 2027 under Demna rounds out a season in which nearly every major house is showing a new creative voice.
Hermès Expands Creative Team Across Divisions
The Harrison hire is part of a broader build-out. Léa Peckre, who spent five years as a design director at Celine, has joined Hermès women’s ready-to-wear under Nadège Vanhée, according to industry reports.
Hermès executive chairman Axel Dumas has also confirmed the haute couture atelier is operational, though no debut date has been set. Fendi’s upcoming couture debut under Maria Grazia Chiuri is a parallel example of a luxury house investing in couture as a brand-building asset.
“We’ll be ready when we’ll be ready.” — Axel Dumas, executive chairman, Hermès
The simultaneous menswear, women’s RTW and couture moves suggest a coordinated creative expansion rather than a single-department refresh.
Industry Context: Hermès Q1 2026 Performance
The team build-out coincides with a strong but uneven quarter. Hermès Q1 2026 revenue release reported €4.1 billion in sales, up 6 percent at constant exchange rates. Currency headwinds of roughly €290 million pushed reported revenue down 1 percent at current rates.
Regional growth was led by the Americas at 17 percent. Japan and Europe excluding France each grew 10 percent. The Middle East declined 6 percent.
By category, leather goods and saddlery rose 9 percent. Ready-to-wear and accessories were flat. Watches fell 4 percent. The flat RTW line is the figure that matters for Wales Bonner: her debut collection will need to revive momentum in the category she now oversees. Hermès continues to rank among the strongest performers on the Lyst Index Q1 2026.
The wave of senior menswear appointments has not been limited to luxury conglomerates. Canali’s recent creative director appointment illustrates how independent Italian houses are also resetting design leadership in 2026.
Wales Bonner’s first Hermès collection is scheduled to show in Paris in January 2027. The team behind it is still being built.
