Thirty-seven years at one maison. In fashion, such timelines are almost unimaginable, reserved for the very few. At Hermès, Véronique Nichanian shaped a universe. Season after season, she refined what she once described as the “classic of tomorrow”. This French house is family-owned. That matters. It creates trust and allows a designer to build rather than react. From saddlery to bags, from silk carré to tailoring, French luxury is carried as inheritance.
Hermès menswear show SS26, photography Filippo Fior
Nichanian understood that structure instinctively. Her final show stayed close to the codes she spent nearly four decades sharpening. Aviator inflections woven into outerwear. Shearling revisited in multiple interpretations. Leather cut with modern clarity. A classical pinstripe suit in supple leather, perfectly slim cut. That is rock and roll.
Among the looks, one object drew immediate attention: a leather bag shaped like a vintage boombox. This portable symbol is almost nostalgic street culture. It captured something essential about Nichanian’s subtle tenure. What draws me to Hermès is the coherence. One vocabulary spoken across the house. A bag, a coat, a scarf, each carrying the same discipline
Hermès, photography Salvatore Dragone and Filippo Fior
Long-term commitment at Hermès extends beyond menswear. Nadège Vanhée has led women’s ready-to-wear for over a decade. Pierre Hardy has shaped shoes and jewellery since 1990. The long view is not an exception here. It is part of the culture. Nichanian remains connected to the house as consultant on scarves and leather goods. A steady current within the wider Hermès landscape. Continuity evolves. A new chapter begins with Grace Wales Bonner. The Spring Summer 2027 collection is realised by the studio before Wales Bonner presents her debut for Hermès Men in January 2027.
Thirty-seven years. A body of work formed through patience and conviction. The classic of tomorrow already inscribed in leather and line.
Discover more: www.hermes.com
Runway photography: Filippo Dior, Salvatore Dragone, atmosphere photography: Bruno Staub. courtesy of Hermès.
