Kim Jones leaves Fendi, continues at Dior

The British designer will now concentrate fully on his role as artistic director of men’s fashion at LVMH-owned Dior.

Kim Jones is leaving her position as artistic director of women’s fashion and haute couture at Italian fashion house Fendi, Business of Fashion reports .

Jones will now “concentrate fully” on his role as menswear designer at LVMH-owned Dior, according to a statement from Jones and Fendi on Friday. A new artistic director will be announced “in due course,” the statement said.

Jones took on the Fendi role in addition to his responsibilities for Dior menswear in 2020, as the Italian fur and leather goods house sought to start a new growth cycle after the shock of the Covid-19 lockdowns and the death of Karl Lagerfeld in 2019.

Known for a sophisticated, globetrotting aesthetic that blends royal tailoring with signature streetwear culture, Jones has also enriched his collections by collaborating with artists such as Kaws, Judy Blame and Hylton Nel.

At Fendi, Jones explored the house’s heritage of Roman elegance, while renewing the playful, pop-luxury expression Lagerfeld brought to the house with a palette of beige and pastel colors.

The change comes amid a series of designer changes in the luxury fashion industry, with brands focusing on refreshing their aesthetics in the face of declining sales. Two weeks ago, LVMH confirmed that Hedi Slimane was leaving Celine and would be replaced by Michael Rider. There has also been speculation about more changes within the LVMH group, but the company has declined to comment on those rumors.