When a family name doubles as a global fashion power, a leadership change isn’t just corporate news — it’s a cultural moment. On September 29, just following the brand’s Spring/Summer 2026 fashion show, Fendi confirmed that Silvia Venturini Fendi is stepping down from her creative director role and transitioning to honorary president, effective today, October 1. This change closes an era that spanned accessories, menswear, and, most recently, womenswear during the house’s centennial year. A successor has not yet been officially announced, but the internet has a front-runner: Maria Grazia Chiuri. Here’s what’s confirmed, what’s plausible, and why it matters now.
What’s Confirmed at Fendi — Plus, the Timing That Matters
Silvia — granddaughter of founders Adele and Edoardo — has been central to Fendi’s identity since the 1990s. After Kim Jones exited Fendi in October 2024, she oversaw the runway collections through the brand’s 100th-anniversary year. Her new honorary role signals continuity of heritage as Fendi prepares its next act.
There’s also fresh leadership on the business side: Ramon Ros — formerly Louis Vuitton’s Mainland China CEO — became CEO of Fendi effective July 1 of this year, part of LVMH’s wider reshuffle. The creative appointment will land under his watch.
The Social-Media Swirl vs. the Record
Across fashion feeds, one name dominates speculation: Maria Grazia Chiuri. The buzz intensified after Silvia’s transition, but as of publication, Fendi has not issued an official announcement naming a creative successor. That distinction matters. The verified news is Silvia’s move to honorary president and the promise of a new creative structure “in due time.” Everything else remains unconfirmed.
Why Chiuri Makes Narrative Sense (Even If It’s Unconfirmed)
For industry watchers, the homecoming storyline is irresistible — and grounded in history. Chiuri began her career at Fendi in 1989, working in accessories alongside Pierpaolo Piccioli before their move to Valentino in 1999. The era helped cement Fendi’s reputation for must-have leather goods — the icon-making Baguette was designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, while Chiuri and Piccioli were part of the accessories engine that made Fendi bags headline news through the ’90s.
Chiuri then co-led Valentino before her nine-year run at Dior, where she fused craft with a clear feminist voice — and serious commercial growth. She stepped down from Dior on May 29; just days later, Dior named Jonathan Anderson as her successor as the sole creative director for Dior — for women’s, men’s, and couture — confirming one of the year’s most closely watched moves.
The Stakes for Fendi: A Second-Century Brief
This isn’t routine succession. Fendi turned 100 in 2025, celebrating five generations of Roman heritage — artisan leatherwork, witty luxury, and a house language that toggles between rigor and play. Whoever takes the helm will be asked to translate heritage into momentum at a moment when luxury is recalibrating to slower growth. The brief: modern relevance without diluting Roman identity.
Against that backdrop, Chiuri’s profile fits the assignment on paper. Her Dior years proved she can build global communities around values-driven design and elevated wearability — skills that pair naturally with Fendi’s long game in leather goods and ready-to-wear. A Chiuri appointment could also mark an optics shift: another woman leading a tier-one Italian house at a pivotal industry moment (again: compelling, but still speculative).
What a Chiuri-Led Fendi Could Look Like (Reading the Tea Leaves)
If the rumors materialize, we are expecting three immediate storylines:
- Heritage, Dialed Up: Deeper mining of the Roman archive and Selleria craft, reframed through contemporary silhouettes and day-to-evening ease.
- Accessories as Thesis: A strategic push in leather goods (Fendi’s superpower) with narrative-rich launches built for culture and conversion.
- Collaborative Craft: Expanded partnerships with artists and artisans — one of Chiuri’s signatures at Dior — reimagined through Fendi’s Roman lens.
What’s Still Unknown — and What to Watch Next
- Official Appointment: Fendi has stated a new creative configuration will be unveiled “in due time.” Until the house confirms, treat all “X is named” headlines with caution.
- Debut Timeline: If a new creative director were named imminently, the earliest plausible runway debut would likely be Fall/Winter 2026 in Milan, allowing for team assembly and collection development.
- How the Org Charts Settle: With Ramon Ros now in place as CEO, the creative announcement will double as a strategy signal for Fendi’s next phase.
Bottom Line
The facts: Silvia Venturini Fendi becomes honorary president; Fendi has not yet named a creative successor. The context: Maria Grazia Chiuri — who started at Fendi and exited Dior in May — is the most compelling (and widely discussed) candidate. The significance: Whoever takes the studio will define how Fendi translates a century of Roman savoir-faire into its next hundred years. For now, all eyes stay on Rome.
