Maria Grazia Chiuri
Chief creative officer of Fendi
Maria Grazia Chiuri is an Italian designer who was appointed chief creative officer of Fendi in October 2025. Before that she spent nine years as artistic director of women's collections at Christian Dior, the first woman to hold the role, after co-leading Valentino with Pierpaolo Piccioli from 2008 to 2016.
| Role | Chief creative officer of Fendi |
|---|---|
| Since | October 2025 |
| Previous role | Artistic director of women's collections, Christian Dior (2016 to 2025) |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Born | 1964 |
| Known for | First woman to lead creation at Dior |
Who is Maria Grazia Chiuri?
Maria Grazia Chiuri is an Italian fashion designer, born in Rome in 1964 and trained at the Istituto Europeo di Design. In October 2025 LVMH announced her appointment as chief creative officer of Fendi, the Roman house where she began her career. Her first Fendi collection, for autumn and winter 2026, was scheduled for Milan in February 2026.
Career
Chiuri joined Fendi in 1989 and worked there under the five Fendi sisters, contributing to accessories including the Baguette bag. In 1999 she moved to Valentino with Pierpaolo Piccioli to develop accessories. In 2008 the two were named co-creative directors of Valentino, leading the house through a period of strong growth in leather goods and couture.
In 2016 she was appointed artistic director of women's collections at Christian Dior, the first woman to lead creation at the French house. Her debut collection included a T-shirt reading "We Should All Be Feminists", a reference to the essay by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and feminism and collaboration with women artists became recurring themes of her tenure. She stepped down from Dior in 2025 after nine years.
- 1989 to 1999: Fendi, accessories
- 1999 to 2008: Valentino, accessories with Pierpaolo Piccioli
- 2008 to 2016: co-creative director of Valentino
- 2016 to 2025: artistic director of women's collections at Christian Dior
- Since October 2025: chief creative officer of Fendi
Influence on the fashion business
Chiuri's Dior years showed how a clear point of view can be translated into commercially durable products. Slogan T-shirts, the Book Tote and the revival of the Saddle bag became accessible entry points to a couture house, while her shows staged in cities around the world turned cruise collections into global marketing events. The 2024 Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in Fashion recognised this body of work.
Her return to Fendi under the title of chief creative officer reflects a wider shift in luxury, where groups increasingly give a single senior designer responsibility for the entire creative output of a house rather than only for its runway collections.
Why it matters
Few designers have led creation at three major Italian and French houses. Chiuri's career demonstrates the value luxury groups place on designers who combine a recognisable message with strong accessories and merchandising instincts. For buyers and retailers, her move to Fendi signals a likely emphasis on leather goods, craftsmanship and Roman heritage in the brand's next chapter.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Maria Grazia Chiuri?
Maria Grazia Chiuri is an Italian designer who has been chief creative officer of Fendi since October 2025. She was previously artistic director of women's collections at Christian Dior from 2016 to 2025 and co-creative director of Valentino from 2008 to 2016.
What is Maria Grazia Chiuri known for?
She is known as the first woman to lead creation at Christian Dior and for her feminist themed collections, including the "We Should All Be Feminists" T-shirt. She is also known for accessories success at Fendi and Valentino.