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Is American designer Willy Chavarria next in line to shake-up Fendi?

Chloe Burney
23 June 2025

Fendi is reportedly in early talks with American designer Willy Chavarria as the LVMH-owned house continues its search for a new creative lead to replace Kim Jones, TheIndustry.fashion understands.

Chavarria, a rising force in menswear and finalist for this year’s ANDAM Fashion Award, is said to have been approached by the Roman brand following the buzz of his 10th anniversary show in Paris earlier this year, according to WWD. The designer, known for blending tailoring, streetwear and social commentary, is in early  talks, according to sources.

The potential hire comes nearly nine months after Kim Jones officially stepped down as the Artistic Director of Womenswear and Couture at Fendi to "concentrate fully" on his role at Dior Men’s.

In a statement at the time, LVMH praised Jones for his "modern and cross-cultural aesthetics" and his ability to integrate them into Fendi’s heritage. Jones had taken on the role at Fendi in 2020 taking over from the late Karl Lagerfeld, who held the position alongside his chief designer role at Chanel until his death in 2019.

Jones had taken over the role in 2020 while also helming the menswear at Dior. Despite standout moments, including couture collaborations and destination shows, his womenswear collections at Fendi were met with a lukewarm critical reception. His final show last September fused 1920s flapper silhouettes with 1990s minimalism.

The designer’s departure was part of a wider wave of creative upheaval across LVMH houses. Around the same time, Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli announced his exit and Hedi Slimane stepped down from Celine.

Chavarria’s name emerges in a shortlist of potential successors that has also included Maria Grazia Chiuri (formerly of Dior womenswear), Piccioli (formerly of Valentino) and Francesco Risso (formerly of Marni) .

For now, Silvia Venturini Fendi continues to lead accessories and menswear and will present a coed Spring/Summer 2026 collection at Milan Fashion Week in September.

If Chavarria was to be appointed it would signal that LVMH is spearheading a fresh direction for luxury fashion where heritage and experimentation co-exist. This is especially true after appointing innovative designer Jonathan Anderson to lead Dior's entire design empire earlier this month.


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