& Other Stories Creative Director to step down after shaping new brand vision

& Other Stories has confirmed that Chief Creative Officer Jonathan Saunders will step down in mid-August 2026, a little more than a year after joining the brand as its first-ever Chief Creative Officer.

Saunders' decision to leave is due to "a personal decision to return to the US and be closer to his family", according to a statement by & Other Stories. He will remain in the role until mid-August to support a structured transition, although no successor has yet been announced.

Saunders joined & Other Stories in spring 2025 in the newly created position of Chief Creative Officer, tasked with overseeing the brand's overall creative direction and steering its next phase of development.

At the time of his appointment, Managing Director Lina Söderqvist said Saunders would help evolve the brand through his creative leadership and understanding of contemporary fashion. The brand revealed its new tone of voice and refreshed logo in a campaign titled "A New Brand Spirit" for AW25.

Saunders said at the time: "The campaign celebrates real clothes for everyday experiences, designed to inspire individuality. The new brand identity combines nostalgia with modernity and marks a new chapter for & Other Stories."

& Other Stories said it now plans to build on the creative direction Saunders established, with the brand noting the "important role" he had played in setting the new creative direction and brand vision. "We are grateful for his contribution, creativity, and commitment during this first vital part of the journey, where our new brand vision has come to life," it added.

Saunders' appointment to & Other Stories last year signalled the brand's creative ambitions, as it had not previously had a dedicated Chief Creative Officer overseeing its identity and product direction. Prior to joining & Other Stories, Saunders designed for his eponymous label and later served as Chief Creative Officer at Diane von Furstenberg between 2016 and 2017.