Armenian-French Designer Véronique Nichanian Ends 37-Year Run at Hermès with Final Paris Show

Armenian-French designer Véronique Nichanian closed a major chapter in fashion history with her final menswear show for Hermès in Paris, ending a 37-year career that helped define the luxury house’s modern identity.

The 71-year-old designer presented her last collection during Paris Fashion Week at the Palais Brongniart, where she was greeted by an unusually high-profile crowd for a brand known for avoiding flashy promotion and celebrity ambassadors. Nichanian is preparing to step aside and pass creative control of Hermès menswear to British designer Grace Wales Bonner.

Nichanian has worked at Hermès since the late 1980s and became one of the longest-serving creative leaders in the luxury industry. Over the decades, she built a reputation for calm, precise design, favoring fine materials, clean lines, and clothing meant to last for many years rather than follow short-lived trends. Her approach helped establish Hermès menswear as a symbol of discreet elegance worldwide.

She also carries Armenian heritage on her father’s side, making her one of the most prominent figures of Armenian descent in global high fashion. Though she has kept her personal background largely private, her success in Paris has been followed with pride by many Armenians across the world.

Before the runway show began, R&B star Usher was seen speaking with Hermès executive chairman Axel Dumas. The audience also included fellow designer Paul Smith, rapper Travis Scott, and actors James McAvoy and Chace Crawford, reflecting the wide interest in Nichanian’s final presentation.

On the catwalk, models wore silk turtlenecks with leather trousers in a navy blue, black, and taupe color range. Overcoats featured leather patches and shearling linings, while a shiny khaki crocodile-skin suit stood out as one of the boldest looks of the collection. Nichanian mixed in pieces from past decades, including a navy leather suit with topstitched pinstripes from 2003 and a mocha calfskin jumpsuit first shown in 1991. Jackets in bright orange and yellow added contrast and flashes of color.

When Nichanian appeared at the end of the show, the audience rose for a standing ovation — an emotional farewell after nearly four decades at the house.

Hermès has already announced its next chapter. Wales Bonner, named to the role in October, will become the first Black woman to lead a major fashion house and is scheduled to present her debut menswear collection for the brand next January.

Nichanian’s departure brings to a close one of the longest and most stable creative tenures in Paris fashion. After 37 years shaping Hermès menswear, her legacy rests on timeless tailoring, exceptional craftsmanship, and a steady vision that influenced how luxury clothing for men is designed and understood around the world.

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