Grace Wales Bonner

Fashion Designer, Cultural Visionary & Creative Director of Hermès Menswear

Grace Wales Bonner is a British-Jamaican fashion designer known for redefining modern menswear through the lens of cultural identity, spirituality, and heritage. Born in London in 1990 to an English mother and a Jamaican father, her dual heritage profoundly shapes her creative voice. Her designs often bridge European tailoring with Afro-Atlantic aesthetics, paying tribute to Black intellectual history, diasporic style, and the richness of Caribbean expression.

Early Life and Heritage

Growing up in South London, Grace was surrounded by the diverse rhythms of Caribbean and British culture. Her Jamaican father introduced her to the vibrancy, confidence, and individuality that later became trademarks of her fashion philosophy. Her upbringing cultivated an awareness of how clothing can reflect identity, belonging, and resistance—core ideas that would define her career.

Grace often speaks about the deep influence of her Jamaican roots. Elements of reggae, Rastafarian spirituality, and Caribbean craftsmanship subtly inform her work, merging the spirit of Jamaica’s creativity with European sophistication. Her collections have been described as intellectual yet soulful—where each garment tells a story of lineage, culture, and transformation.

Education and Career Beginnings

Grace graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2014, one of the world’s leading fashion schools. Her graduate collection, titled Afrique, explored black masculinity and identity through precise tailoring and artistic storytelling. The collection received immediate critical acclaim and led to the founding of her eponymous label, Wales Bonner, in the same year.

By 2015, she was awarded the British Fashion Award for Emerging Menswear Designer, and the following year, she won the prestigious LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers—one of the highest honors in global fashion.

Signature Style and Themes

Wales Bonner’s work stands at the intersection of fashion, history, and philosophy. Her collections often draw inspiration from literature, music, and post-colonial studies. Themes of identity, liberation, and cultural hybridity appear throughout her designs, blending Savile Row tailoring with Caribbean ease and African diasporic influences.

Her presentations are known for their poetic storytelling—combining textiles, sound, and visual art to create experiences that go beyond fashion shows and become cultural statements.

Collaborations with adidas

In 2020, Grace began her highly successful collaboration with adidas Originals, reimagining classic silhouettes such as the Samba, Gazelle, and SL72. Through her unique aesthetic, she revived archival sportswear with elements of craftsmanship, crochet, and texture, creating a fusion of luxury and streetwear that resonated globally.

Her work with adidas has been praised for bridging cultures—celebrating Black British and Caribbean identities while influencing contemporary fashion trends worldwide. The partnership became one of the most talked-about collaborations in modern fashion, with each collection selling out rapidly upon release.

Appointment at Hermès

In October 2025, Grace Wales Bonner was appointed Creative Director of Hermès Menswear, succeeding Véronique Nichanian, who held the position for 37 years. This historic appointment marks a new chapter in the legacy of Hermès, with Grace becoming one of the youngest and most visionary designers to lead the house’s menswear division.

Her first collection for Hermès is scheduled to debut in January 2027, where the fashion world eagerly anticipates her interpretation of the brand’s timeless craftsmanship through her unique cultural lens.

Achievements and Recognition

• Founder and Creative Director, Wales Bonner (since 2014)

• Creative Director, Hermès Menswear (appointed 2025)

• LVMH Prize Winner (2016)

• British Fashion Award for Emerging Menswear Designer (2015)

• Collaborator with adidas Originals (since 2020)

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Grace Wales Bonner is celebrated as one of the most influential designers of her generation. Her work honors her Jamaican heritage and explores the intersections of race, gender, and spirituality in fashion. Through both her independent label and global collaborations, she continues to challenge conventions and redefine what luxury means in the 21st century.

Her designs are not just garments—they are meditations on identity and belonging. By infusing European tailoring with the soul of the Caribbean, Grace Wales Bonner has created a language of fashion that is deeply intellectual, emotional, and timeless.