Updated 6:17 p.m. ET Oct. 16

PARIS — Véronique Nichanian, fashion’s longest-serving creative director, will step down as men’s artistic director at Hermès after 37 years, a spokeswoman for the house confirmed on Thursday.

Nichanian announced her departure in an interview with French daily Le Figaro, adding that she will present her final collection in January. Le Figaro added that her successor is expected to be named in the next few days. Hermès did not provide any additional details.

The 71-year-old designer said she had been discussing handing over her duties for the last couple of years with Hermès chief executive officer Axel Dumas and artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas. 

“Hermès was gracious enough to let me choose the moment that felt right to step away,” she said. “Now feels like the right time to pass the baton.”

A graduate of the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, Nichanian began her career at Cerruti, working under Nino Cerruti. 

She was asked to join Hermès in 1988 by its legendary CEO Jean-Louis Dumas, becoming one of the few women leading a menswear division at a major luxury house. During her tenure, the brand has grown into an industry behemoth, with revenues of 15.2 billion euros in 2024.

“The house has grown significantly over the years, but at its core, it remains the same. I still feel that sense of a family that placed its trust in me, though of course, it’s a much larger family now,” she said.

“I’ve always been happy here. We share the same values, in particular a deep respect for craftsmanship, which I believe is a value for the future,” she added.

Her spring 2026 was a condensé of her signature style, combining sensual textures — think leather openwork weave on shirts and trousers, rough edges on jaunty silk twill bandanas, and ribbed and nubby knits — with a breezy sense of luxury.

The announcement is the latest shake-up in the creative director ranks at major European luxury houses, including Chanel, Dior and Balenciaga. In comparison, Hermès has been a paragon of stability. Nadège Vanhee, its artistic director of women’s ready-to-wear, has been in the post since 2014. 

The upheaval comes as brands battle to reverse a slowdown in luxury consumption worldwide as aspirational consumers turn their backs on high-ends goods after several years of steep price increases in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Hermès has benefited from its safe-haven status, as the rarity of its handbags make them investment pieces whose value often increases, rather decreases, over time. 

Its rtw and accessories division has also proved a solid earner, with sales rising 6 percent in the first half, helping the company outperform its sector peers. The division now accounts for 28 percent of sales at Hermès.