Kim Jones, the British men’s artistic director at Louis Vuitton, is leaving his role with the French fashion powerhouse.
The designer will show his last collection for the company he has been at since 2011 at Paris Fashion Week this Thursday.
“It has been a huge privilege to work with Kim,” said chief executive Michael Burker in a statement. “His ability to set trends is impeccable and his talent and determination have ensured that Louis Vuitton is firmly placed as the leading brand in luxury menswear today.”
“All of us who have been fortunate to work with Kim wish him continued success in his next venture.”
Jones rose to prominence in 2002 after graduating from Central Saint Martins, when is collection was quickly snapped up by John Galliano. Buoyed by that success, he launched a namesake label at London Fashion Week in 2003 before closing it in 2008 to join British brand Alfred Dunhill as creative director. In 2006, he had been named British men’s wear designer of the year.
He joined the big league in 2011 when he was headhunted by Louis Vuitton and challenged to design its men’s collection – a rapidly growing market vital to the house’s future.
It was a challenge he met with aplomb. With what now looks like remarkable foresight, Jones set about bringing streetwear influences into Louis Vuitton’s luxury output (not to mention packing the front row with his celebrity friends), culminating in 2017 with a game-changing, headline-grabbing Autumn/Winter collaboration with New York streetwear princes Supreme.
It was labelled an act of fashion ‘trolling’ at the time, but is already looking far more influential than that as luxury and streetwear brands continue to rush into one another’s arms in an industry shift that has helped luxury market less stuffy and grow globally by estimated 5 per cent, according to a study by Bain & Company. Jones legacy: making high end seem cool again, was assured.
Where next for the 44-year-old Londoner at the peak of his powers? There have long been rumours that Versace are interested in securing his services, for obvious reason, though it looks more likely now Jones might be lured to Burberry, where Christopher Bailey is departing in March this year.
