PARIS — The arrival of Kim Jones as artistic director of ready-to-wear and accessory collections at Dior Homme signals that leading luxury brands are reshuffling their decks to keep pace with the red-hot streetwear sector, industry observers said.
The surprise move marked the first big decision by Pietro Beccari since he took over as chairman and chief executive officer at Christian Dior Couture six weeks ago, after stints at Fendi and Louis Vuitton.
Jones, who succeeds Kris Van Assche in the post, is seen as one of a handful of marquee designers who can straddle the luxury and streetwear worlds. Previously, men’s artistic director at Louis Vuitton, the British designer made a splash with his collaboration with New York-based streetwear brand Supreme; artists such as Jake and Dinos Chapman, and cult brands Fragment Design and Christopher Nemeth.
Jones, who starts April 1, is set to present his first collection for Dior Homme in June. Van Assche exits Dior Homme after leading the brand for 11 years and is expected to take up a new assignment within LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
“I am delighted to welcome Kim Jones, with whom I had the chance to collaborate previously at Louis Vuitton,” Beccari told WWD. “I admire
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