After seven years of working at global designer brand Louis Vuitton, Kim Jones exited his role of Men’s Artistic Director earlier this year. He influenced the likes of Virgil Abloh and was the force behind the incredible Supreme x Louis Vuitton collaborations that are still going strong. His departure doesn’t influence the incredible legacy he left behind. But, what’s next for the Louis Vuitton icon?
Jones was a key player in bringing streetwear onto the catwalks. Referencing his past collaborations while at university with Gimme5, a London based streetwear brand, he was able to cut through the boundaries of high fashion. Many influential players in the fashion industry have been singing his praises, citing him as leaving an important mark on the entire industry. However, Jones isn’t likely to leave the industry altogether just yet.
There was speculation surrounding Jones making his way over to Versace, or to replace Christopher Bailey who recently stepped down from Burberry. For a brand like Burberry, Jones’ influence couldn’t come at a more critical time. They recently unveiled a collaboration with Russian designer Gosha Rubchinskiy but the brand have been losing credibility in recent years.
Unfortunately for Versace and Burberry, earlier this year Jones set his sights in Dior Homme where he has now taken over creative duties. He will show his first collection for Spring/Summer in June 2019. He released a statement about his love for the brand, “I am deeply honoured to join the house of Dior, a symbol of the ultimate elegance. I am committed to creating a modern and innovative male silhouette built upon the unique legacy of the house.” Jones has never been one to turn his hand to women’s fashion, having only been involved with menswear for all his years in the industry. You won’t find any womens sleepwear or designer lingerie in his repertoire. It’s clear that Jones will be using a mixture of classic and contemporary when curating his vision for where Dior Homme should head next.
Dior x KAWS
In a recent interview, Jones admits it’s been non-stop since he took the position of Creative Director at Dior. Just before the end of the year, Dior has released its much-anticipated capsule with luxury art designer KAWS. It was teased at Paris Fashion Week earlier this year by Jones and is now available online as well as in selected stores. High-profile celebrities such as A$AP Rocky, Virgil Abloh and Kid Cudi were all in support of Jones’ first show in Paris.
KAWS is a highly sought-after name, so it makes sense that the first big release for Jones would be on such a monumental scale. The collection features reimagined pieces with a fun and tongue-in-cheek twist that may remind some of classic Moschino pieces. The range features everyday outfit essentials as well as alternative pieces such as shirts, trousers, bomber jackets and sweatshirts. The highlights of the collection are the backpacks, pouches and saddle bags which have proven to be extremely popular.
The Future For Kim Jones
There’s no doubt that Jones was pivotal in the movement of “athleisure”. The sector has increased in value by 8% to £2.5bn in the last year. Before Jones, the idea of wearing a tailored suit with trainers was alien, out-of-touch, even. But he was able to bring a culture to Louis Vuitton that it was desperately in need of. To many, his move to Dior was a shock that shows he’s not a man who is afraid to take risks.
It’s clear that his work at Dior will be nothing short of iconic if his KAWS collaboration is anything to go by. Jones says the main reason he chose Dior to work with was because he wanted a change and a change he’s certainly got.
Team Credits:
Words by Vicky Layton
Photo Credits:
#1 Brett Lloyd
#2 & 5 Dior Men’s Summer 2019 Show
#6 & 7 Dior Pre-Fall 2019 Men’s Show