SPOTLIGHT| Kim Jones Wipes His Instagram Clean

Over the last weekend, Kim Jones, the artistic force behind both Dior Men's and Fendi Women's, mysteriously cleared his personal Instagram account. There's been no official word yet on why he took this drastic step.

Kim Jones is known for his dedication and just last week, starred in a campaign for Dior's collaboration with Stone Island. Moreover, today he's been announced as the special designer for the AVATR, a new intelligent electric vehicle brand from a partnership including Chang’an Automobile, Huawei, and CATL. Coupled with Fendi's announcement of skipping this season's haute couture week and recent rumors about executive shifts at LVMH, the fashion world is buzzing with speculation: could this mean Kim Jones is about to exit Fendi?

Since 2020, when he took on Fendi Women 's in addition to his role at Dior Men's, Jones has been one of the few designers to simultaneously lead creative at two major luxury brands, a role once held by the legendary Karl Lagerfeld. Despite his high profile, Jones has struggled to meet expectations at Fendi.

His debut at the Fendi Spring/Summer 2021 haute couture runway didn't hit the mark, failing to align with what's anticipated from haute couture or carry the distinct Fendi style, leading to significant disappointment.

This rocky start at Fendi sowed doubts about his fit for women's fashion. After four years, without significant boosts in Fendi's brand or business success comparable to his personal fame, rumors about his departure have been swirling. With Alessandro Michele, former creative head at Gucci, still on a career break, there's even talk about Michele stepping into Fendi, potentially replacing Jones. Jones's choices, like wearing miu miu at work, have sparked conversations about an impending change in his career.

Recently, Fendi also unexpectedly announced it would miss the upcoming Paris Haute Couture Week, despite its recent push into more luxury markets including launching its first fragrance collection last week. Such a decision usually indicates major internal creative challenges. Moreover, rumors of Michael Burke's departure as LVMH's Fashion Division CEO suggest that changes might be coming for Fendi, a critical part of LVMH's strategy.

All signs point to Kim Jones potentially being on his way out at Fendi. If he leaves, will Fendi revert to its previous leadership model, possibly bringing Silvia Venturini Fendi back to oversee the creative direction? Or might the group seek fresh talent from outside? The fashion industry awaits these answers with bated breath.