Nike Flexes Innovations & Wales Bonner Heads Hermès Men's in This Week's Top Fashion News

Summary

• Grace Wales Bonner made history as the first Black woman to lead a major luxury house, becoming Creative Director of Hermès Men’s. Kim Jones crossed the pond to join Chinese giant Bosideng for its luxury sub-brand, Areal.
• L’Oréal plans to acquire Kering Beauty for $4.6 billion. Separately, LVMH Prize winner Soshiotsuki was selected as the Guest Designer for Pitti Uomo No. 109.
• NIKE, Inc. launched its “Sport Offense” innovation platform with new tech like Project Amplify and Aero-FIT. NEIGHBORHOOD and Y-3 released their inaugural moto-culture-inspired FW25 collection.

NIKE, Inc. Sport Offense Is All About Innovation

NIKE, Inc. has unveiled its new “Sport Offense” structure, uniting the innovation, design, and product teams across Nike, Jordan Brand, and Converse to accelerate the development of high-performance products. The new engine launched with four major technological platforms. Highlights include Project Amplify, a powered footwear system for running and walking aimed at everyday athletes, and Aero-FIT, Nike’s most advanced cooling material made from 100% textile waste, set to debut at the FIFA World Cup 26. Also featured is the Therma-FIT Air Milano Jacket, a self-inflating garment for dynamic warmth, and the neuroscience-based Mind 001 and Mind 002 recovery footwear.

Grace Wales Bonner Named Hermès Mens Creative Director

In a historic move, Grace Wales Bonner has been appointed the new Creative Director of Hermès menswear, succeeding Véronique Nichanian after her 37-year tenure in 2026. The Jamaican-British designer is the first Black woman to lead design at a major luxury fashion house. Bonner, known for her cross-cultural aesthetic and award-winning work (including the 2025 LVMH Prize and popular adidas Samba collaborations), is poised to bring a dynamic, international ethos to the traditionally conservative 188-year-old French maison. Her highly anticipated menswear debut for Hermès is currently slated for January 2027.

L’Oréal Expected To Acquire Kering Beauty for $4.6 Billion USD

L’Oréal is set to acquire Kering‘s entire beauty portfolio in a massive transaction valued at approximately $4.6 billion USD (€4 billion EUR), dramatically reshaping the luxury beauty landscape. The core of the deal includes the high-end fragrance house Creed, instantly bolstering L’Oréal’s presence in the niche fragrance market. Furthermore, L’Oréal will secure highly valuable 50-year exclusive licenses for the beauty products of Kering’s key luxury brands, including Gucci, Bottega Veneta, and Balenciaga. For Kering, the strategic sale allows the group to reduce significant debt and refocus capital on its core fashion business. The all-cash transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026.z

Kim Jones To Lead Bosideng’s New Sub-Brand, Areal

Acclaimed British designer Kim Jones is taking on a new role as the Creative Director of Areal, the luxury sub-brand launched by Chinese outerwear giant Bosideng. This appointment follows Jones’s recent high-profile tenures at Dior Men’s and Fendi Womenswear. Bosideng, aiming for global expansion, created Areal as a premium line to redefine the modern down jacket. Jones’s mandate is to merge Bosideng’s advanced technical, windproof, and waterproof innovations with a sophisticated, sculptural design aesthetic. Jones confirmed the role will be part-time, allowing him to pursue independent projects while instantly elevating Areal onto the international luxury stage.

Shinsuke Takizawa Discusses NEIGHBORHOOD x Y-3

The long-awaited collaboration between NEIGHBORHOOD and Y-3 is set for a global launch on October 25. Dubbed “Y-3 NEIGHBORHOOD,” the FW25 collection is a fusion of Yohji Yamamoto’s technical aesthetic and NEIGHBORHOOD founder Shinsuke Takizawa’s street sensibility. Takizawa described the collection, which debuted at Paris Fashion Week, as an “urban, elegant expression” of motorcycle culture. The range features co-branded apparel and hybrid footwear, including premium leather racer jackets and pants produced by Dainese, as well as custom graphics by artist David Gwyther (Death Spray Custom).

SOSHIOTSUKI Named Guest Designer for Pitti Uomo No.109

The Japanese label SOSHIOTSUKI, helmed by designer Soshi Otsuki, has been announced as the Guest Designer for Pitti Uomo‘s 109th edition. Otsuki, fresh from winning the prestigious 2025 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers, will present his Fall/Winter 2026 menswear collection with a special show-event in Florence from January 13 to 16, 2026. Pitti Uomo selected the designer for his unique “ambitious clarity,” which masterfully blends ancient Japanese traditions with a contemporary, commercially viable sartorial awareness. Otsuki’s aesthetic will also inform the men’s trade fair’s visual campaign.