Kim Jones is reportedly parting ways with Louis Vuitton. The English designer was appointed as LV’s men’s artistic director in 2011, and has been largely credited with breathing new life into the storied fashion house. His implementation of streetwear sensibilities has received praise from fashion icons Kanye West and Off-White designer Virgil Abloh. He was also instrumental in the wildly popular and highly coveted Louis Vuitton x Supreme collaboration.
“Some critics say that I am just jumping on the bandwagon, but actually I am not. [Streetwear has] always been part of my DNA.” Jones said in 2017. “Street wear is the modern contemporary menswear. Look at the Japanese street wear designers such as Undercover: the details of the clothes are just incredible. It is really intelligent menswear.”
It is unclear if Jones will take a role with another fashion brand; however, BoF reports there are rumors of him moving to Burberry.
In September of 2017, reported that Versace was looking to hire Jones as its creative director; however, his deal with LV seemed to pose the biggest challenge.
“No contract has been signed and the likelihood of a deal could not immediately be learned,” the publication wrote. “It is understood that the biggest barrier is a contractual one: [In 2016], the Englishman renewed his employment agreement at Vuitton.”