Next In Line at Louis Vuitton: Here are the Potential Candidates

It’ll have been a year in November since we sadly lost the legendary Virgil Abloh, and LVMH is still yet to appoint his successor at Louis Vuitton. Having worked extremely hard his entire career, Abloh left the fashion house with a number of collections to show even after his passing, but in time the brand will need to choose someone new to sit at the helm for its next chapter. According to the Business of Fashion, a final pick is expected over the next couple of weeks, so here are the designers who are rumoured to have a chance of taking over.

You’ll probably know Martine Rose from her various Nike collabs (Shox Mule, anyone?), although her eponymous brand has had a cult following since its birth in 2007. Since then, Rose has risen through the fashion ranks, earning her extensive critical acclaim and awards to go with it. Rose has been on LVMH’s radar for a while, as the designer was shortlisted for the LVMH prize in 2017, and went on to be nominated for two more industry awards – the British Fashion Council Menswear Designer of the Year Award in 2017 and 2018.

Rumours surrounding Rose’s potential appointment first surfaced when Louis Vuitton CEO Michael Burke was spotted sitting front row at her SS23 show at London Fashion Week, and the fire was then fuelled further when Rose appeared at Matthew Williams’ Givenchy show. Speaking to Vogue around the time of the Shox launch, Rose laughed off the whispers but we really wouldn’t be surprised to see her take the lead.

Grace Wales Bonner has had quite the year already, but could it be about to get even better? The Jamaican-English designer graduated from renowned fashion school Central Saint Martins in 2014, and managed to win the LVMH prize just two years later. Since then, she’s won a number of industry awards and was named CFDA Menswear Fashion Designer of the Year in 2021. A strong contender, then.

This year, Grace Wales Bonner was the brain behind one of adidas’ most successful release, with her collaborative Sambas finding their way onto every fashion Instagram account across the internet. Needless to say, her talents go way beyond – she understands tailoring especially well, and could easily thrive at a major house like LV.

You’ve probably heard of Telfar Clemens, even if you don’t know it yet. The designer behind those cult classic TELFAR bags, Clemens’s talents go way beyond just accessories, but it’s important to remember just how important leather goods are to Louis Vuitton’s DNA. Like the other potential candidates, Clemens has won a number of fashion awards, so the competition is really starting to heat up here!

Hailing from Queens, the Liberian-American designer knows a thing or two about creating an ‘It’ product, and much like Abloh, believes fashion is for the people. In response to resellers continuously selling out his famed shopper, Clemens created the “Bag Security Programme” which allowed fashion fans to purchase the product on a pre-order basis, making the launches fairer, and more sustainable at the same time – something the streetwear industry, in particular, could learn from.

Now, Jonathan Anderson of JW Anderson and Loewe fame wasn’t on BoF’s candidate list, but his appointment was the subject of discussion when an anonymous tip appeared on the notorious gossip Instagram account, DeuxMoi. The Northern Irish designer established his own brand way back in 2008 and initially focussed on accessories, before moving on to clothing, too. In 2015, Anderson took home the win in both the BFC’s Menswear and Womenswear Designer of the Year Awards – the first time any brand had won across two categories.

Anderson brings with him a wealth of luxury experience, also heading up Loewe, which just happens to sit within the LVMH family. JW Anderson is also part-owned by the conglomerate. He also happens to know what works on the streets, having joined forces with Uniqlo for a number of collections over the years.

While we’re still no closer to knowing exactly who will take the top job, going by the list of candidates we’re sure to be in good hands. Until the announcement is made, let us know who you’d love to see in the role, and why not take some time to relive Virgil Abloh’s incredible career while we wait?