The global fashion conversation is entering a notable new chapter. Martine Rose has been appointed creative director of Balenciaga, Rachel Scott leads Proenza Schouler, and Grace Wales Bonner is set to shape Hermès men’s ready-to-wear. Their stories connect Jamaica and its diaspora to some of fashion’s most influential houses.
Three Women of Jamaican Heritage Leading Fashion
Together, they bring distinct creative voices to leadership roles—and show how heritage, craft and cultural perspective can help shape fashion’s future.
Martine Rose: Bringing a singular vision to Balenciaga
London-based designer Martine Rose is known for a design language informed by music, subcultures and everyday dress. Kering announced her appointment as Balenciaga’s creative director on 6 November 2026; she is due to begin the role on 16 November. Rose’s father is Jamaican, connecting her story to the island’s wider influence on global culture.
Her appointment places a designer celebrated for challenging conventions at the helm of a house with a long history of bold ideas. Fashion audiences will be watching to see how her perspective shapes Balenciaga’s next chapter.
Rachel Scott: Jamaican perspective at Proenza Schouler
Born and raised in Kingston, Rachel Scott brings a direct Jamaican connection to the leadership of Proenza Schouler. Appointed creative director in 2025, she is also the founder and creative director of Diotima, a label whose work draws on Jamaican craft traditions and is made between Jamaica and New York.
Scott’s career reflects the reach of Jamaican creativity across the fashion industry. At Proenza Schouler, she is guiding the next chapter of an established American label while continuing to build her own design vision through Diotima.
Grace Wales Bonner: Craft and culture at Hermès
British designer Grace Wales Bonner is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an English mother. Hermès appointed her creative director of men’s ready-to-wear in October 2025, with her first collection for the house scheduled for January 2027.
Her work has long explored the connections between fashion, culture and history. At Hermès, she will bring that perspective to a house known for its craftsmanship and heritage, opening a new chapter for its menswear.
A wider influence on fashion
Rose, Scott and Wales Bonner are building their careers in different ways and leading houses with distinct identities. Their Jamaican connections—through birth, family and cultural influence—form part of a broader story about the global reach of Caribbean creativity.
As their work reaches new audiences, it also creates more room for conversations about who shapes fashion, which histories are visible and how cultural influence travels across borders.
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Editorial note: Rachel Scott is Jamaican-born, while Martine Rose and Grace Wales Bonner are British designers with Jamaican heritage. Rose’s appointment at Balenciaga takes effect on 16 November 2026.
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