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Courr\u00e8ges begins a new chapter with Drew Henry as its artistic director. The 38-year-old South Africa-born designer joins from Burberry, where he has been senior design director under Daniel Lee since 2023.<\/p>\n
Art\u00e9mis, the holding company of the Pinault family that controls Kering and took full control of Courr\u00e8ges in 2018, announced Henry\u2019s appointment today, a week after Belgian designer Nicolas di Felice exited<\/a> to \u201cfocus on personal projects.\u201d Henry will officially start at Courr\u00e8ges in May 2026.<\/p>\n A 2014 graduate of Central Saint Martins, Henry has worked behind the scenes at C\u00e9line, JW Anderson, Phoebe Philo, and Burberry. \u201cDrew Henry is a strong creative talent with a clear point of view,\u201d Art\u00e9mis chairman Fran\u00e7ois-Henri Pinault said in a statement. \u201cHis experience and understanding of today\u2019s fashion landscape make him well-placed to lead the next phase of Courr\u00e8ges.\u201d<\/p>\n The appointment highlights the ongoing influence of Phoebe Philo. Her C\u00e9line studio has proven to be a breeding ground for design talent. Working alongside her were designers who would later be propelled to prominence, including Lee,\u00a0Matthieu Blazy<\/a>, and Michael Rider, and, to a lesser extent, Peter Do and Rok Hwang.<\/p>\n Henry himself worked at C\u00e9line, first as an intern while studying at CSM, and then as part of Philo\u2019s design team after graduation. After an in-between stint at JW Anderson, he reunited with Philo in 2020, when he was hired as head of design for the launch of her eponymous brand.<\/p>\n Courr\u00e8ges CEO Marie Leblanc said: \u201cHis creative talent and contemporary culture make him a perfect fit for the house. Together, we aim to accelerate its international expansion and amplify its global reach, while remaining true to the brand\u2019s French heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n Henry added, \u201cAndr\u00e9 Courr\u00e8ges believed in clothes that make sense for how people live. That matters to me. I have always been drawn to work that feels modern, useful, and direct. Joining this iconic French house, I feel a strong responsibility to honor its history while bringing my own perspective. I am grateful to Fran\u00e7ois-Henri Pinault and Marie Leblanc for their trust, and I am excited to shape a vision for the house that is optimistic, clear, and grounded.\u201d<\/p>\n After years of instability, the house founded by Andr\u00e9 Courr\u00e8ges and his wife, Coqueline, in 1961 regained momentum under di Felice, alongside former CEO Adrien Da Maia and current CEO Marie Leblanc<\/a>.<\/p>\n Still, Courr\u00e8ges is not immune to the broader challenges facing the luxury sector. Henry also takes the creative helm of Courr\u00e8ges toward the end of the major fashion reshuffle, with new designers at many leading houses. All eyes will be on his runway debut, which is slated for Paris Fashion Week in September.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n