Courrèges 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.
Artémis, the holding company of the Pinault family that controls Kering and took full control of Courrèges in 2018, announced Henry’s appointment today, a week after Belgian designer Nicolas di Felice exited to “focus on personal projects.” Henry will officially start at Courrèges in May 2026.
A 2014 graduate of Central Saint Martins, Henry has worked behind the scenes at Céline, JW Anderson, Phoebe Philo, and Burberry. “Drew Henry is a strong creative talent with a clear point of view,” Artémis chairman François-Henri Pinault said in a statement. “His experience and understanding of today’s fashion landscape make him well-placed to lead the next phase of Courrèges.”
The appointment highlights the ongoing influence of Phoebe Philo. Her Céline 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, Matthieu Blazy, and Michael Rider, and, to a lesser extent, Peter Do and Rok Hwang.
Henry himself worked at Céline, first as an intern while studying at CSM, and then as part of Philo’s 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.
Courrèges CEO Marie Leblanc said: “His 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’s French heritage.”
Henry added, “André Courrèges 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 François-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.”
After years of instability, the house founded by André Courrèges and his wife, Coqueline, in 1961 regained momentum under di Felice, alongside former CEO Adrien Da Maia and current CEO Marie Leblanc.
Still, Courrèges is not immune to the broader challenges facing the luxury sector. Henry also takes the creative helm of Courrèges 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.