June 8, 2026 |
This morning, Carven announced the appointment of Kai Nesselrath as design director, following the departure of Mark Howard Thomas who held the position from March 2025 and stepped down in early April. Nesselrath, who was born in Germany and raised in Rome, will present his debut runway collection during Paris Fashion Week this autumn.
“[I’m] excited to join Carven, with lightness and optimism. I love clothes, spaces and conversations that encourage breathing. It’s an honour to keep Madame Carven’s values alive,” Nesselrath said. “I am very grateful to Shawna [Tao, CEO of Carven] for her trust and the journey ahead together.”
Nesselrath arrives at Carven with experience spanning some of fashion’s most influential houses. After studying at Rome’s Accademia di Belle Arti, taking courses at Central Saint Martins and graduating from Polimoda, he began his career at Chanel under Karl Lagerfeld before joining Saint Laurent, where he spent the last decade and eventually rose to womenswear head designer.
His appointment marks another important step in Carven’s revival, which began in 2023. The house says its ambition is to reconnect with the founding vision established by Madame Carven in 1945: a distinctly French and inclusive approach to fashion grounded in creativity, product excellence and relevance to modern life.
Tao said, “We are very pleased to welcome Kai to Carven. A new generation’s perspective on the world feels especially important today. The essence of Carven is a fresh and courageous creator’s spirit, and we believe Kai is uniquely suited to interpret and express it.”
Congrats Nesselrath!
Watch this space.
Photography courtesy of Carven.
