Maison Kitsuné Appoints Abigail Smith as New Creative Director

Maison Kitsuné on Thursday announced British designer Abigail Smith as the brand’s new creative director. Kitsuné co-founders Gildas Loëc and Masaya Kuroki said Smith’s mission is “redefining the Maison Kitsuné silhouette,” in a joint statement.

Smith’s hiring comes at a time when the brand is undergoing a restructuring and focusing on its e-commerce. Kitsuné closed all of its US stores in July. Deputy managing director Johanna Lellouche said the move was a “strategic repositioning” that allowed the brand to optimise its footprint in North America. She joins the brand after working with houses like Calvin Klein, Celine, Chloé and Stella McCartney throughout her 25-year career.

“I have always admired Maison Kitsuné for its ability to blend fashion, music and culture into a singular art de vivre,” Smith said in a press release from the brand. “My vision is to create a contemporary, functional wardrobe that reflects Parisian elegance while honoring the brand’s Paris-Tokyo identity.”

Smith’s first collection for the brand will debut in Paris this week for Spring/Summer 2026 and become available online in early 2026.

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Maison Kitsuné Is Closing All Its US Stores

The brand is shutting its physical doors in the US to focus on its digital business and wholesale partnerships.