Henry Zankov Returns to Diane von Furstenberg as Artistic Director
A homecoming of sorts: he worked at DVF for four years as head of knitwear
Reported by Harper's Bazaar.
Henry Zankov is going back to where it all started. The designer — known for his cult-favorite, color-saturated knitwear label — has been named artistic director of Diane von Furstenberg, according to Harper's Bazaar. In his new role, he'll control the full creative vision: design, visual identity, all of it. His debut runway collection for DVF hits New York Fashion Week this September.
The appointment is a reunion as much as it is a reinvention. Zankov first joined DVF in 2014, spending four years as design director of knitwear under then-creative director Jonathan Saunders. He's kept the relationship warm — last September, a Zankov x DVF capsule landed exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman. Before DVF, he logged time in knitwear at both Edun and DKNY. He launched his own brand in 2020, starting with knitwear and expanding into full ready-to-wear as his audience grew. His ascent has been fast and earned: he walked his first runway show for Spring 2026 last fall, and in 2024 took home the CFDA American Emerging Designer of the Year Award.
Two Brands, One Vision
The pairing makes an almost uncomfortable amount of sense. Von Furstenberg founded her label in 1972 on a philosophy of effortless, print-driven dressing that handed women back their freedom — the wrap dress didn't just sell, it rewired how a generation got dressed. Zankov's own work operates in that same frequency: bold color, graphic pattern, clothes that feel genuinely joyful to wear. "The DVF woman is a rebel — confident, curious, and independent," Zankov said in a statement. "It is an honor and privilege to build on Diane's legacy and carry the brand into the future." Von Furstenberg, for her part, said she's "excited to watch Henry's designs, sense of color, and effortless sensibility seduce a new generation."
The business context matters here. CEO Graziano de Boni, who joined DVF in 2023, has been pulling operations back in-house after years of outsourced management — a deliberate effort to reclaim creative coherence after rotating through multiple design leads. "This appointment marks a new phase in its evolution," he said. Translation: they're done drifting. Zankov isn't just a creative hire; he's a statement of intent.
A designer who built his name making women feel seen, celebrated, and frankly a little electric is exactly who DVF needs right now — the legacy is intact, but September will show whether the spark is too.
Read the original at Harper's Bazaar.
