Dior
It is rare to read about a fashion designer starting their career in their 40s, developing a world-renowned luxury brand, which has left an indelible mark on the fashion industry and still carries enormous weight and respect today.
When Christian Dior was 41 years old, that is precisely what he did. Soon after in 1946 Dior opened his first fashion house at 30 Avenue Montaigne in Paris, France.
Dior had a passion for art from a tender age and when he was 5 years old, he moved to the artistic city of Paris with his family. To make money, he initially sold his fashion sketches outside his house for 10 cents each.
After starting school, Dior left school in 1928 and started his professional career after creating an art gallery with the money his father gave him. Unfortunately, the gallery shut down in 1931 after his family suffered personal and financial losses.
Four years later Dior made a breakthrough into the fashion industry as a magazine illustrator. A few years later he was promoted to designing assistant for legendary fashion designer Robert Piguet. Dior left Piguet when he was called up for military service.
Then in 1942, Dior returned to Paris from the army and joined the fashion house of Lucien Lelong, as a primary designer and helped to keep the French fashion industry alive during wart.mes
.
Dior Debuts “New Look” collects
ion
Dior debuted his first fashion collects
ion for Spring-Summer on February 12, 1947. The display featured "90 models from his first collects
ion on six mannequins" in the salons of his company's headquarters at 30 Avenue Montaigne.
The collects
ion was an immediate success and became synonymous with feminine beauty, classic and t.mes
less fashion. From their ready-to-wear fashion, leather goods, accessories, or footwear.
Dior Perfumes
Dior was a strong believer in female empowerment, and when he debuted his first scent in 1947, he named it after his sister, a member of the French resistance fighter and a survivor of the Ravensbrück death camp. His sister Catherine Dior was familiarly known as “Miss Dior”.
The Fashion house also created men’s cologne and in 2020 Dior Homme was launched. The new fragrance is a powdery iris and woody scent for men, and it was introduced in the original version in 2005 and then later came the new 2011 version.
Dior died 10 years after establishing his luxury brand due to a heart attack. Before his passing, he named Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) as his successor who was just 21 years old at the t.mes
. A few years after successfully taking the helm of Dior, YSL was drafted for the French army and later left Dior Fashion House.
Dior’s Evolution
In the 1990s, Dior began to develop further and started selling more products, resulting in higher revenue.
Dior has remained relevant as a high-end brand. While Christian Dior is most known for its women's apparel, the company also has a men's division, Dior Homme.
Seven decades later, Dior's influence is still felt, and the house he founded is not only a couture stalwart, but also a global giant among high-end brands producing a diverse range of products.
Maria Grazia Chiuri, the current artistic director, is the first woman to hold the position at House of Dior.
Dior is now owned and run by French businessman Bernard Arnault, who also runs LVMH, the world's largest luxury conglomerate.
