Who is Jonathan Anderson, the man behind Dior's historic shakeup?
On Monday, luxury conglomerate LVMH named Jonathan Anderson the new creative director of Dior, making him the first designer since Christian Dior himself to oversee women's, men's and haute couture collections.
LVMH had already announced in April that Anderson, 40, would succeed Kim Jones as artistic director of men's wear. Just last week, Maria Grazia Chiuri confirmed she would step down as the women's creative director at Dior after her final show in her hometown of Rome.
Anderson's first men's wear collection will premiere this June, with women's wear to follow in October. For the first time in its 78-year history, Dior will skip the haute couture shows in July.
'It is a great honour to join the House of Dior as creative director of both women's and men's collections,' Anderson said in a statement. 'I have always been inspired by the rich history of this House–its depth and empathy. I look forward to working alongside its legendary Ateliers to craft the next chapter of this incredible story.'
Anderson was born in 1984 and raised in Magherafelt, a town of 9,000 in Northern Ireland. At 18, he moved to Washington to study acting, but quickly discovered a passion for costume design. He moved to London and studied men's wear at the London College of Fashion, graduating in 2005, before working as a visual merchandiser for Prada.
He eventually founded his namesake label, JW Anderson, in 2008. His fluid, conceptual collections made him a critical darling on London's fashion scene. In 2013, LVMH acquired a minority stake in the label and tapped Anderson to lead Loewe, then a middling Spanish house known for leather goods. In his 11-year tenure, Anderson turned Loewe into one of fashion's most relevant and sought-after brands, with annual revenues reportedly hitting US$2-billion a year.
Industry insiders often compare Anderson to Karl Lagerfeld, another prolific visionary who balanced runway spectacle with commercial success. Speaking to the online publication Business of Fashion, Delphine Arnault, the chair and chief executive of Christian Dior Couture, called Anderson 'the most talented designer of his generation.'
At Loewe, Anderson mastered the formula Lagerfeld invented during his decades at Chanel. Anderson would wow with a surrealist leather dress moulded to appear in constant motion while producing commercial hits including the ubiquitous Puzzle Bag. He also made Loewe a force in pop culture. Rising actors such as Ayo Edebiri, Josh O'Connor and Greta Lee starred in brand campaigns and wore Loewe on the red carpet. Loewe also sponsored the 2024 Met Gala.
Dior is the second largest house in LVMH's stable, after only Louis Vuitton. Until now, it was considered too big a ship for one captain. Consolidating creative leadership in the hands of a sole designer means that Anderson can establish a unified vision. But 'there are huge implications,' wrote Lauren Sherman – the fashion journalist who pens Puck's Line Sheet newsletter – in an e-mail to The Globe and Mail.
'Anderson is of a new generation of designers that are coming into power at the peak of the luxury industry's consolidation curve. He'll need to act as a disrupter at an enormous company that generates around $10-billion a year on its own.'
His appointment is also part of industry-wide turbulence: As the luxury sector slows and brands race to stay relevant, leadership changes are mounting. In 2025 alone, 17 fashion brands, including four at LVMH, announced new creative directors.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Vancouver Sun
3 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
At a time when large residential construction has stalled, this developer is pushing forward with a big Burnaby project
At a time when an uncertain economy has delayed or cancelled residential projects, one developer is pushing forward on a major project in Burnaby's Brentwood neighbourhood. Grosvenor has begun excavation on the first phase of construction on about three city blocks across from the Brentwood shopping mall and the Brentwood Town Centre SkyTrain station. The Brentwood Block project will include a 41-storey condo tower, a community centre, and two rental towers, including a 60-storey one that will be Western Canada's tallest all-rental building. 'There are lots of reports on slower sales in the first quarter of this year and I think it's clear that that's attributed to the uncertainty that entered the picture at the beginning of this year. Timing is always relevant in anything related to real estate,' said Marc Josephson, senior vice-president of development at Grosvenor. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. But there are reasons Grosvenor is feeling hopeful enough to proceed: When it launched sales for the condo tower last fall, it sold 100 units in 30 days; the project involves a mix of uses and isn't only focused on residential condos; and the company has access to capital. Grosvenor is proceeding while other projects have stalled because they didn't sell a certain percentage of presale contracts and, therefore, were unable to qualify for construction financing. The London-based company was founded in 1677 when it started buying some of the most expensive real estate in that city's Mayfair and Belgravia areas, which it still owns. It now manages investments for the 7th Duke of Westminster, one of the world's wealthiest people under the age of 40 based on land, property and other assets. The company has been operating in North America for more than 70 years, beginning with its purchase of Annacis Island in Delta in 1952. In October 2024, Grosvenor announced it had joined with a Canadian pension fund and Victoria-based investment firm Westerkirk Capital to raise $1.5 billion in capital to fund the Brentwood Block project, explaining that capital market partnerships like this are necessary for successful development. At the moment, many potential buyers of presale condos are waiting rather than buying. The number of unsold condo units that are complete or nearing completion and unsold is rising and prominent real estate marketing companies are cutting staff. As of April, there were 2,503 condo units that were complete and unsold, and another 2,337 units in projects nearing completion that were unsold for a total of 4,840 units in Metro Vancouver, according to research by Rennie Intelligence. Boffo Developments Ltd. told The Globe and Mail it launched the first of what is meant to be a four-tower development last July, but only sold 44 of the 318 units by December before sales dropped off completely so it's decided to return deposits with interest and wait for better conditions. Allure Ventures is offering to buy back or rent out units at today's prices in a Surrey tower where it is aiming to begin construction. Some 200 people lined up when Square Nine Developments recently offered a one-day, steep discount of 25 per cent off original prices for units that have been completed at its Belvedere Surrey condo tower. Josephson said it's hard to read too much into what these cases say about the broader market. 'I think it's important to recognize that each development and each sub-market has nuances. Is the development big or small? Is it condo, rental, commercial, public, mixed? What's the price point? What are the characteristics of the developer and how well does this specific product match consumers' expectation for that location?' He said Grosvenor launched sales of presale units in the 41-storey Brentwood Block residential strata tower in the fall of 2024 and to date, has sold about 135 units — or 30 per cent — of the building's 451 units. This year, economic uncertainty has slowed sales, but the impact is 'likely more short-term in nature,' he said. 'There's been a lot of negative attention in the market right now related to condo sales and that's understandable, but again, it's about the first part of this year,' said Josephson. 'If you're launching a stand-alone condo building right at this moment, that's a difficult proposition and there's clearly systemic issues on the cost and policy side that need to be addressed. The demand is still there. It's just waiting on the sidelines for evidence of stability.' He adds that even though there are increasing signs of unsold inventory of presale units, Grosvenor believes the region will continue to have a structural supply shortage long-term. 'The benchmark price is only about four to six per cent below the peak in 2022. It's not as if it's a supply problem that is resulting in desperate selling that's dropping pricing. We're not seeing that.' He adds that 2021 was a record-setting year for sales, so to have some more inventory than the market is used to isn't necessarily a surprise. jlee-young@
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
‘Harry Potter' actor Tom Felton to reprise role as Draco Malfoy
Josh Herdman (left) and Tom Felton in 2011 film "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2." (Warner Bros/Everett via CNN Newsource) British actor Tom Felton, best known for playing Draco Malfoy in the 'Harry Potter' film franchise, will reprise his role as the arrogant antagonist – this time, on stage. Felton announced his role in the Broadway production of 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' on Instagram Thursday, in a joint post with the official Harry Potter and Harry Potter on Broadway Instagram pages. In a joint Instagram reel, captioned 'Guess who's back,' Felton adorned himself in the familiar black suit with a wand in the pocket, rings and a long blonde wig, before ominously saying, 'scared, Potter?' 'The blonde hair came back on and I immediately started crying for some reason,' Felton told the 'Today' show on Thursday. 'It's such a huge part of my childhood. It's like me going back to high school,' he continued. The actor originally portrayed the protagonist Harry Potter's schoolboy rival when he was a child. The 37-year-old described his return to the 'Harry Potter' universe as a 'pinch me' moment, adding, 'I keep thinking I'm dreaming.' Felton said the Broadway show will begin where the 'Harry Potter' movies ended, with Harry and Draco as fathers 19 years later who are sending their children to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the first time. 'When Harry Potter's head-strong son Albus befriends the son of his fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy, it sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all – with the power to change the past and future forever,' a synopsis reads on the theater production's website. 'I let go of that character 16 years ago and now getting the chance to step back in his shoes as a father this time, in a new story – I get to meet Draco as an adult, which is very exciting,' Felton said. CNN has reached out to Felton's representatives for further comment. Performances of the Broadway play will run at the Lyric Theatre in New York City from November 11 to March 22, with pre-sale tickets available to purchase from Tuesday. 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' debuted in London's West End in 2016, before travelling to Broadway. The two-part play has won many accolades, including several Olivier and Tony Awards. By Amarachi Orie, CNN
CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Lululemon shares tumble as yogawear firm warns tariffs will crimp profit
Lululemon Athletica's LULU.O shares fell 20 per cent in premarket trading on Friday, as the maker of high-end leggings warned that tariff-related costs and uneven demand in key markets of North America and China will dent its profits this year. The Canadian firm, whose popular Align yoga pants sell for up to $128 apiece on its website, will take modest price hikes for a 'small portion of the assortment' and ramp up discounts for the rest of the year, company executives said. Lululemon has struggled to retain shoppers, despite its efforts to introduce fresh styles of sports bras and athletic jackets, as it faces intense competition from trendier and more affordable brands in North America and mainland China. 'Despite (Americas) decline, management continues to prioritize product newness and China expansion over addressing a pullback from core customers and evident traffic declines,' Jefferies analyst Randal Konik said in a note. 'We believe this misalignment is concerning.' Lululemon joins sportswear rivals Nike NKE.N and On ONON.N in raising prices in the U.S. as erratic trade tactics under President Donald Trump rattle global markets and fuel fears of a recession. Lululemon trimmed its 2025 earnings forecast and said it expects margins to come under pressure from the proposed tariffs, which will impact products from some of its largest sourcing hubs in Vietnam, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. 'My sense is that in the U.S., consumers remain cautious right now, and they are being very intentional about their buying decisions,' CEO Calvin McDonald said on a post-earnings call. The company's stock, which is down about 14 per cent this year, was trading at $263.50 before the bell on Friday. The news dragged Nike's shares down 1.3 per cent. At least 12 brokerages cut their price targets on the stock, with slashing it the most, to $303 from $389. Lululemon's forward price-to-earnings multiple, a common benchmark for valuing stocks, is 21.46, compared to that of 31.37 for Nike and 9.54 for Gap GAP.N. (Reporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas)
