Maria Grazia Chiuri bids farewell to Dior after nine transformative years
The fashion world is witnessing a major changing of the guard: Maria Grazia Chiuri, the first woman to lead Christian Dior's women's collections, is stepping down after nearly a decade at the helm of the French luxury house.
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In an official statement released on Thursday, Dior confirmed her departure: 'Christian Dior Couture announces that Maria Grazia Chiuri has decided to leave her position as creative director of women's haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories collections.'
Chiuri's exit marks the end of an influential chapter for Dior, one defined by bold feminist messaging, cross-cultural collaborations, and commercial success.
During her nine-year tenure, Chiuri not only reimagined the house codes with a fresh female gaze but also made history as the first woman ever appointed to the role since Christian Dior founded the maison in 1947.
Delphine Arnault, chairman and CEO of Christian Dior Couture, paid tribute to Chiuri's trailblazing legacy: 'Since joining Dior, Maria Grazia has delivered exceptional work with a deeply inspiring feminist vision, all while honouring the spirit of Monsieur Dior.
Her collections have captured imagination and driven remarkable growth for the house.'
Chiuri, in turn, expressed gratitude to the team that supported her journey: 'I thank Monsieur Arnault for his trust and Delphine for her constant support. Above all, I'm proud of the extraordinary work done with the ateliers and my team. Together, we created a fashion language rooted in empowerment, in dialogue with women artists across generations.
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This has been an unforgettable chapter.'
FILE - Italian fashion designer Maria Grazia Chiuri is photographed at the Dior Fall/Winter 2025-2026 Womenswear collection presented, March 4, 2025. in Paris. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP, file)
A successor has yet to be announced, leaving the fashion world abuzz with speculation. The announcement follows the recent appointment of Jonathan Anderson as artistic director for Dior Men, replacing Kim Jones earlier this year.
Chiuri's impact on Dior can't be overstated. When she joined the house in 2016, she already brought with her decades of experience, beginning her career in 1989 at Fendi as a handbag designer, then moving to Valentino in 1999, eventually rising to co-creative director alongside Pierpaolo Piccioli in 2008.
Her debut Dior collection for Spring/Summer 2017 signalled a new direction, notably featuring slogan T-shirts emblazoned with 'We Should All Be Feminists', a reference to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's essay. This bold move set the tone for what would become a signature: collections that centred women and celebrated their strength, stories, and artistry.
Throughout her Dior years, Chiuri brought in the voices and visions of female artists to enrich her runway storytelling.
From Judy Chicago's immersive installations to collaborations with Faith Ringgold, Eva Jospin, and Mickalene Thomas, the designer ensured that art and fashion walked hand in hand. One of her more theatrical moments came in the Spring/Summer 2025 show, when Italian artist and archer Sagg Napoli fired arrows on set as models walked, a fitting metaphor for Chiuri's powerful aim.
Her tenure also spanned ambitious runway shows across the globe - from Mumbai, which honoured the artistry of Indian craftspeople, to Kyoto, which drew on Japanese tradition.
These shows weren't just visually compelling; they were commercially effective. Under her leadership, Dior's couture division saw sales soar from €2.2 billion in 2017 to €9.5 billion in 2023, according to HSBC. However, like the broader luxury market, Dior has begun to feel the slowdown.
Sales dipped to €8.7 billion in 2024, with LVMH's fashion and leather goods division reporting a 5% drop in Q1 2025.
Amid this evolving landscape, Dior recently strengthened its executive team, appointing Benedetta Petruzzo as managing director in October and naming Pierre-Emmanuel Angeloglou deputy CEO in April, both reporting to Delphine Arnault.
Outside the fashion world, Chiuri has also turned her attention to personal projects. Most notably, she has been restoring Rome's historic Teatro della Cometa, revealing her commitment to cultural preservation and storytelling in every form.
Her final bow came earlier this week at the Dior Resort 2026 show, a poignant farewell to the house she helped reimagine for a new generation.
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