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eNCA
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- eNCA
Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri out at Dior
ROME - Dior announced Thursday that Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri was stepping down as artistic director of the French fashion house's women's collection after almost a decade on the job. Dior has boomed since Chiuri took over in 2016, becoming the second-biggest brand in the stable of luxury labels owned by French powerhouse LVMH. The 61-year-old designer's modernisation and feminist activism helped attract new customers. Chiuri, who was the first woman to be named Dior's creative director after a career at Italian brands Valentino and Fendi, had long been rumoured to be on her way out. "The House of Dior wishes today to express its deepest gratitude to Maria Grazia Chiuri after a wonderful collaboration as Artistic Director of the Women's collections since 2016," Dior said in a statement. "After nine years, I am leaving the House of Dior, delighted by the extraordinary opportunity I have been given," Chiuri said in the statement. Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson, who was named creative director of Dior Men last month, has been tipped as a possible successor, which would make him the first person to head both the men's and women's collections. If that came to be, it would give "greater consistency" between the men's and women's offerings and would be "impactful for the public and for consumers", said Serge Carreira, an academic specialising in the luxury industry. Already anticipation is building around Anderson's first Dior menswear show in June. - Chiuri's last show - Chiuri on Tuesday presented Dior Women's 2026 Cruise collection in Rome, the city of her birth, in an 18th century villa. The show concluded with a standing ovation for the designer. Guests including Silvia Venturini Fendi, granddaughter of Fendi's founders and the menswear artistic director of the brand, and Valentino founder Valentino Garavani. After training at Italy's Istituto Europeo di Design, Chiuri worked for Fendi in the 1990s before joining Valentino in 1999, where she and artistic partner Pier Paolo Piccioli became creative co-directors. In 2016, she was tapped to succeed Raf Simons at Dior, and "she really wrote a whole chapter in Dior's history", said Carreira, who teaches at Paris's Sciences Po university. Even if some critics argued that she lacked creativity, he disagreed, saying: "She managed to boost and create a very consistent identity at Dior Women... that she constantly refreshed and fed with new ideas." Speculation already swirled around Chiuri's future at her last Paris Fashion Week in March. Her face was inscrutable at the end of a 25-minute Fall/Winter 2025 show in the Tuileries Gardens, as she briefly acknowledged applause from a crowd that was relatively low on A-list celebrities. - Important to LVMH - Some observers had suggested the classic French house was growing stale. Its growth is of crucial financial and dynastic importance to LVMH owner Bernard Arnault, who placed his daughter Delphine in charge of Dior in February 2023. In the Dior statement, Delphine Arnault praised Chiuri's "immense work with an inspiring feminist viewpoint and exceptional creativity". Speaking to Grazia magazine in February, Chiuri said she had seen the fashion business change greatly over her 40-year career. "Fashion used to be about family companies and there were small audiences -– clients and buyers," she said. "Now fashion is like a channel. It's something more popular, it's like pop. It's a form of media." LVMH's global first-quarter results were weaker than expected, with sales over the period dropping two percent against the backdrop of trade uncertainty unleashed by US President Donald Trump's tariffs. French group Hermes overtook LVMH as the world's most valuable luxury company in April after shares in the Louis Vuitton maker tumbled following weaker-than-expected quarterly sales. LVMH shares have been sliding since the end of February. By Marine Do-vale
Emirates Woman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Emirates Woman
Maria Grazia Chiuri leaves Dior after 9 years
Just two days after a poignant cruise show in Rome—where models walked with covered faces—Dior announces the departure of its groundbreaking first female creative director. Who will take the reins? The fashion world was left stunned today as Dior announced the departure of Maria Grazia Chiuri, its first female creative director, after nearly a decade at the helm. The news comes just two days after her final show—the 2026 Cruise presentation in Rome—a deeply personal homecoming that now feels like a silent, symbolic farewell. Chiuri's last show for Dior was held in her hometown of Rome, marking the first time she brought the maison's runway to the Italian capital during her tenure. Yet, what seemed like a celebration now carries an air of mystery: models walked with their faces obscured by veils and draped fabrics, a hauntingly poetic choice that may have been an unintentional sign of her impending exit. Was this a subtle nod to her departure? A reflection on identity, legacy, or the transient nature of fashion? Only Chiuri knows—but the timing is undeniably poignant. Appointed in 2016, Chiuri made history as Dior's first female creative director, bringing a feminist lens to the storied French house. Her tenure was defined by elegant silhouettes, revived icons like the Saddle Bag, and slogan tees declaring 'We Should All Be Feminists.' Under her leadership, Dior became a beacon of modern femininity, blending tradition with progressive ideals. Before Dior, she spent 17 years at Valentino, shaping its romantic aesthetic alongside Pierpaolo Piccioli. Her exit now leaves another major fashion house in transition, following Piccioli's own departure from Valentino earlier this year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dior Official (@dior) What's Next for Dior? With Chiuri's exit and Kim Jones' departure from Dior Men's earlier this year, the maison faces a pivotal moment of reinvention. No successor has been named, sparking industry-wide speculation: Will Dior return to a bold, avant-garde vision like John Galliano's era? Or will it continue Chiuri's refined, feminist approach with a new voice? In her farewell statement, Chiuri expressed gratitude, saying: 'Together, we have written an impactful chapter of which I am immensely proud.' As the fashion world awaits Dior's next move, one thing is certain: Maria Grazia Chiuri's legacy is indelible—and her final, enigmatic show will be remembered as a moment of quiet, powerful closure. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Instagram
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri stepping down at Dior
Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri receives applause after presenting Dior Women's 2026 Cruise collection in Rome on May 27. PHOTO: AFP PARIS - Dior announced on May 29 that Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri was stepping down as artistic director of the French fashion house's women's collection after almost a decade on the job. Dior has boomed since Chiuri took over in 2016, becoming the second-biggest brand in the stable of luxury labels owned by French powerhouse LVMH. The 61-year-old designer's modernisation and feminist activism helped attract new customers. Chiuri, who was the first woman to be named Dior's creative director after a career at Italian brands Valentino and Fendi, had long been rumoured to be on her way out. 'The house of Dior wishes today to express its deepest gratitude to Maria Grazia Chiuri after a wonderful collaboration as artistic director of the women's collections since 2016,' Dior said, in a statement. 'After nine years, I am leaving the house of Dior, delighted by the extraordinary opportunity I have been given,' Chiuri said in the statement. Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson, who was named creative director of Dior Men in April, has been tipped as a possible successor, which would make him the first person to head both the men's and women's collections. If that came to be, it would give 'greater consistency' between the men's and women's offerings and would be 'impactful for the public and for consumers', said Serge Carreira, an academic specialising in the luxury industry. Already anticipation is building around Anderson's first Dior menswear show in June. Chiuri's last show Chiuri on May 27 presented Dior Women's 2026 Cruise collection in Rome, the city of her birth, in an 18th century villa. The show concluded with a standing ovation for the designer. Guests including Silvia Venturini Fendi, granddaughter of Fendi's founders and the menswear artistic director of the brand, and Valentino founder Valentino Garavani. After training at Italy's Istituto Europeo di Design, Chiuri worked for Fendi in the 1990s before joining Valentino in 1999, where she and artistic partner Pier Paolo Piccioli became creative co-directors. In 2016, she was tapped to succeed Raf Simons at Dior, and 'she really wrote a whole chapter in Dior's history', said Carreira, who teaches at Paris' Sciences Po university. Even if some critics argued that she lacked creativity, he disagreed, saying: 'She managed to boost and create a very consistent identity at Dior Women... that she constantly refreshed and fed with new ideas.' Speculation already swirled around Chiuri's future at her last Paris Fashion Week in March. Her face was inscrutable at the end of a 25-minute Fall/Winter 2025 show in the Tuileries Gardens, as she briefly acknowledged applause from a crowd that was relatively low on A-list celebrities. Important to LVMH Some observers had suggested the classic French house was growing stale. Its growth is of crucial financial and dynastic importance to LVMH owner Bernard Arnault, who placed his daughter Delphine in charge of Dior in February 2023. In the Dior statement, Delphine Arnault praised Chiuri's 'immense work with an inspiring feminist viewpoint and exceptional creativity'. Speaking to Grazia magazine in February, Chiuri said she had seen the fashion business change greatly over her 40-year career. 'Fashion used to be about family companies and there were small audiences – clients and buyers,' she said. 'Now fashion is like a channel. It's something more popular, it's like pop. It's a form of media.' LVMH's global first-quarter results were weaker than expected, with sales over the period dropping 2 per cent against the backdrop of trade uncertainty unleashed by US President Donald Trump's tariffs. French group Hermes overtook LVMH as the world's most valuable luxury company in April after shares in the Louis Vuitton maker tumbled following weaker-than-expected quarterly sales. LVMH shares have been sliding since the end of February. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Int'l Business Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
Italian Designer Maria Grazia Chiuri Out At Dior
Dior announced Thursday that Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri was stepping down as artistic director of the French fashion house's women's collection after almost a decade on the job. Dior has boomed since Chiuri took over in 2016, becoming the second-biggest brand in the stable of luxury labels owned by French powerhouse LVMH. The 61-year-old designer's modernisation and feminist activism helped attract new customers. Chiuri, who was the first woman to be named Dior's creative director after a career at Italian brands Valentino and Fendi, had long been rumoured to be on her way out. "The House of Dior wishes today to express its deepest gratitude to Maria Grazia Chiuri after a wonderful collaboration as Artistic Director of the Women's collections since 2016," Dior said in a statement. "After nine years, I am leaving the House of Dior, delighted by the extraordinary opportunity I have been given," Chiuri said in the statement. Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson, who was named creative director of Dior Men last month, has been tipped as a possible successor, which would make him the first person to head both the men's and women's collections. If that came to be, it would give "greater consistency" between the men's and women's offerings and would be "impactful for the public and for consumers", said Serge Carreira, an academic specialising in the luxury industry. Already anticipation is building around Anderson's first Dior menswear show in June. Chiuri on Tuesday presented Dior Women's 2026 Cruise collection in Rome, the city of her birth, in an 18th century villa. The show concluded with a standing ovation for the designer. Guests including Silvia Venturini Fendi, granddaughter of Fendi's founders and the menswear artistic director of the brand, and Valentino founder Valentino Garavani. After training at Italy's Istituto Europeo di Design, Chiuri worked for Fendi in the 1990s before joining Valentino in 1999, where she and artistic partner Pier Paolo Piccioli became creative co-directors. In 2016, she was tapped to succeed Raf Simons at Dior, and "she really wrote a whole chapter in Dior's history", said Carreira, who teaches at Paris's Sciences Po university. Even if some critics argued that she lacked creativity, he disagreed, saying: "She managed to boost and create a very consistent identity at Dior Women... that she constantly refreshed and fed with new ideas." Speculation already swirled around Chiuri's future at her last Paris Fashion Week in March. Her face was inscrutable at the end of a 25-minute Fall/Winter 2025 show in the Tuileries Gardens, as she briefly acknowledged applause from a crowd that was relatively low on A-list celebrities. Some observers had suggested the classic French house was growing stale. Its growth is of crucial financial and dynastic importance to LVMH owner Bernard Arnault, who placed his daughter Delphine in charge of Dior in February 2023. In the Dior statement, Delphine Arnault praised Chiuri's "immense work with an inspiring feminist viewpoint and exceptional creativity". Speaking to Grazia magazine in February, Chiuri said she had seen the fashion business change greatly over her 40-year career. "Fashion used to be about family companies and there were small audiences -- clients and buyers," she said. "Now fashion is like a channel. It's something more popular, it's like pop. It's a form of media." LVMH's global first-quarter results were weaker than expected, with sales over the period dropping two percent against the backdrop of trade uncertainty unleashed by US President Donald Trump's tariffs. French group Hermes overtook LVMH as the world's most valuable luxury company in April after shares in the Louis Vuitton maker tumbled following weaker-than-expected quarterly sales. LVMH shares have been sliding since the end of February. Maria Grazia Chiuri's last show for Dior -- the 26 cruise collection, shown in Rome -- received a standing ovation AFP Dior is a crucial brand in the LVMH luxury group -- so much so that LVMH boss Bernard Arnault has put his daughter Delphine in charge of it AFP
New York Times
17-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
LVMH Abruptly Puts Dior Men in Jonathan Anderson's Hands
On Thursday, one of the worst-kept secrets in the fashion industry was confirmed, in a brief unceremonious manner. At least part of it. During a shareholders' meeting, Bernard Arnault, the chief executive of the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton luxury goods empire, let fly that Jonathan Anderson, the former Loewe designer who built that brand from a niche collection into a fashion powerhouse, would officially be stepping in as the head men's wear designer at Dior. In a terse, one-sentence statement, the brand confirmed that Mr. Anderson had been named the artistic director of its men's collections and that his first show for the label would be presented June 27 in Paris. The release did not include any quotes from Mr. Arnault or Mr. Anderson, furthering speculation that there was more to the story. Mr. Anderson has long been rumored to be taking over not just Dior Men, but also Dior's women's line. For now, Maria Grazia Chiuri is still, officially, the label's women's wear designer. She presented her Fall collection for the brand in Kyoto on Tuesday, and is slated to present her 2026 Cruise show in Rome, her hometown, late next month. The truncated announcement for Mr. Anderson comes as LVMH broadly is feeling the pressure. This week it reported a 3 percent year-over-year sales dip, caused by slipping sales in Asia and the United States (though, the declines are heftiest in its liquor businesses) sending its stock down around 8 percent. Dior in particular was said by Cécile Cabanis, the LVMH chief financial officer, to have performed 'below the average.' At the shareholders' meeting, Mr. Arnault announced Mr. Anderson's appointment in response to a question from an investor, and it may have been an attempt to quell investor fears that the brand wasn't doing enough to right the ship. Still, it adds to the impression that LVMH, the world's largest luxury company, is handling news about its loftiest jobs in a reactive, piecemeal manner, in which the rumor mill is often well ahead of official announcements. What's certain is that Mr. Anderson, 40, had been floating around as somewhat of a free agent in the fashion world since he stepped down as creative director at Loewe, owned by LVMH, last month. The Irish-born designer spent 11 years at the Spanish company, transforming it from a snoozy leather goods brand into a destination for whimsical, haute creations. Still, its market share remained well below that of Dior, or Louis Vuitton, the princely jewels of the LVMH empire. His departure from the brand, without his next job nor his successor announced, sent the fashion world spinning that Mr. Anderson was heading to loftier heights. Last month, LVMH confirmed that Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, formerly of the New York label Proenza Schouler, would be taking the helm at Loewe. At Loewe, Mr. Anderson showed he could check all the boxes for a modern, creative director. His runway shows had become fantastical, near-Seussian displays — trousers pleated like a curtain in a Broadway theater, feathered headpieces and clothes made of clay. They mesmerized, and occasionally polarized, audiences. At the same time, he displayed a crackerjack commercial sense — particularly on the men's side of Loewe's stores, which were heavy on everyday leather jackets, pebbled leather loafers and well-cut sweaters. Mr. Anderson also skillfully courted celebrities — something that will surely matter for him at Dior, a global label with a reported revenue of over 84 billion euros last year. Stars like Daniel Craig, Greta Lee and Josh O'Connor filled the Loewe front rows and appeared in its ads. Mr. Anderson himself made inroads in Hollywood, designing costumes for Luca Guadagnino's films 'Challengers' and 'Queer.' Whether he will continue this time-consuming side hustle is unclear. At Dior, he succeeds Kim Jones, a British designer who spent seven years as the brand's men's creative director before departing abruptly in January, just days after his final show.
