Dior on Friday named Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri as its new creative director, making her the first ever woman to lead the iconic French fashion house.
The 52-year-old said the appointment was both a “great honour” and a “tremendous responsibility” to be the first woman in charge of a fashion house “so deeply rooted in the pure expression of femininity.” She will present her first show in Paris on September 30, the company said, following in the steps of legendary founder Christian Dior and such designers as Yves Saint Laurent, Gianfranco Ferre and John Galliano.
“The house of Dior is delighted to welcome her and to have a woman, for the first time in its history, as artistic director for the womenswear collections,” the fashion house said in a statement. Dior had been without a leader since the shock departure of the Belgian Raf Simons last October, which sparked soul-searching in the industry about the pressure creators were now under. The “endless wealth” of Dior’s heritage “continues to be a constant source of inspiration for fashion and I cannot wait to express my own vision,” Chiuri said.
She left the Italian label Valentino on Thursday, paving the way for her appointment. Valentino will now be in the sole charge of Chiuri’s longtime creative partner Pierpaolo Piccioli. Together, Chiuri and Piccioli were credited with giving Valentino back its fizz, making it one of the most profitable designer brands in Europe.
