In a historic and highly anticipated move, Jonathan Anderson has been officially named the creative director of Dior, overseeing the iconic French fashion house's womenswear, menswear, and haute couture collections. This appointment marks the first time since Christian Dior himself that a single designer will helm all major facets of the brand, signaling a bold new chapter for one of the world's most influential luxury labels.
The 40-year-old Northern Irish designer, who stepped down from his acclaimed 11-year tenure at Loewe earlier this year, is set to debut his first Dior menswear collection on June 27, 2025, during Paris Fashion Week. Following this, his inaugural women’s ready-to-wear show is scheduled for October 2025, also in Paris, with his haute couture debut expected in January 2026. This comprehensive creative control is unprecedented in Dior’s modern history and reflects the brand’s desire for a unified vision amid a challenging luxury market.
Jonathan Anderson’s rise to the helm of Dior has been closely watched within the fashion industry. He began his career after graduating from the London College of Fashion in 2005 and launched his eponymous brand JW Anderson in 2008. His innovative, often gender-fluid designs quickly garnered attention, culminating in his appointment as creative director of Loewe in 2013. Under his leadership, Loewe transformed from a relatively sleepy Spanish leather goods brand into a cultural powerhouse, with revenues soaring from approximately €200 million to nearly €2 billion by 2024. Anderson’s signature pieces, such as the Puzzle bag launched in 2015, became instant icons, and his commitment to craftsmanship was further cemented by the establishment of the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize in 2016.
Delphine Arnault, chair and CEO of Christian Dior Couture and daughter of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault, expressed her enthusiasm for Anderson’s appointment. “Jonathan is the most talented designer of his generation,” she said in an interview. “He has great experience within the LVMH Group and in managing large teams through his work at Loewe, even though he is only 40. More importantly, he has a very clear vision for the brand.” Arnault highlighted the significance of uniting Dior’s men’s and women’s lines under one creative director, noting, “I think this is going to be great for the maison. There will be consistency and coherence in the products, but also in terms of communication, I think our message will be much clearer.”
Bernard Arnault echoed these sentiments, describing Anderson as “one of the greatest creative talents of his generation” and praising his “incomparable artistic signature” as a crucial asset for Dior’s future. The appointment comes amid a period of considerable reshuffling in the fashion world, with Dior’s womenswear creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri announcing her departure after nearly a decade at the helm. Chiuri’s final show, the Cruise 2026 collection, was staged in Rome in May 2025, marking the end of an era that saw Dior’s revenues quadruple from €2.2 billion in 2017 to an estimated €9 billion in 2023, according to HSBC. Despite this remarkable growth, the brand has recently faced a slowdown in luxury demand, with sales dipping in early 2025.
Anderson’s appointment is widely viewed as a strategic move to revitalize Dior’s creative direction and commercial performance. Delphine Arnault emphasized the importance of Anderson’s deep connection to the house’s heritage, noting his passion for art and craftsmanship — traits shared with Christian Dior himself, who was also known for his love of gardens and flowers. “Jonathan is very loyal,” Arnault added, recalling their first meeting over a decade ago in a modest Paris apartment near Gare du Nord. “He stayed 11 years at Loewe, even though I’m sure that he had many other propositions. For all these reasons, he’s the perfect choice for Dior.”
Jonathan Anderson himself expressed humility and excitement about his new role. “I am incredibly honored to be given the opportunity to unite Dior’s women’s, men’s and couture collections under a single, cohesive vision,” he said. “My instinct is to be led by the house’s empathetic spirit, established by Dior himself. I look forward to working alongside its legendary ateliers to craft the next chapter of this incredible story.”
Despite the optimism, Anderson faces a formidable challenge. Dior is significantly larger than Loewe, with a complex schedule that includes multiple ready-to-wear collections, pre-collections, cruise shows, and haute couture presentations. Anderson will be responsible for designing approximately 10 collections per year for Dior, including two haute couture shows, while continuing to oversee his JW Anderson brand and its collaboration with Uniqlo, totaling an estimated 18 collections annually. This workload marks him as one of the most prolific designers in the industry today.
Luxury market analysts have noted that Dior’s recent performance has been under pressure. Sales at LVMH’s fashion and leather goods division were down 5 percent in the first quarter of 2025, with Dior’s sales reportedly declining by mid- to low-teens percentages. Price increases averaging 51 percent between 2020 and 2023 have also tested consumer loyalty, as some customers shift spending towards travel, hospitality, and fine jewelry. Delphine Arnault acknowledged these challenges, emphasizing the need for quality and authenticity. “Prices can be increased if you have an increase in quality as well, an improvement in the product,” she said. “It’s up to every house to decide what to do as a pricing.”
In addition to creative leadership, Dior has been reinforcing its management team, appointing Pierre-Emmanuel Angeloglou as deputy CEO in April 2025 and bringing in industrial directors with strong backgrounds from Louis Vuitton and EssilorLuxottica. These moves aim to bolster the brand’s operational excellence and craftsmanship standards.
Anderson’s debut menswear show on June 27, 2025, is eagerly awaited as the first public glimpse of his vision for Dior. His womenswear debut during Paris Fashion Week in October will be closely scrutinized, especially given the high-profile nature of the season, which will also feature new creative directors at Chanel, Gucci, Balenciaga, and others. The fashion world is abuzz with anticipation about how Anderson will balance Dior’s rich heritage with his own avant-garde sensibilities, which have been characterized by conceptual and surrealist elements, as well as a strong commitment to craftsmanship and cultural relevance.
As the industry watches this momentous transition, many are hopeful that Jonathan Anderson can replicate his Loewe success at Dior, marrying innovation with tradition to reinvigorate the storied maison. If his past achievements are any indication, Dior’s next chapter promises to be as dynamic and influential as its illustrious history.
