The designer fashion and luxury goods company was founded by Christian Dior in Paris in 1946, with the financial backing of Marcel Boussac. Dior gained both praise and fame for his “New Look” collection, which attracted celebrities like Rita Hayworth and heads of state, including as the British Royal Family.
Dior expanded to America in 1948, establishing a location on the corner of 5th Avenue and 57th Street in New York City. A successful perfume line was launched later that year. Designer Yves Saint Laurent succeeded Christian Dior after his death in 1957, followed by Marc Bohan. The company grew under Bohan’s leadership and vision that redefined the Dior look.
In 1978, the Boussac Group filed for bankruptcy, selling its Dior asset to the Willot Group. Bernard Arnault became Dior’s Chairman and CEO after his investment group purchased the Willot Group’s holdings in 1985. The holding company Christian Dior S.A was set up in 1988.
Renowned stylistic and creative directors such as John Galliano, Bill Gayten and Raf Simons followed Marc Bohan’s departure in the late 80s. Today, Kim Jones leads the company’s creative direction. Christian Dior S.A. manages three divisions: Christian Dior Parfums, Christian Dior Cosmetics and Dior Homme.
- Family name: Arnault family
- Sector: Consumer Products & Retail
- Founded: 1946
- Founder: Christian Dior
- Country: France
- Company headquarters: Paris, France
- Managers: Bernard Arnault, Sidney Toledano (CEO)
- Revenue: US$49.3 billion
- Rankings: 208 [Fortune 500]
- Family ownership: 72,9%
- Employees: 131,523
- Website: http://www.dior-finance.com
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