Maria Grazia Chiuri Exits Dior
The Dior resort 2026 show on Tuesday was her swan song for the maison.
Marking almost a decade at Dior, Maria Grazia Chiuri is stepping down from her post as creative director of women’s haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories collections after months of speculation.
“I extend my warmest thanks to Maria Grazia Chiuri, who, since her arrival at Dior, has accomplished tremendous work with an inspiring feminist perspective and exceptional creativity, all imbued with the spirit of Monsieur Dior, which allowed her to design highly desirable collections." Delphine Arnault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Christian Dior Couture said in a press release this morning. "She has written a key chapter in the history of Christian Dior, greatly contributing to its remarkable growth and being the first woman to lead the creation of women’s collections.”
Famed for her feminist approach to craft, Chiuri's work was in constant dialogue with the theme of women's empowerment, starting with her first collection for the house in 2016, which featured slogan tees reading “We should all be feminists." Her appointment saw her become the first female designer since Dior's founding in 1947, succeeding Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano and Raf Simons.
Chiuri says in the statement: “After nine years, I am leaving Dior, delighted to have been given this extraordinary opportunity. I would like to thank Monsieur Arnault for placing his trust in me and Delphine for her support. I am particularly grateful for the work accomplished by my teams and the Ateliers. Their talent and expertise allowed me to realize my vision of committed women’s fashion, in close dialogue with several generations of female artists. Together, we have written an impactful chapter of which I am immensely proud.”
The Dior Resort 2026 show on Tuesday was her swan song for the maison, and the last she would produce for the brand, hosting the show in her birthplace of Rome. A successor has not yet been announced. The news comes after a reshuffling in the Dior Homme department earlier this year, with Jonathan Anderson's appointment as artistic director of men’s collection in April, succeeding Kim Jones, who exited in January.
