Jonathan Anderson Appointed Creative Director at Dior

The renowned Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson has officially taken on the role of creative director at the prestigious Parisian fashion house, Christian Dior.

This significant announcement was made early on Monday, following nearly a year of speculation regarding Anderson’s potential appointment to one of the most coveted positions in the fashion industry. Notably, he is the first designer since the brand’s founder to manage both the women’s and men’s collections at Dior.

Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of Dior’s parent company LVMH, praised Anderson as “one of the greatest creative talents of his generation.” The top role at Dior is regarded as both highly visible and fiercely competitive within the fashion world.

At 40 years old, Anderson hails from Londonderry, born to a rugby player and a teacher. He pursued his studies at the London College of Fashion before establishing his brand, JW Anderson, in 2008, initially concentrating on menswear before expanding into womenswear two years later.

Anderson is noted for his avant-garde style, which seamlessly blends contemporary trends with street style, resulting in several iconic pieces. For instance, Akshata Murty, spouse of Rishi Sunak, was seen wearing a pair of his £570 shearling slip-on clogs outside Downing Street in 2023.

His label has earned significant recognition on the international stage. In 2014, Anderson was appointed creative director at the Spanish luxury brand Loewe, another member of the LVMH family. Over the last decade, he transformed Loewe from a traditional leather goods brand into a chic and conceptual label, renowned for its “it bags” and must-have items including logo-printed jeans, botanical print T-shirts, and even tomato leaf-scented candles.

On red carpets, A-list celebrities such as Rihanna, Ariana Grande, and Cate Blanchett have donned Loewe creations. Furthermore, Anderson designed costumes for Zendaya in the film Challengers last year.

In April, fashion data company Lyst revealed that Anderson’s Loewe brand had overtaken Miuccia Prada’s Miu Miu as the globe’s “hottest brand,” based on online search trends and sales performance.

Executives at Dior, under the leadership of CEO Delphine Arnault, are optimistic that the first millennial designer will infuse new life and creativity into the esteemed atelier located on Avenue Montaigne. The house reported impressive revenues of €84.7 billion in January; however, it has not been among the industry’s trendiest brands for some time.

Anderson is set to be the eighth couturier to lead Dior, following the nine-year tenure of Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri. He is the second British designer to take this position, as John Galliano previously held the title from 1996 until his dismissal in 2011 due to a public incident.

“I have always been inspired by this house… [and] I look forward to collaborating with its legendary ateliers to shape the next chapter of [its] incredible story,” Anderson expressed in a statement.

His debut collection for Dior will be showcased in the menswear summer 2026 presentation in Paris later this month. Additionally, Anderson will maintain his own brand and continue designing for the popular high-street retailer Uniqlo.