Fall/Winter 2011 Buzz from Dior

Dior has revealed the Fall/Winter 2011 collection in Muse Rodin today. Internet already booming with mixed reviews of the first Dior collection ever made without the lead designer. There are many companies that don’t have a creative lead. It is mostly common in mid market notably brand names Zara, Club Monaco, H&M with some only having guest designers on occasion, it is not something people expect with luxurious brands. House of Dior has always enjoyed prominent, legendary couture chiefs. Founder Christian Dior (1946-1957), Yves Saint Laurent (1957-1960), Marc Bohan (1960-1989), Glanfranco Ferré (1989-1997), John Galliano (1997-2011) collectively brought the company to one of the greatest fashion enterprises in the world. And now, for the fist time a collection is released by a team of designers, by no doubt talented, but not legendary. The collection basically shows depression. The John Galliano scandal is ongoing. The one day trial took place on June 22, 2011. There is no expectation that he will receive any jail time and the maximum fine for the offense is less than 30,000 Euro. But the shame and grim mood will remain on the Dior name for years to come.

Dior is not new to crisis. In 1978 the Boussac Group with House of Dior part of it went bankrupt putting the house at risk of collapse. In fact when Willot Group purchased Boussac Group there were talks that Dior will cease existence. Only brilliant business sense of then CEO Bernard Arnault rebuilt the company in collaboration of then Dior’s chief designer Marc Bohan. Today House of Dior is financially sound, but the grim reputation and signs of struggle were clearly on the way to make yesterday’s collection a success.