Dior announced Thursday that Italian designer Maria Grazia Chiuri was stepping down as artistic director of the French fashion house’s women’s collection after almost a decade on the job.
Dior has boomed since Chiuri took over in 2016, becoming the second-biggest brand in the stable of luxury labels owned by French powerhouse LVMH.
Her modernization and feminist activism helped attract new customers.
Chiuri, who was the first woman to be named Dior’s creative director after a career at Italian brands Valentino and Fendi, had long been rumored to be on her way out.
“The House of Dior wishes today to express its deepest gratitude to Maria Grazia Chiuri after a wonderful collaboration as Artistic Director of the Women’s collections since 2016,” Dior said in a statement.
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“After nine years, I am leaving the House of Dior, delighted by the extraordinary opportunity I have been given,” Chiuri said in the statement.
Northern Irish designer Jonathan Anderson, who was named creative director of Dior Men last month, has been tipped as a possible successor, which would make him the first person to head both the men’s and women’s collections.
