The designer who gave fashion the Puzzle bag will soon reveal how he plans to re‑shape Dior’s tailoring codes.
Bernard Arnault confirmed the appointment of Jonathan Anderson at LVMH’s annual shareholders meeting on Thursday, adding that Anderson’s first collection will be shown in Paris this June.
The 40‑year‑old Irish designer takes over from Kim Jones, who exited Dior in January after a seven‑year run that blended couture‑level tailoring with street‑leaning collaborations. Anderson’s own departure from Loewe, announced on 17 March, ended an 11‑year tenure that re‑cast the Spanish leather house as a cultural force. Industry sources estimate Loewe’s revenue climbed more than seven‑fold under his watch, helped by products such as the Puzzle bag and those barrel‑legged jeans that turned up on every trend round‑up.
Arnault’s disclosure came as he fielded questions on how the group plans to lift momentum after a post‑pandemic surge faded. The answer, it seems, is new blood. Alongside Anderson, he name‑checked Sarah Burton at Givenchy, Michael Rider at Celine, and Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, who have stepped in at Loewe. It is a reminder that while sales growth has slowed, LVMH is betting on creativity, not discounts, to reignite desire.
Anderson’s appeal lies in a blend of concept and craft. At Loewe he courted the art world through the annual Craft Prize, dressed Daniel Craig in slouchy knitwear for a viral campaign, and twice collected the British Designer of the Year trophy. His eye for the unexpected—whether an angular tote or a dress that seems carved rather than cut—has proved commercially sound.
At Dior he inherits workshops famed for their handwork and a customer base that expects both rigour and surprise. According to industry chatter, Anderson has already started sketching the spring 2026 range, but June will mark the public debut of his viewpoint on the house’s past and present.
