Cover The return of Michela Kalb signals Dior’s long-term strategy to expand and elevate its two Haute Couture lines, alongside ready-to-wear fashion, for a new era
The return of Michela Kalb signals Dior’s long-term strategy to expand and elevate its two Haute Couture lines, alongside ready-to-wear fashion, for a new era
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From 1 October 2025, Michela Kalb will assume the role of Director of Haute Couture, Ready-to-Wear (RTW) for women and men, women’s shoes and children’s products, and will join the Christian Dior Couture Board of Directors.
From 1 October 2025, Michela Kalb will assume the role of Director of Haute Couture, Ready-to-Wear (RTW) for women and men, women’s shoes and children’s products, and will join the Christian Dior Couture Board of Directors. This appointment is seen as a decisive move, demonstrating Dior’s intent to strengthen the link between creativity and commerce in an increasingly competitive luxury market.
Kalb’s return reflects Dior’s vision for the next phase of its evolution, where top-tier craftsmanship intersects with management expertise and market insight, redefining the standards of high fashion. In a context where luxury giants face economic fluctuations and shifting consumer habits among younger buyers, this decision underscores Dior’s determination to maintain its leading position.
See also: Jonathan Anderson: When creative thinking becomes a sustainable luxury business strategy
Journey back after nearly a decade
Between 2006 and 2017, Michela Kalb served as Dior’s Director of Women’s Ready-to-Wear, guiding the creative stages under John Galliano, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri. Over ten years, she acted as the “invisible hand” that harmonised art and commerce, liaising with design teams, managing production and overseeing global distribution. Her work ensured collections retained the essence of Haute Couture while appealing to contemporary clients, providing a solid foundation for her return in 2025.
After leaving Dior in 2017, Kalb joined Louis Vuitton as Director of Women’s Ready-to-Wear, collaborating closely with Creative Director Nicolas Ghesquière. She honed her skills in planning and execution, ensuring collections were both creatively compelling and commercially viable on a global scale, preparing her for her expanded responsibilities at Dior.
Above Michela Kalb is highly regarded for her ability to transform runway designs into commercial products, ensuring high-end aesthetics while remaining suitable for production and marketable (photo: WWD)
Michela Kalb is highly regarded for her ability to transform runway designs into commercial products, ensuring high-end aesthetics while remaining suitable for production and marketable (photo: WWD)
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Before her first Dior tenure, Kalb worked as a womenswear buyer at La Rinascente (Milan), then refined her product management expertise at Prada and Miu Miu. This period strengthened her skills in market analysis and supply chain management, critical in translating creative vision into high-end commercial products. Delphine Arnault, President and CEO of Christian Dior Couture, commented, “I believe Michela will deepen her understanding of Dior while delivering ever more compelling collections, working closely with the creative department.”
Dior restructures amid fierce market
Above Dior’s restructuring amid a pressured fashion industry is considered a bold move (photo: Class CNBC)
Dior’s restructuring amid a pressured fashion industry is considered a bold move (photo: Class CNBC)
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Kalb’s return coincides with Dior’s reshaping of its creative operations. The luxury sector faces rising production costs, slowing purchasing power in the US and China, and increasing demands for innovation from younger consumers.
See more: Fashion 2025: Where is the dominance of female creative directors?
Jonathan Anderson, Dior’s new Creative Director, oversees both Haute Couture and ready-to-wear for women and men, with his first womenswear collection launching on 1 October 2025. To bolster the team, Dior also appointed Peter Utz, formerly Director of Events and Haute Couture at Celine, as Global Director of Public Relations for both men and women, responsible for brand image and celebrity relations.
Above Fashion enthusiasts expect Jonathan Anderson to breathe new energy into Dior as he assumes full creative control (photo: WWD)
Fashion enthusiasts expect Jonathan Anderson to breathe new energy into Dior as he assumes full creative control (photo: WWD)
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Kalb will manage the entire collection development process, from concept to launch, covering Haute Couture, women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, women’s footwear, and children’s lines, while assisting Anderson in shaping a cohesive creative vision. Her extensive experience with materials, techniques, and manufacturing is key to turning runway designs into appealing, mass-produced yet high-end products.
Anderson, celebrated for merging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics at Loewe, now has full creative control across all divisions, a level of authority not seen since Christian Dior himself. Experts note this is a bold strategy, helping Dior craft a unified vision, maintain rare continuity, and reinforce the brand’s global image.
Above The combination of Michela Kalb’s business acumen and Jonathan Anderson’s artistic sensibility promises to create collections that are both groundbreaking and commercially viable (photo: Options, The Edge)
The combination of Michela Kalb’s business acumen and Jonathan Anderson’s artistic sensibility promises to create collections that are both groundbreaking and commercially viable (photo: Options, The Edge)
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Together, Kalb’s operational expertise and Anderson’s artistic vision are set to produce collections that are both innovative and feasible. From managing the global supply chain to ensuring consistent customer experience, Kalb is regarded as the “pacemaker” who brings Dior’s ambitious creative ideas to market.
With Michela Kalb’s return, Dior not only strengthens its creative team but also lays the groundwork for a unified operational approach, ready to set new benchmarks in luxury fashion.
