Maria Grazia Chiuri
Maria Grazia Chiuri | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 2, 1964 Rome, Italy |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Known for | Creative director of Dior; co-creative director at Valentino; designer of the Dior Saddle bag revival |
| Notable work | Feminist-themed collections at Dior; Baguette bag at Fendi |
Maria Grazia Chiuri (born 2 February 1964) is an esteemed Italian fashion designer. After gaining experience at Fendi and Valentino, she was appointed creative director at Dior in 2016.
Biography
Chiuri’s mother, a dressmaker who established a boutique in Rome, inspired her to pursue formal education in fashion. She attended the Istituto Europeo di Design in Rome before embarking on her professional journey designing handbags at Fendi.
Beginning her career with Fendi in 1989, Chiuri played a significant role in creating the renowned Baguette bag and was instrumental in bringing designer Pierpaolo Piccioli on board. In 1999, she transitioned to the Italian fashion house Valentino, initially managing accessories. After Valentino Garavani retired in 2008, Chiuri and Piccioli were promoted to co-creative directors, overseeing Womenswear, Menswear, Haute Couture, and the Red Valentino diffusion line. Their collaborative vision was recognized with the CFDA International Award in 2015.
In 2016, Chiuri took on the role of artistic director for women’s collections at Christian Dior, succeeding Raf Simons and becoming the first female creative lead in the history of the French maison. Her debut collection for Dior in Paris featured strong feminist motifs, including a t-shirt inspired by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s essay We Should All Be Feminists. Feminist themes remained central in her subsequent shows, highlighted by partnerships with artist Judy Chicago and The Chanakya School of Craft during the SS20 Haute Couture presentation. Additionally, she reintroduced the iconic Dior Saddle bag, initially designed by John Galliano in 1999, which regained popularity among younger audiences.
Style
Chiuri has stated that "the new generation has raised big questions about gender, race, environment and cultures that we have to reflect in fashion." Her Dior collections often incorporate feminist influences and feature collaborations with socially engaged artists.
Her aesthetic is frequently described as fresh and youthful, with her daughter Rachele Regini serving as a muse. During Dior’s Spring 2017 Paris Fashion Week show in September 2016, models wore white t-shirts emblazoned with the phrase "We should all be feminists," drawn from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s work. In January 2020, a Dior runway event at the Rodin Museum showcased 21 banners embroidered with feminist slogans such as "Could men and women be equal?". Later that year, a collection inspired by the 1970s included displays of quotes from Carla Lonzi’s manifesto like "The patriarchy kills love" and "We are all clitoridian women."
Publications
In 2021, Chiuri released Her Dior: Maria Grazia Chiuri's New Voice, a book featuring contributions from 33 photographers who collaborated with her and Dior. She also co-wrote Valentino: Objects of Couture alongside Pierpaolo Piccioli in 2013, documenting the history of the Valentino fashion house.
Awards and distinctions
- 2024: Honored with the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in Fashion.
- July 2019: Bestowed the title Knight of the Legion of Honor.
- 2017: Received the Swarovski Award for Positive Change at the Fashion Awards.
- 2017: Awarded Glamour Awards for Designer of the Year and The Fashion Force.
- 2015: Won the CFDA award recognizing her contributions at Valentino.
Personal life
Chiuri is wed to Paolo Regini, a shirtmaker, and they have two children named Niccolò and Rachele.