John Galliano was appointed creative director of Christian Dior in 1996, bringing fifteen years of theatrical, historically driven collections to the house. His references ranged across Marchesa Casati, Egyptian antiquity, the Belle Époque, Japanese geisha culture and the Parisian demi-monde, each season staged as a full narrative. Under his direction Dior tripled its turnover and produced some of the most collected ready-to-wear and haute couture of the era, including the iconic Saddle Bag.
