The acclaimed Scottish designer recently went out of business, only to replace Raf Simons at Dior a few months later. According to French Elle, Jonathan Saunders has been nominated to replace Raf Simons at Dior, one of Paris’ most prominent couture and luxury houses. This has been revealed after a period of speculation, and following a streak of resignations among the industry’s creative directors. This included Saunders, who announced in December that he would be closing his eponymous label for “personal reasons”.
Saunders is one of Britain’s brightest shining stars, heralded for his advanced appreciation for textile and innovation. Born in Glasgow, he studied Printed Textiles at Glasgow School of Art before relocating to London to complete an MA with distinction from Central St Martins in London. His graduate collection immediately won him the Lancôme Colour Award, and after 48 hours he had been commissioned by Alexander McQueen to do a series of prints. He set up his brand in 2003, while simultaneously functioning as creative director for Italian house Pollini for several years – and has been a stable name in the London scene for over a decade.
Now, Saunders will be making a well-deserved comeback: he plans to show his first Dior capsule collection in London, instead of the usual Paris showcase, which will undoubtedly stir some controversy for the old Parisian Maison. We look forward seeing what Saunders has to offer
