On June 2, 2025, LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault announced in a press release that Jonathan Anderson, hailed as the most talented designer of his generation, would become Dior’s new creative director. For the first time since Christian Dior’s era, the fashion house will unite its menswear, womenswear, haute couture collections, and accessories under a single creative lead. Experts estimate that Anderson will need to produce 10 collections annually for Dior. When factoring in his own brand, JW Anderson, and his collaboration with Uniqlo, this number rises to 18 collections, making him the most prolific designer since Karl Lagerfeld.
His debut menswear collection for Dior will be unveiled soon, on June 27. The fashion world eagerly anticipates this milestone, but in the meantime, we explore how Jonathan Anderson crafted his distinctive style and trace his path to the pinnacle of the fashion industry.
The Early Years of a Future Designer
Jonathan William Anderson was born on September 17, 1984, in the small town of Magherafelt, Northern Ireland. His father was a professional rugby player, and his mother taught English and French. The Anderson family welcomed two children, with Jonathan being the eldest son. From a young age, he stood out for his passion for singing, dancing, and drama, exuding energy and vitality. In primary school, he was diagnosed with severe dyslexia, which posed significant challenges in his studies.
Fashion surrounded Jonathan from an early age. He loved flipping through fashion magazines, and his maternal grandfather owned a large linen manufacturing company, Lamonts. Though the Anderson family was not particularly wealthy, their hard work enabled them to own a villa in San Carlos, Ibiza, where they escaped Ireland’s cold climate. Later, Jonathan acknowledged that the contrast between Ireland and Ibiza played a pivotal role in shaping his design aesthetic.
Jonathan Wanted to Be… an Actor?
I’d been a good child, a straight arrow; I didn’t drink, I didn’t smoke. But I got off that plane in DC and I went absolutely mental. I would go to drama school during the day and then I would be out every single night.
— Jonathan Anderson
At 18, Jonathan moved to the United States, dreaming of an acting career, with no thoughts of fashion design. He spent 18 months in Washington and six months in New York, studying acting. His acting ambitions, however, did not materialize: his only role was dubbing work in Howard Goodall’s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Yet this experience proved transformative—while working on stage, he realized that costumes captivated him far more than acting.
Returning to Ireland, Jonathan took a job at the Brown Thomas department store in Dublin to pay off his study debts. Soon after, he relocated to London, determined to enroll in the prestigious Central Saint Martins college. His application was not accepted, even for the preparatory course. Undeterred, he enrolled in the menswear design program at the London College of Fashion.
Course director Alan Cannon Jones recalled Jonathan as a remarkable individual. Though he rarely attended classes, he always submitted projects on time, managed his schedule effectively, and built valuable connections.
The Rise of JW Anderson
While studying, Anderson worked at a Prada boutique, where he met Manuela Pavesi, Miuccia Prada’s right-hand woman. She immediately recognized his potential as a future star.
In 2005, Anderson graduated from the London College of Fashion, and in 2008, he founded his brand, JW Anderson, initially focusing on menswear. His talent quickly gained recognition: in 2010, he received support from the British Fashion Council’s NewGen committee and presented his first collection at London Fashion Week, earning acclaim for collections backed by Topman. At the request of fans, he launched a women’s capsule collection that same year, which won critical approval and secured a second NewGen grant.
In September 2012, Anderson collaborated with retailer Topshop, creating a limited-edition clothing and accessories collection that sold out within hours. In February 2013, he designed a second Topshop collection, and in June, he debuted a collection for Versace’s diffusion line, Versus.
The Loewe Era
The young designer’s success caught the attention of LVMH. Bernard Arnault recalled meeting the 24-year-old Anderson at JW Anderson’s Paris showroom: “He was talkative, visionary, and astonishingly mature for his age.” In 2013, at age 29, Anderson saw LVMH acquire a minority stake in JW Anderson and appoint him creative director of Loewe, a brand that was not yet widely known.
Over a decade, Anderson transformed Loewe into one of the most coveted luxury brands. In 2015, he became the first designer to win both the Menswear and Womenswear Designer awards at the British Fashion Awards simultaneously. That same year, he joined the LVMH Prize jury, and in 2019, UK Prime Minister Theresa May appointed him a trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Under Anderson’s leadership, Loewe became a cultural phenomenon. The brand consistently topped Lyst’s rankings, its products appeared on red carpets and in films like “Challengers” and “Queer”. At the 2024 Met Gala, Loewe sponsored the event and dressed 12 celebrities, including Zendaya and Ariana Grande, creating designs enriched with historical references, technology, and surrealism.
A New Chapter at Dior
Jonathan Anderson gained fame for his eccentric yet refined androgynous style, blending classicism with the avant-garde. His “subtly eccentric” aesthetic reimagines traditional silhouettes through asymmetry, unconventional proportions, and unexpected materials.
His appointment as Dior’s creative director marks a new chapter in his career. Talent and hard work have led him to a fashion house with a rich heritage, and the global fashion community eagerly awaits how he will reinterpret Dior’s DNA. Given his success with Loewe, there is every reason to believe this story will be just as remarkable.
