SCAD and Dior Collaborate for Major Fashion Exhibition in the Southeastern United States
The House of Dior will make its museum debut in the Southeastern United States next month, partnering with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) for a new exhibition. The SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta will present “Dior: Crafting Fashion,” opening April 16. The exhibition was curated by Hélène Starkman, exhibition curator for Christian Dior Couture, and organized by Rafael Brauer Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums. It aims to provide a detailed look at the evolution of the company over time.
Olivier Bialobos, deputy managing director of Dior, explained the exhibition’s concept, stating: “Among the primary inspirations for this exhibition is the desire to share and reveal the entire creative process that gives rise to and reinvents Dior haute couture — this laboratory in motion — from white toiles to the defile. Sharing knowledge is also one of the key passions driving our creative director Jonathan Anderson, and we are therefore very pleased that this event is taking place at a university, the very symbol of knowledge sharing.”
The exhibition is divided into seven thematic sections, featuring designs by various Dior creative leads from Christian Dior to Jonathan Anderson. The collection includes toiles, showcases the work of “petites mains,” explores expressive gardens, and presents Lady Dior handbags reinterpreted by American artists, as well as looks from fashion shows and the red carpet. More than 100 historically significant pieces will be featured, with some being shown publicly for the first time.
Paula Wallace, president and founder of SCAD, highlighted the significance of the presentation: “This spring, SCAD FASH celebrates the legacy and influence of Christian Dior, who conjured fashion with the precision of architecture and the passion of poetry. This historic exhibition — featuring work never yet seen in a public exhibition — reveals the extraordinary artistry behind the storied French couture house, from the first toiles shaped by the ateliers, to the iconic lines and looks that command today’s runways and red carpets. This exhibition is a master class in the magic of a legendary maison.”
The exhibition follows the journey from initial concept to the final runway presentation. Christian Dior originally aspired to be an architect and operated an art gallery before turning to couture, a narrative reflected through the show’s structure.
“At the heart of this exhibition, specially created for SCAD and its unique learning environment, is the desire to convey the many forms that inspiration can take for a designer,” said Starkman. “The central idea is to paint a portrait of each designer at the creative helm of the house, looking at their journey, who they were before they joined Dior, and how each of them brought their own world into their collections. This event also offers Dior a unique opportunity to tell the whole story of a collection and how it is born, from the first drafts in white muslin to the preparation of a runway show. An exploration of the behind-the-scenes crafting of the Dior dream.”
Serving as the finale for SCADstyle 2026, the university’s prominent celebration of style and design, the exhibition will include a private reception and opportunities for students in various design and management programs to participate in tours and lectures with curators and Dior representatives.
This marks another collaboration between Dior and SCAD, following the “Christian Dior: Jardins Rêvés” exhibition at SCAD FASH Lacoste in France in 2025, which attracted record numbers of visitors.
Gomes commented on the ongoing partnership: “It has been a profound privilege to collaborate again with the legendary House of Dior on this exclusive presentation for SCAD FASH in Atlanta. Dior: Crafting Fashion illuminates the extraordinary elegance, artistry and craftsmanship that has defined the house for generations. From the founding genius of Christian Dior to the distinct creative voices of his successors, including Jonathan Anderson, this exhibition honors the continuum of visionaries who have shaped Dior’s enduring identity. We hope it serves as both inspiration and catalyst for our emerging SCAD creatives and visitors alike to reimagine what is possible in fashion and design.”
“Dior: Crafting Fashion” will be on display at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film through August 23.