Christian Dior (January 21, 1905 - October 24, 1957), was an influential French fashion designer. He was born in Granville, Manche, Normandy, France.

Christian Dior was heir to a fertilizer fortune. Under his parents' wishes he attended Ecole des Sciences Politiques from 1920 to 1925. The family had hopes he would become a diplomat, but Dior only wished to be involved in the arts. After leaving school he received money from his father so that in 1928 he could open a small art gallery in Paris. Under his father's compromise for the money, the family name did not appear on the gallery. The walls were covered with the likes of Pablo Picasso and Max Jacob. After a family disaster he was forced to shut down the gallery. In the 1930s Dior made a living by doing sketches for Haute Couture Houses. In 1938 he worked with Robert Piquet. In 1945 he designed for Marcel Boussac. Boussac, a man who had made his fortune from fabric, was interested in Diors new idea that involved using lots of layers of extravagant fabrics. Dior's first collection, Corolle Line, premiered in 1947. He established his main fashion house in 1949; Christian Dior New York, Inc.