SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film Presents DIOR: Crafting Fashion
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — The Savannah College of Art and Design is thrilled to announce Dior: Crafting Fashion at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, opening April 16, 2026. Curated by Hélène Starkman — exhibition curator for Christian Dior Couture — and organized by Rafael Brauer Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums, Dior: Crafting Fashion has been created exclusively by Christian Dior Couture in collaboration with the university and will be the first presentation of the House of Dior in the Southeastern United States.
This spring, SCAD FASH Atlanta 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.
PAULA WALLACE | SCAD President and Founder
Designed to unfold over seven thematic sections, the exhibition brings together a series of narratives that shine a contemporary light on the House of Dior’s heritage. Each section offers a different perspective on how this heritage is formed, passed on, and transformed, while never losing sight of the original vision. These sections include creations by designers from Christian Dior to Jonathan Anderson; toiles that speak to the first masterful contributions of the petites mains; expressive gardens; Lady Dior handbags revisited by American artists; and looks from dramatic fashion shows and red carpet events, where style and spectacle meet.
Christian Dior initially dreamed of becoming an architect before running an art gallery and ultimately becoming a couturier, originating a body of work that embodies the connection between memory and creation. Dior’s early inspirations are the focal point of this ensemble of more than 100 historic pieces, with some presented for the first time. The exhibition brings into focus an identity shaped by time, precise craftsmanship, and a succession of creative visions that have always celebrated the intuition of the House’s founding designer. Running throughout the exhibition, the threads of transmission, imagination, and expertise weave a thoughtful framework for understanding the world of Dior.
The set design explores the creative process — from drawing board to workshop and from accessorizing to catwalks — within an unbroken cycle of transformation. It guides the eye, offers new perspectives, and provides keys to understanding, ultimately revealing the House of Dior as a laboratory of ideas: a vibrant conversation that is always in the making.
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. 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.
HÉLÈNE STARKMAN | Cultural Projects Director and Exhibitions Curator for Dior
The unveiling of Dior: Crafting Fashion will serve as the dynamic finale for SCADstyle 2026, the university’s signature event celebrating all facets of style, design, and innovation. Following the conversation, SCAD FASH will host a private reception for museum members and special guests of the university. Students from an array of the university’s top-ranked degree programs such as fashion, accessory design, luxury and brand management, advertising and branding, photography, illustration, fashion marketing and management, and more will have the exclusive opportunity to engage with curators and design leaders from the House of Dior through private tours and classroom lectures.
The university is honored to continue a celebrated dialogue with the House of Dior following the 2025 presentation of Christian Dior: Jardins Rêvés at SCAD FASH Lacoste in Provence, France, an exhibition that achieved record-breaking attendance at the university’s SCAD Lacoste location.
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.
RAFAEL BRAUER GOMES | Creative Director of SCAD FASH Museums
Dior: Crafting Fashion will be on view at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film, April 16–August 23, 2026. For more information, visit scadfash.org.
SCAD FASH MUSEUM OF FASHION + FILM
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film celebrates fashion as a universal language, garments as important conduits of identity, and film as an immersive and memorable medium. Situated within SCAD Atlanta, the museum presents dynamic exhibitions, captivating films, and enticing events that mine the rich and storied legacies of fashion history to inspire contemporary designers and future innovations. Supported by the university’s strong global presence and connections to renowned contemporary fashion designers, filmmakers, and creative professionals around the world, SCAD FASH is an integral part of the SCAD educational experience.
Like the award-winning SCAD Museum of Art, SCAD FASH serves as a creative resource for students of all ages and a wellspring of inspiration for visitors. Through programming that engages the university’s broad array of academic disciplines, SCAD FASH offers diverse exhibitions, films, installations, performances, and events to enliven and inspire the greater community year-round. Each program is designed to engage and appeal to visitors with varied backgrounds and interests, from textiles and jewelry to photography and film. Past exhibitions have featured the work of designers Cristóbal Balenciaga, Christian Lacroix, Madame Grès, Christian Siriano, Robert Wun, Ruth E. Carter, Azzedine Alaïa, Pierre Cardin, Mary Katrantzou, Guo Pei, Carolina Herrera, and Oscar de la Renta. Photographic exhibitions have featured the work of Ellen von Unwerth, Horst P. Horst, Robert Fairer, Albert Watson, Omar Victor Diop, Bill Cunningham, and Jonathan Becker. Exhibitions are accompanied by curated film series that complement programming. Past SCAD commissioned films include Pierre Cardin: Le Futur, The First Monday in May, Funny Face, The Leopard, and Ovation for Oscar, among others. Visit scadfash.org.
SCAD: THE UNIVERSITY FOR CREATIVE CAREERS
SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow. SCAD enrolls approximately 18,500 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 100 countries. The future-minded SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and myriad advanced learning resources, affording students opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and real-world assignments with corporate partners through SCADpro, the university’s renowned research lab and prototype generator. SCAD has earned top rankings for degree programs in interior design, architecture, film, fashion, digital media, and more. Career success is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. A 2025 study found that 99% of recent SCAD graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 12 months of graduation. SCAD provides students and alumni with ongoing career support through personal coaching, alumni programs, a professional presentation studio, and more.
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