DALLAS, Mar 24, 2005/ FW/ --- Last Jan 21 was Christian Dior’s 100th birthday. Three days later, John Galliano unveiled an Andy Warhol inspired collection for Christian Dior Haute Couture.

Exactly 10 days later after Christian Dior’s birth centenary, Hedi Slimane proposed romantic rock & roll silhouettes for Dior Homme.

And then best news of all! On March 9, the Christian Dior Group’s filing its annual financial statement reported a 53% increase in net profit for 2004.

According to the same statement, Christian Dior Couture recorded a 25% growth in operating income, reaching euros 50 million for the year.

The growth was attributed to the strong performance of the brand overall. With very strong collections coming from both John Galliano for women’s ready-to-wear and Hedi Slimane for Dior Homme, plus the new ranges of women’s accessories designed by John Galliano, the brand’s leadership in the luxury market segment is not debatable; it’s a fact.

The brand’s premium jewellery under the helm of Victoire de Castellane has also enjoyed a tremendous success in its sector.

How’s that for a birthday gift to the man who gave the world, “the New Look”?

Christian Dior, who was born in Granville, France on January 21, 1905, had always had an artistic leaning but never had formal education in design. He studied Political Science at the Ecole des Sciences Politiques (1925) instead.

Two years after graduation, he served the obligatory 2 years in the French Army. After he got out, he opened an art gallery and was an art dealer from 1928-1931.

When the U.S. was undergoing its worst depression in history, Christian Dior felt it in his personal life. In 1931, his mother died of cancer; his father's company declared bankruptcy and Christian Dior himself contracted tuberculosis.

As the saying goes, “When God closes a door, he opens a window,” Christian Dior's fashion design talent started to show during this very sad period of his life. He started to work as a fashion illustrator and then as an assistant designer.

But in 1939, the winds of war hit Europe and Christian Dior was one of the many who were deployed by the French Army.

After the war, he went back to fashion designing and finally on December 16, 1946, he opened the House of Dior at the posh Avenue Montaigne in Paris and showed the world “The New Look” for his first Spring / Summer collection showed on February 12, 1947.

Considered revolutionary by the fashion press, “The New Look” was actually called the “Corolla Line” by Christian Dior himself. It was back to femininity and luxury after the “manly and depraved” look due to the war.

Rounded shoulders, cinched waist and bell skirts created in luxurious fabrics - that was what Christian Dior showed the world in 1947. It was an instant success and assured Dior a place in the annals of fashion history.

Christian Dior's career as a top fashion designer only lasted 10 years. He died of a heart attack in October 1957 at the age of 52.

Today, the House of Dior is part of the LVMH stable. And to celebrate his centenary, the Christian Dior Group is honoring him with a major exhibition of his work at his childhood home in Granville from May 15 to September 25.